Installing Windows

Installing Windows After You Format Your new Hard Drive


Whether you have Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000 or XP, installing Windows on a newly formatted hard drive is a pretty straightforward process. If you follow a few basic steps, you should have no problems.


Before installing Windows, be sure that you have everything necessary to complete the installation. Once it is started, you cannot change your mind and go back. Among the items you will need are:

1. To install Windows 95, 98 or ME you will need a boot floppy with CD support.
2. To install Windows NT, 2000 and XP as well as for the alternate method of installing Windows 98 and ME you will need to be sure that your CD Rom is set as the first boot device in your systems BIOS.
3. Your Windows installation CD.
4. Your Windows installation key.
5. Drivers (on floppy or CD) for all your devices such as modem, sound and video card, etc.
6. Installation software for any programs or games you are going to install.
7. A list of programs you had installed before the format with registration numbers where needed.
8. Your Internet provider’s settings and installation CD (if required).
9. Any data backups you may have saved.

If your computer came with a recovery CD all you will need to do is to follow the instructions included with it and install your software and backups after you finish.

If your computer did not come with a recovery CD, insert your Windows CD into your CD Rom


Installing Windows 98 or ME

The Windows 98 and ME installation procedure can be very similar to that of Windows 95 or you can follow the steps used in NT, 2000 or XP. The choice is yours. In other words, you will need to choose one of these three installation methods.

1. Boot your computer to a floppy, choose boot with CD Rom support, and, at the a: prompt, type “d:\win98\setup.exe” or “d:\winme\setup.exe” (where “d” is the letter of your CD Rom drive and minus the quotes) to start the setup program.
2. Boot your computer to the floppy, choose the “begin Windows setup” option and off you go.
3. Actually boot the computer to the Windows 98 or ME CD and the setup program will start, directly from the CD, without using a floppy. NOTE: This is the same method used that is used for Windows NT, 2000 and XP.



1. Answer the questions asked by the setup program and enter your Windows key where prompted.
2. Install the drivers for your hardware.
3. Install any additional software, especially antivirus software.
4. Install your data backups.
5. Program your internet connection, go online and update Windows and your antivirus software.
6. Have fun!



Installing Windows NT, 2000 or XP

The installation of Windows NT, 2000 and XP differs from Windows 95, 98 and ME in that you do not have the need to boot to a floppy. You must boot to the Windows CD. They also differ in that you will be given the option to repair your Windows installation, reinstall or install a fresh copy. You will also be given the option of deleting and/or creating the partition(s) on your hard drive as well as formatting them using either NTFS (NT, 2000, XP) or FAT32 (2000, XP). I recommend NTFS for security, stability, speed and smoothness of operation.

Should you choose to install a fresh copy of Windows, but not reformat your hard drive, the installation program will delete your Windows folder and recreate it in order to provide you with a clean installation. Also, the individual account folders in your Documants and Settings folder will be duplicated. This is done without deleting the old ones.

The advantage to this method is that you get a nice clean installation of Windows without losing data. You will still need to reinstall programs but the data should remain. (Even though your data should be ok, be sure you have backed it up “just in case.”)

All you will need to do is import your favorites and email from the old account folders to the new ones in your documents and settings folder.

The disadvantage to this method is that if there is corrupt data or a virus in other areas of the hard drive, such as the Boot Sector, File Allocation Tables (FAT) or in individual program folders, this method may not correct your problem.

Here are the steps for installing Windows NT, 2000 or XP as well as the alternate method of installing 98 and ME.

1. Boot the computer to the Windows CD and the setup program will start. This is directly from the CD, without using a floppy.

NOTE: You will need to insure that your CD Rom is set as the first boot device in the system BIOS. This is the default setting for most newer computers.


2. Choose whether you want to delete or create hard drive partition(s).


3. Choose the type of Windows installation;
* Repair your Windows installation using the recovery console
* Repair your Windows installation using automatic settings
* Reinstall Windows without format
* Install or reinstall Windows fresh with hard drive formatting.

NOTE: This is the choice you will use for a new installation.


4. Enter your personal information and Windows key where prompted.
5. Install the drivers for your hardware.
6. Install any additional software.
7. Install your data backups
8. Program your internet connection, go online and update Windows and your antivirus software.

tips and suggestions to aid you in speeding up your computer.

Upgrades


tips and suggestions to aid you in speeding up your computer.

Installing a Primary IDE Hard Drive:

Before beginning work on any computer system, it is important to make sure all of the power is off. Shut down the computer from operating system. Once the operating system is safely off, turn off the power to the internal components and flipping the switch on the back of the power supply and remove the AC power cord.

Open Up the Computer Case

Next the computer case needs to be opened up. The method for opening up the computer case will vary depending upon the case design. Most new cases use either a side panel or door while older cases may require the whole cover be removed. Remove any screws that hold the cover to the case and then remove the panel or cover.

Set the Drive Mode Jumper

Based on the documentation that came with the hard drive or any diagrams on the hard drive, set the jumpers on the drive. In most cases if the system only has a single drive connected to the cable, use the "Cable Select" option. If there is another drive that will be connected to the same IDE cable, used the "Master" setting.

Insert the Drive in the Case

It is now time to slide the drive into the case. For hard drives, typically there is a drive cage that hold them. If the cage can be removed from the case, do this now to make installation easier. To install it, simply slide the drive into a slot until the mounting holes on the cage match the drive. Fasten the drive to the cage with screws.

Attach IDE Cable to the Motherboard

Most ATA/66 and ATA/100 IDE cables will have a blue connector or a connector labeled "System Board". This will be plugged into either the IDE0 (Primary) or IDE1 (Secondary) connector on the motherboard. Typically the primary connector will be blue to signify that it should be used for a hard drive. The cables are typically keyed to only be inserted in one way but if the cable is not keyed, make sure that the red stripe on the IDE cable matches up to "Pin 1" on the motherboard.

Plug the IDE Cable to the Hard Drive

Attach the furthest connector on the ribbon cable to the hard drive. This connector will often be black or labeled "Primary". Make sure that the red stripe on the cable is placed at pin 1 of the connector on the hard drive. Most drives are now keyed so the cable will only fit in one particular way.



Plug the Power to the Drive

Locate a free 4-pin Molex connector from the power supply. This is plugged into the power connector on the hard drive.



Close Up the Computer

At this point the wiring and drive should be secured within the computer case. It is now time to replace the computer cover or panel to the cover. Be sure to fasten the cover to the case with the screws that were previously removed.

Fasten the Computer Cover



Power Up the Computer

Now that the case is closed up, power can be restored to the computer system. Plug the AC cord back into the power supply and be sure to flip the switch to the ON position.

It will be necessary for the computer BIOS to detect the hard drive the next time that it is powered up. Check with the manual for your computer or motherboard on how to detect a new hard drive. It may be necessary to change some of the parameters in the computer BIOS in order for it to detect the hard drive on the controller. The drive must also be formatted for use with the operating system before it can be used. Please consult the documentation that came with your motherboard or computer for additional information.