Reinstalling Windows XP Home (Part 6): Configuring the work environment

This article is Part 6 of the Reinstalling Windows XP Home guide. This part explains how to configure the work environment.

To view the other topics of the Reinstalling Windows XP Home guide, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base articles that are listed in the "References" section.

The Reinstalling Windows XP Home guide includes the following topics:

When the hardware is ready for use, you can start to reconfigure your usual work environment. There is no specific set of rules for this procedure. Each user will experience different issues. However, there is a defined sequence to use when you configure the work environment. That sequence is as follows:

1. Install additional Windows components, if it is required.
2. Integrate the computer into the network, if it is required.
3. Establish an Internet connection.
4. Install programs and import data from the backup.
5. Reactivate Windows.

Install additional Windows components

You may want to post-install additional Windows components. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add or Remove Programs.
2. Click Add/Remove Windows Components.
   
   
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3. Select the components you want to add, click Details, click to select the check boxes next to the component parts you want to add, and then click Next.
   
   
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4. Insert the Windows CD in the CD drive, and then click OK.
   
   
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5. As soon as the components that you selected are installed, click Finish.

Integrate the computer into the network

You may have to integrate the computer into the network. If you are not sure of how to integrate your computer into the network, see the following guide. You may find it helpful to print this guide for future reference. For more information about how to set up a network that uses Windows XP Home Edition, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Follow these steps to view the network settings:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click System or Network Connections, and then examine the settings.

You created a computer name during installation. This name should therefore be correct. Windows specifies MSHOME as the default workgroup. If you have set up another workgroup, you can change the workgroup name.

Microsoft Network Client, file sharing and printer sharing, and the TCP/IP protocol are also already installed. By default, Windows uses Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) in the address range of 169.254.0.1 to 169.254.255.254. These TCP/IP settings may not be correct, and you may have to modify them.

When the network is operational again, you can reconnect to the network printers if this is not done automatically. You can also specify a local printer connection if this is required.

Establish an Internet connection

You can now configure the Internet connection. If you use a modem, ISDN or DSL, do the following to establish a connection:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Network Connections and then click Create a new connection on the File menu.
   
   Note Alternatively, you can install the access software that your Internet service provider (ISP) provided.
2. To share the Internet connection among multiple computers in the network, configure Internet Connection Sharing.
3. Install or enable antivirus software and a firewall.

Note For more information about how to establish an Internet connection, contact your ISP.

Install programs and import data from the backup

You are now ready to install programs and import data. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Install your application software and reconfigure your personal settings. To do this, follow the Installation Wizard instructions.
2. Restore your data from the backup.
3. If you are working on a network, you may have to configure permissions so that other users can access your data.

Reactivate Windows

As soon as everything functions appropriately, you can reactivate Windows when you are prompted.

For more information about this topic, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: This article is a translation from German. Any subsequent changes or additions to the original German article may not be reflected in this translation. The information that is contained in this article is based on the German-language versions of this product. The accuracy of this information relative to other language versions of this product is not tested in the framework of this translation. Microsoft makes this information available without warranty of its accuracy or functionality and without warranty of the completeness or accuracy of the translation.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.