How to Silent Install Windows XP

With any operating system, the best way to install is to start clean, formatting the computer and erasing all data. This isn't the only way to install an operating system, however -- Windows XP was originally sold as an upgrade for Windows 98 and Millennium Edition users. You can install XP over an existing operating system.

Disc Types

Microsoft sold Windows XP in two editions -- Home and Professional -- and promoted both as upgrades to the previous versions of Windows. In addition, some computer manufacturers offered users a free upgrade to Windows XP, too, usually for systems that sold with Windows 98 or Windows ME. These users received a disc labeled "Windows XP Upgrade" in most cases. These discs, though labeled differently, were XP installation discs in disguise. The contents of the disc are identical to an XP Home or Professional Edition that you'd find in a store.

Upgrade Install

When XP first came out in 2001 and users were changing from older operating systems to Home or Professional Edition, Microsoft primarily recommended an upgrade install. This is the most straightforward way to install Windows XP, though not the most effective. You may prefer this install type as it doesn't format the hard drive and all personal information, but the circumstances in which an upgrade install can occur in 2011 are limited. To use the upgrade, you have to start with Windows 98 or ME. Insert the XP disc while the computer is running and click "Upgrade to Windows XP." Follow the prompts to complete the installation.

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Windows Vista Setup Troubleshooting

The Windows Vista setup and installation process is a fairly straightforward procedure. You simply put your install DVD into your computer and follow the directions on the screen. If you're having a problem with Windows Vista setup, it is almost certainly due to something you're doing wrong, either using damaged media (like a dirty installation disc) or inputting information incorrectly at the prompt.

Instructions


Review the list of minimum system requirements for Windows Vista on Microsoft's website and make sure that your computer meets these requirements. If not, the operating system could install incorrectly or refuse to install at all during setup.


Examine the data side of your Windows Vista install disc and make sure it isn't dirty. In order to install Windows Vista, your computer's DVD drive has to be able to read the data on the disc. Scratches, dirt, oils from your hand and other types of debris will prevent this. Clean the disc and reinstall.


Make sure you're typing your Windows Vista security key into the installation prompt correctly. Your Windows Vista security key is a unique 25-digit key that authenticates your exact copy of Windows Vista. If you type even one letter or number incorrectly, the operating system will not install.


Verify that you are trying to install Windows Vista using a DVD-ROM drive and not a CD-ROM drive. Windows Vista's installation disc is a DVD, and you can only use DVD-ROM drives to install it. If you attempt to put your installation disc into a CD-ROM drive, your computer simply will not recognize that disc.


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