Clean install of XP Pro

[JustStarting]

I'd like to avoid any conflicts with my current setup and plan to do a fresh install after formatting the hdd.

Abit KR7A-133R
Maxtor 20gb hdd
XP 1700+
GF2Ti450
SBLive!
D-link NIC

I have the latest 4 in 1 drivers, detonators, refresh fix and XP SP1 on CD. All my files (favorites, cookies, data, etc..) are backed up on CD. Is there anything else I might need to make this go smooth.

Would it be possible to keep my current hdd and install XP on a new hdd- giving me the choice of booting off one or the other hdd via the mobo bios setup. Could I copy data from one hdd to the other (without corruption) if I did this??

 

[Tash]

I did the following, which is another option for you: I have a single hard drive (with Win XP Pro which I thought was corrupted). I booted from the Win XP Pro CD. It asked if I wanted to repair or do a new install. I said new install. Then it asked if I wanted to use the same directory or new directory as old OS. I said same dir. It then said it was deleting all of the old and began install. You, of course, have to reinstall all programs. Everything has worked beautifully since.

 

[Insidious]

Sounds like you are pretty well good to go.

If you want to do the second HD thingy, I suggest only connecting the new HD while installing. Once finished, add the second (old) HD. You should have no difficulty reading the old HD with the new installation. If the old installation is Windows98se (FAT32) you will not be able to read the new disk from it. (assuming the new installation is NTFS).

I think, on that MoBo you want to avoid PCI slot 1 (shared IRQ with AGP slot) and PCI slot 5 (shared IRQ with HighPoint Controller). Check your manual and it will tell you which IRQs are shared between which slots. When your machine is POSTing, look at the screen that shows IRQ assignments. (hit the Pause/Break key if you need time to look). Arrange your slots to minimize sharing. Especially the sound card, (multimedia device). SBLive! doesn't play well and needs its IRQ all to itself.

Good Luck and Have Fun!

 

[JustStarting]

I'm pretty well versed on the sblive/hpt conflict, since this is my 3rd abit board. I have sblive in slot 3 with no conflicts and without reserving an IRQ, as I had to do in the past with my older abits. I might try the 2nd hdd thing- leaving it unplugged while installing XP on the new one.

Any other drivers/patches/utilities I might want to DL before I try it??

 

[johnlog]

After successfully installing XP then install SP1.

But before you install SP1 make sure you have a good connection to your ISP and log onto your ISP. Then install SP1. While SP1 is installing it will attempt to log onto the MS update site and download the latest files for SP1 as it is installing. That way you would have the latest SP1 files installed on your computer.

After SP1 is installed and you are sure XP is running correctly and your programs run normally then you can log onto the Win XP update site and see if any new critical updates are available for your installation. By the time that is finished you should have a solid perfect running XP installation.

All of that worked for me first try.

 

[Insidious]

My setup is similar to yours (see MyRigThingy)

I didn't d/l any patches or stuff ahead of time. WindowsXP doesn't really do a very good job of letting you install your favorites when you install. Everything went OK.

One thing I did do (but don't know if it was really necessary or not) was update the VIA drivers manually rather than running the installer of the VIA 4 in 1 package.

I've never been confident the installer really gets things right. (I extracted the d/l of the VIA 4 in 1 and then used device manager - update driver for each of the VIA drivers, told it not to search and pointed to the directory I extracted the 4 in 1 files to.

 

[Balthazar]

Do yourself a favor, make a Ghost image of the fresh new install once you get done, LOADS easier.
Instead of putzing around with entering the same stupid info for the same stupid install, just ghost it and viola.

I LOVE GHOST....so happy Symantec didn't screw it up when they bought it!

 

[Insidious]

Originally posted by: Balthazar
Do yourself a favor, make a Ghost image of the fresh new install once you get done, LOADS easier.
Instead of putzing around with entering the same stupid info for the same stupid install, just ghost it and viola.

I LOVE GHOST....so happy Symantec didn't screw it up when they bought it!

Add a second to that motion! (I use a second HD as a running back-up by ghosting a copy every week or so, then unplugging HD #2 til next time. System restore is pretty good, but every once in a while............

 

[JustStarting]

I don't understand the reason ghosting a fresh install would make it load faster? Please elaborate.

 

[Insidious]

It's only if you have a problem somewhere later down the line that the Ghost speeds you up.

For the first install, there is no real short-cut. But let's say you try some experiment (edit: in the future) and it goes south. You find that your OS is no longer functional and a clean install is required. If you have a Ghost copy or image of the first install you can just Ghost it to your HD and the Windows install is done rather than go through the 30 min to an hour to install it all from scratch.

-Sid

 

[JustStarting]

gotcha- i wasn't sure how that ghosting would help. i was thinking of loading programs faster- duh!!

 

[JEFF68005]

Personally, before I install SP1, I would make sure everything is up and running .... especially your internet and networking items.. I had to System Restore after installing SP1 in order to get back on the net.

Also, we run Dual Boot Win98 and WinXP in FAT32. I have too many files in FAT32 to change to a hard drive format that I do not understand. That way, I can access anything I need.

 

[JustStarting]

I understand I will also need to update my Adaptec easy cd creator and directcd applications (I have 4.01d). any freebies out there i could update to?? i've got a yamaha 16x10x40 cdrw.