This step-by-step article describes how to install Windows XP.

For more information about how to install Windows XP Professional, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about how to install Windows XP Home Edition, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

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To install Windows XP, use one of the following methods.

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Method 1: Upgrade to Windows XP

This section describes how to upgrade to Windows XP from Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, and Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional.

Note Before you start the upgrade process, obtain and install the latest BIOS upgrade for your computer from the computer's manufacturer. If you update the BIOS after you upgrade the computer, you may have to reinstall Windows XP to take advantage of features such as Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) support in the BIOS. If you can do this, update the firmware in all the hardware devices before you start the upgrade.

Also, you may want to disconnect from the Internet during the installation. Disconnecting from the Internet during the installation helps protect you from malicious users. You may also want to enable the Microsoft Internet Explorer firewall. For more information, see the "Enable or disable Internet Connection Firewall" topic in Windows XP Help. For more information about how to prepare Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition for an upgrade to Windows XP, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: To upgrade to Windows XP, follow these steps:

1.	Start your computer, and then insert the Windows XP CD into the CD or DVD drive.
2.	If Windows automatically detects the CD, click Install Windows to start the Windows XP Setup Wizard. If Windows does not automatically detect the CD, click Start, click Run, type the following command, and then click OK: CD drive letter:\setup.exe
3.	When you are prompted to select an installation type, select Upgrade (the default setting), and then click Next.
4.	Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the upgrade.

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Method 2: Install Windows XP to a new hard disk

First, start your computer by using one of the following media:

•	Microsoft Windows 98/Windows Millennium startup disk
•	Windows XP boot disks
•	Windows XP CD

For more information about how to obtain the Windows XP Setup boot disks, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Note If you want to start your computer from the Windows XP CD, your CD or DVD drive must be configured to do this. For information about how to configure your computer to start from the CD or DVD drive, see the documentation that is included with your computer or contact the computer manufacturer.

To install Windows XP to a new hard disk, follow these steps:

1.	Read the Microsoft Software License Terms, and then press F8. Note If your Windows XP CD is an upgrade, you are prompted to insert a CD of a previous operating system to verify upgrade compliance. Remove the Windows XP CD, and then insert the CD from your previous operating system into the CD drive. You can use the CD to upgrade from the following versions of Windows: Windows 98 Windows 98 Second Edition Windows Millennium Edition Windows NT 4.0 Windows 2000 Professional
2.	When you are prompted for the Windows XP CD, remove your previous operating system CD, and then insert your Windows XP CD.
3.	To install Windows XP by starting the computer from the Windows XP CD, insert the Windows XP CD into your CD or DVD drive, and then restart the computer.
4.	When you see the "Press any key to boot from CD" message, press any key to start the computer from the Windows XP CD.
5.	At the Welcome to Setup screen, press ENTER to start Windows XP Setup.
6.	Follow the instructions on the screen to select and format a partition where you want to install Windows XP.
7.	Follow the instructions on the screen to complete Windows XP Setup.

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Method 3: Install Windows XP to a new folder

First, start your computer by using one of the following media:

•	Microsoft Windows 98/Windows Millennium Edition startup disk
•	Windows XP boot disks
•	Windows XP CD

For more information about how to start Setup from MS-DOS or a Windows 98/Windows Millennium Edition startup disk, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about how to obtain the Windows XP Setup boot disks, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Note If you want to start your computer from the Windows XP CD, your CD or DVD drive must be configured to do this. For information about how to configure your computer to start from the CD or DVD drive, see the documentation that is included with your computer or contact the computer manufacturer.

To install Windows XP to a new folder (also known as a parallel installation), follow these steps:

1.	Start your computer from the Windows XP CD. To do this, insert the Windows XP CD into your CD or DVD drive, and then restart your computer.
2.	When the "Press any key to boot from CD" message appears on the screen, press any key to start the computer from the Windows XP CD.
3.	At the Welcome to Setup screen, press ENTER to begin Windows XP Setup.
4.	Read the Microsoft Software License Terms, and then press F8.
5.	Select the partition in which you want to install Windows XP, and then press ENTER.
6.	Select the Leave the current file system intact (no changes) option, and then press ENTER to continue.
7.	Press ESC to install to a different folder. If the Setup program detects another operating system folder, it prompts you to type the name for the new folder after the backslash (\), for example, \WINXP. If there are no other operating systems detected, the Setup program automatically names the folder \Windows.
8.	Press ENTER to continue.
9.	Follow the instructions on the screen to complete Windows XP Setup.

For more information about how to change the folder name on new installations, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

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Method 4: Perform a clean install of Windows XP

A clean installation refers to removing all data from your hard disk by repartitioning and reformatting your hard disk and reinstalling the operating system and programs to an empty (clean) hard disk. You should back up all important information before you perform a clean installation of Windows XP.

For more information about important things to consider before you partition and format you hard disk and how to partition and format your hard disk by using the Windows XP Setup program, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: After you have backed up all important information, follow these steps to install Windows XP:

1.	Start your computer from the Windows XP CD. To do this, insert the Windows XP CD into your CD drive or DVD drive, and then restart your computer.
2.	When you see the "Press any key to boot from CD" message, press any key to start the computer from the Windows XP CD.
3.	At the Welcome to Setup screen, press ENTER to start Windows XP Setup.
4.	Read the Microsoft Software License Terms, and then press F8.
5.	Follow the instructions on the screen to select and format a partition where you want to install Windows XP.
6.	Follow the instructions on the screen to complete Windows XP Setup.

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Method 5: Perform a multiple boot operation

For more information about how to multiple boot Windows XP and other versions of Windows and MS-DOS, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

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For more information about how to troubleshoot installation problems, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: If you still have problems with installation, you might want to ask someone for help or contact support. For information about how to contact support, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

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For more information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information, visit the following Microsoft Web site:If these Microsoft Knowledge Base articles do not help you resolve the problem, or if you experience symptoms that differ from those that this article describes, please search the Microsoft Knowledge Base for more information. To search the Microsoft Knowledge Base, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Then, type the text of the error message that you receive, or type a description of the problem in the Search Support (KB) field.

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