Operating system installation concerns

[Hydrophobic]

I'm going to be building a new computer in the next few months and there is one thing I'm concerned about. How difficult is it to install WinXP (home or pro)? I've reformatted drives multiple times and installed Win95 and 98 several times but I've always hated it because it would turn into a several day headache with multiple bsod's. In comparison to previous windows versions, how difficult is XP to install?

Thanks

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: Hydrophobic
I'm going to be building a new computer in the next few months and there is one thing I'm concerned about. How difficult is it to install WinXP (home or pro)? I've reformatted drives multiple times and installed Win95 and 98 several times but I've always hated it because it would turn into a several day headache with multiple bsod's. In comparison to previous windows versions, how difficult is XP to install?
Thanks

XP (IMHO) is signifigantly simplier to install than the 9x line. Only Vista's betas are easier.

Bill

 

[MrChad]

If you're comfortable with 98's setup, XP will be a walk in the park.

Here's a good reference guide.

 

[Markbnj]

To some extent how well the O/S installation will go depends a lot on how well you build the system. Pretty much anytime you get stop errors (bsod's) in a Windows installation you have a hardware problem.

I suggest buying good, mainstream parts, in recent versions, and building the system up in layers. Get the thing to POST, then get into the BIOS and make sure the hardware is detected and the settings for everything appear correct, then boot from an XP install CD, format and partition the disks, and run the Windows install. Once in Windows install your third-party drivers, set up the network, hit the Windows Update site, validate, and update. The vast majority of the time you will get a functioning system.

 

[Hydrophobic]

MrChad- Thanks for the reference guide. That should help quite a bit.

Yeah, I learned all about bsod's with my first computer which was a real work of art. Low quality parts at a premium price. I'm not making that mistake with this computer. Thanks for the reminder to go slowly and do it in "layers". Thanks again.