Installing Windows XP (XP Professional)

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I really hate being the neophyte dummy. Be gentle.
I have Windows 95 on my home computer. I have Windows XP ready to install. I don’t have enough room on my hard drive. There are a few files that I can obviously delete or save onto a diskette and then delete. I do not have a tape drive. The ones I know about, don’t free up enough space. Can I delete my Netscape files? Can I delete Windows 95 before installing Windows XP. The main reason I gave up and got a newer version of Windows is so I can get a newer version of Netscape.
I’m really not computer illiterate, sometimes it just seems that way.

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I will check that when I get home. I’m off as of NOW. I will write again tomorrow.

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You can delete your netscape files to make room. Copy your mailbox addresses if you have more than a few to a floppy.

You can also try a “custom” install, of XP. where you can select the minimum (smallest ) number of features for the initial install, then if you now have enough room, you can add more items from the addremove tab in control panel.

It does sound like you have a rather small HD?

Bob

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Thanks, Cowboy
You know what? I’m out of luck. My hard drive is less than 2GB. I guess this computer just became a word processor. Windows 95 and Netscape 6.0 just wont do what I need. I’m going shopping. Any suggestions on what the latest and greatest is? What I really need is a good browser, and Microsoft Office. Everything else is just trimmings. Oh yeah, I’m trying to learn VBA, so practice tools would be nice.

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Ladygnome–

Treat yourself to a good sized hard drive, and when you go into the XP setup, divide it into four partitions–WillyWilly had a good description of a rationale for doing this (the way he does) a while back in the XP part of the lounge, and if you can’t locate it on the back XP threads, I’ll try to look for it later and link to it.

That way, you will be happy for some time to come beyond the money that a hard drive is costing you. Right now adding more RAM and hard drives are about as well priced as they have ever been.

Another compelling reason to do this is that your new Operating System, Windows XP is going to be around for quite a while–it’s sequel Longhorn isn’t due until 2005 so you have some stability there–you’re not going to have another Windows OS to change to for a while, and a reason to invest a little in enjoying XP. Then you have the freedom to download a number of applications, many of them free that will make your life on the computer easier and more fun. Just my idea there. I could see making one of my partitions have the OS and the system files and relatively small, but it’s a rare person who would be happy with a tiny hard drive with all the applications that are now available. I don’t know if you enjoy working with pictures or music, but even if not, give yourself some real estate.

SMBP

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Ladygnome–

When you get to the place in XP setup on your new hard drive where you can divide it into partitions, you might want to keep these past threads in mind–I couldn’t link to them because in the lounge transition, the url’s aren’t available:

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From Mark (WillyWilly) Post: 253603 re: 253581 from sonia64 Reinstall XP Home (XP Home Edition)
Post: 253581 13-May-03 23:15:

Hi Sonia–
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I want to format the c drive and then do a clean re install of XP. Is this possible or will formatting the C drive partition also format the whole drive?
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You can format the C: partition without losing data on any of the other partitions. XP’s Setup program will do it for you. Perhaps, though, before formatting you could run a repair installation (an option on the setup screens) and correct your problem(s).
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Is it also possible to split the C drive partition into 2 partitions of 5 gb each.
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Yes, but you would need a 3rd party tool like Partition Magic to do this without destroying the other partitions on the drive. Once XP is reinstalled, you are going to have to re-install all of your programs anyway – you could direct the programs to install to one of the other partitions at that time, which would keep the directories intact. For what good it is, here is how I partition my system (on a 120GB drive):

C: (5GB) Windows XP

D: (1GB) Swap/paging file

E: (3GB) Temporary – for both Internet Explorer and the operating system. I call this “scratch” because it can be completely formatted without me risking my data.

F: (93GB) Data. My Documents is located here, along with the installation files for XP, Office, and all my other applications (I don’t have to hunt for the CD this way)

G: (13GB) Program Files. All software is installed to this location.
This setup allows me to keep my data in one place, programs in another – and separate from the operating system partition. I’ve wiped and reinstalled on C: more times that I care to admit. I can be back up and running with my essential applications in short order using this configuration.
Putting Office on the same drive as the OS sounds reasonable enough – since it’s so tightly integrated that is! 5GB should be plenty of room for XP and Office both.

As far as formatting the C: drive, if you boot with the Windows XP CD-ROM, it will present you with the option to format the partition(s) you choose. Just follow the on-screen prompts. That, to me, seems the easiest way to accomplish what you seek. You will have the option to perform a quick format or normal, and I always go for the long way around – not that there’s a whole lot of difference, one simply erases the pointers to existing files and the other re-writes the entire partition. Quick formatting is fine as long as you don’t change file systems (FAT32 to NTFS for example), in which case you don’t have a choice.

Putting Office on the same drive as the OS sounds reasonable enough – since it’s so tightly integrated that is! 5GB should be plenty of room for XP and Office both.

As far as formatting the C: drive, if you boot with the Windows XP CD-ROM, it will present you with the option to format the partition(s) you choose. Just follow the on-screen prompts. That, to me, seems the easiest way to accomplish what you seek. You will have the option to perform a quick format or normal, and I always go for the long way around – not that there’s a whole lot of difference, one simply erases the pointers to existing files and the other re-writes the entire partition. Quick formatting is fine as long as you don’t change file systems (FAT32 to NTFS for example), in which case you don’t have a choice.

Hope that helps….post back with any other questions

Mark
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Basic Partition Management Questions (XP Home)
Post: 231090
Organizer (StarLounger)
03-Mar-03 08:05

I am completely new to partitions. I’ve been reading the posts here, and also browsed a bit more widely on the web. I have a few questions which seem a little more basic than most of what I’m finding to read.
I have a brand new computer. It has a single hard drive that was set up with four partitions: two for Linux which is not yet installed, and two for Windows. The Windows partitions are C: (20 Gig) and E: (50 Gig). These were set up by someone else, so I don’t know much beyond the info here.

The computer originally had WinME on it, but that seemed to be a major headache, so yesterday we wiped it and installed WinXP (Home). There is nothing else yet installed on the computer except a modem driver, and a few files leftover on E (all of which were just experimental anyway – all MS Office documents from the ME installation).

Here are my questions:

1) We have two users set up on the XP OS. I’m still a little baffled by the folder displays on this system. How do I get the default “Save As” location, as well as the “My Documents” in Explorer and similar dialogs to go to the E drive instead of C? I did it on ME, but the two user option here on XP is confusing me. I noticed in one post something about telling it to put documents and settings on the other drive during the OS install – We can reinstall the OS if that is necessary, since we haven’t got any time into installing anything else in here yet and no data or anything on the computer other than a dial-up connection. Any tips here?

2) When installing programs, if we decide to install them on E instead of C, should I change locations of everything that it gives me the option to change over to E? I am thinking specifically of things like MS Outlook, which I know will ask me where I want to store my email. (I confess, since the default location for that is in the “Windows/Application Data” folder, I was too intimidated to move it when I installed it on ME – I get a little spooked when I start changing much beyond the Programs, and My Documents folders sometimes – though once I get this computer to behave I’ll be an expert at all kinds of things I never thought I’d venture into!).

3) If I decide to keep the programs themselves on C, can I store the settings etc on E – so that everything on C is stuff that can be reinstalled using a disk?

4) The person who set up the partitions for us recommended that we put the OS on C, and everything else on E (it was actually D at the time, but XP changed it). I’ve read enough now to know that opinions about what should be where vary widely, but I have been intrigued about the idea of keeping email and temp files on its own partition. Would that be as simple as adding another partition and then telling Outlook to put the email there? And then are there basic preferences somewhere one can set in browsers and Outlook Express that define where the temp files go? (I use IE, Netscape, and Opera, OE, Outlook, and occasionally Pegasus for email).

Thanks in advance for help. Feel free to refer me to earlier posts – but my own digging wasn’t finding me these answers.
-cynthia

joeperez
(5StarLounger)
03-Mar-03 09:09
Re: Basic Partition Management Questions (XP Home)
Post: 231105 re: 231090 from organizer
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Hi cynthia, 1.) You can right click on the ‘My Documents’ folder for each user and select properties. Then use the ‘Target’ tab to change the location of the folder. If you wish to change the location of the ‘Documents and Settings’ folder doing that a OS install time would be best.
2.) IMO, if you have two partitions then keep you rOS and programs on C: and your data on E:. You could put your temp files on E: also. That may be more of a try it and see how you think the system reacts as compared to having the temp files on C:. You’ll probably not really notice a big difference.
3.) What do you mean by settings? Preferences & options? Those are usually kept in the registry for newer programs and would be restored with the rest of the system should the need arise.
4.) The biggest reason to have multiple partitions is for organizational reasons. When the day comes you need to reload the system you’ll spend less time doing it because your data will be separate from the programs. All that said, you need to document the changes else you forget and misconfigure when you do reload. Also, a regular backup regimen for both partitions is a must. And last but not least remember that you have one HD and if it goes everything is gone no matter how many partitions you have.

hth,
Joe
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cowboydawg
(4StarLounger)
03-Mar-03 12:24

Re: Basic Partition Management Questions (XP Home)
Post: 231165 re: 231105 from joeperez

Well as Joe pointed out when you have only one Hard Drive more then one Partition is basically used for organizational purposes. Putting your Temp files on a different partition will help keep the partition that you have your OS on cleaner because it will defrag better. Also keeping graphic files on a different partition will help. Any freeware are programs kept on a different partition should also keep your OS partition less clutered.
With that said, there are things that can be done for a performance boost, BUT not without a second Hard Drive. As Joe pointed out if that Hard Drive takes a dive for any reason “OUCH” thats gonna hurt. Because the only form of back you can use without a second Hard Drive is with CD’s and that could take alot of CD’s as you get more and more stuff to back up. So without sounding to forward, I might suggest the first chance you get some extra cash you might want to consider a second Hard Drive that you can use for backup. With a second Hard Drive you can also make an exact copy ( OS & ALL ) of your Main Disk and if one goes down your back in action in no time. I have three Hard Drives. Two in the computer that are exact copies of each other on separate IDE Channels ( Duel Boot ) and one exact copy put up just in case something causes both Hard Drives in the computer to bite the Big one. I do weekly backups of Word & Excel Documents, Freeware, Quickens And E.T.C on CD-RW’s because those things can be updated to the other Hard Drives very quickly from the CD’S if I need them for any reason.

COWBOY
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Hope these oldies but goodies will give you some help and perspective in setting up XP on your new hard drive.

SMBP

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Third time this week where I have to remind myself or be reminded that hardware is an integral if not key part of the solution– it’s true the best software conditions for you in the world won’t help unless you have hardware that will do a decent job of running XP. Some of these links will add to guides for getting started and often these are the minimum requirements:

How To Articles: Setting Up Windows XP Pro
Windows XP System Requirements
Windows XP Expert Zone Articles
Windows XP Home Page
365 Windows XP Tips and Key XP MVP Help Sites
MSN Windows XP Hardware Newsgroup
Tours/Demos of Win XP
Windows XP Professional Home Page
Kellys XP Korner
Kelly’s XP A to Z
Kelly’s 472 and Counting Tweaks and Fixes for Windows XP

Some good stuff in these.

SMBP

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How old is your PC?
I think the first thing you need to do is check if XP will accept your hardware – if you have an XP installation disk I believe one of the first things it offers is to run a check for you.
Otherwise you could try the MS Hardware Compatability List

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I agree with Leif, if this machine is of the 95 vintage you are mostly NOT going to run XP with out replace MOST of the components. It would be cheaper to go buy yourself a new machine with XP on it.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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As Cowboy said, well put. I pretty much realized this when I checked my HD size. I sure thought it was larger than that.
Fortunately, the XP Pro that I have is available to the staff where I work at a very low price, so I am not out much. I truly appreciate all the help, and I’m definitely going to save the hints on how to best install this. I have one last newbie question on this topic. I have XP Pro on a disk. If I buy a computer with the less expensive XP Home, after making sure the hardware will accept XP Pro, can I change it out? Would it be worth the trouble?

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You most certainly can upgrade XPH to XPP. Spend some time reading some of the links SMBP supplied so you can decide if you want Pro or not.

Joe

--Joe

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There are a number of links and some of the best old threads contained in this recent Which XP To Choose and MS has endorsed Home Upgrade to Pro can be done and is absolutely supported on their own Upgrading from Previous Versions of Windows List. Also see Windows XP Pro Upgrade Center. Note that Microsoft is offering a less expensive “step up” for Home to Pro here at Winsupersite’s comparison.

Also–you won’t see a lot written about this, and I’m sure someone will hop up to say it’s not so, but several Microsoft Tech Support people have insisted to me that if you install an XP upgrade, whether it be Home or Pro, and did a clean install, it is going to search for what you have, and when it finds you don’t have any files, it will install the full complement of either Win XP Home or Pro respectively. They aren’t going to advertise this, but if you ask them they will tell you. There is nothing illegal about this, because you are purchasing a legitimate product, and it will save you money. Amazon has Windows XP Pro Upgrade here. There are a number of discount Windows sites.

My advice/approach is not to get an OEM Microsoft operating system or Microsoft Office product ever loaded onto a computer–but rather to buy the OS or Office separately–and shop for a discount because there are plenty. Many will say, “but I save money if I get it as a package.” From the research I just did, you don’t save much at all getting an OEM OS, and if you buy the OS separately, and it’s very very easy to load and divide into partitions if you like, and I would definitely. When XP launched in October of 2001, you could buy a full legitimate box of Home or Pro for one hundred bucks less than retail at one of the swap meets here and now almost two years after the XP launch, there are definitely abundant discounts on the web.

I say this because I think that the support episodes you get are worth it and you don’t save any particular amount of money, and I have been consistently convinced that the software XP OS support you would get from Microsoft over any Hardware OEM computer company is a quantum leap better IMHO. Often MS will keep a case open until it’s solved.

Good luck with your new setup. Microsoft has a lot of good XP sites and you only have to google for many good XP sites.

SMBP

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These links may also help:

Upgrade Paths
XP Pro Clean Install
XP Pro Clean Install Graphics and Screenshots
XP Pro Upgrade Install

SMBP

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