Order of Fresh Win XP Install?

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Keebler Elf

Keebler Elf

The Original Elf
Aug 31, 2001
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I'm going to try and do a fresh install of Win XP Home in the next couple days. Last time I tried it was a disaster and I gave up after three attempts. I think I may have resolved the lack of audio problem (onboard audio controller Disabled in BIOS) so hopefully things will go more smoothly. I also noticed that my BIOS Graphic Adaptor Priority is currently set to PCI/AGP (vs. AGP/PCI); I have an AGP card installed so I should probably also change this setting to AGP/PCI (even though my AGP card works fine right now...).

But my real question is this: What's the best order to install things?

This is what I'm thinking:

1) Format the hard drive for the OS;
2) Install Win XP;
3) Install mobo drivers (req'd for Internet connection);
4) Install Win XP updates from Microsoft;
5) Install video card and update drivers;
6) Install audio card and update drivers;
7) Install McAfee anti-virus;

At this point I'll stop and smell the roses to see if everything's working properly. If the install appears stable, I'll continue with:

8) PCI adaptor card for SATA (mobo doesn't support SATA) and update drivers;
9) Install various programs.

Does this look like a sound installation plan?
 
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wumpscut

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Aug 26, 2001
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Do you have a built in video card that you go with first? Then install a second video card in the AGP slot? If so you might be able to have the video card installed before installing windows as it might give it a generic video driver with a few colours, then do your motherboard drivers, then your video card. Same with audio, it might say unknown PCI device and then you can run the setup utility that will make your sound card work. But I think your way will work fine too.
 
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onehunglow

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A bit of advice. Once you have your system set up and running, ghost or copy your HD to another HD so that in the future you don't have to go through all the trouble. All you have to do is format your drive and copy back all the info.

This is especially important if you have to go through product activation and updates not only to your OS but programs as well.

I do this every year or two. (House Cleaning)
 
Keebler Elf

Keebler Elf

The Original Elf
Aug 31, 2001
14,608
229
63
The Keebler Factory
wumpscut said:
Do you have a built in video card that you go with first? Then install a second video card in the AGP slot? If so you might be able to have the video card installed before installing windows as it might give it a generic video driver with a few colours, then do your motherboard drivers, then your video card. Same with audio, it might say unknown PCI device and then you can run the setup utility that will make your sound card work. But I think your way will work fine too.
Click to expand...
My mobo has onboard audio & video. Doesn't your way give a greater chance of fucking up the installation? I've always figured start off as basic as possible and then slowly install everything else.
 
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tboy

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Aug 18, 2001
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You don't have to format your HDD before starting the install. During the XP install it will prompt you to do a) quick format or b) complete format.

Yes, you should disable any onboard devices that you won't be using on final install.

Once windows installs and has completed and started for the first time, you may be prompted to supply the disc for the mobo onboard devices. ALthough, XP comes with most generic drivers for just about everything now. The very first thing you should do after windows starts for the first time, is install the drivers for the mobo. NOTHING ELSE.

Before you begin, you might want to check and see if your bios is up to date. You can check that during startup (look for the version number) and then go to the OEM website and see if there are any updates.

Just remember, if you DO update your bios, you'll have to go back in and disable any onboard devices that you won't be using. When you update your bios everything gets set back to default.
 
Keebler Elf

Keebler Elf

The Original Elf
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When I put the Windows CD in, will I have the opportunity to DEL out to BIOS (to disable onboard audio) prior to the installation beginning?

Yes, I know about the formatting. I usually do it as part of the Windows install but I may just format the drive now since I'm using my current OS and can access the drive on which the new OS will be installed.

The first drivers I always install is for the mobo. I can't access the internet until I've done it so it's almost a moot point because otherwise I couldn't get updated drivers off the net. I upgrade the mobo even before I do the Windows updates.

If I know there are more recent drivers on the net than what I have on disk (in the case of my mobo, there's not so that's not an issue), is it better to install from the net rather than from the disk and then update drivers from the net?

My BIOS is up to date. I flashed it a while back and there's nothing newer since.
 
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tboy

resident smartass
Aug 18, 2001
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If you allow it to go past the startup screen and begin booting from the winXP install desk, no, you won't be able to return to bios.

If you hit delete while it is loading bios before it starts booting from the winXP install disc then yes you will.

Why not just set the bios now before even starting the install? That way when you reboot from the winxp cd you're good to go.

Also, you won't be able to format the drive that the os is on. The computer is operating from that disc in windows so by formatting, you'd be removing the OS that the computer is running on.

Put it this way: it'd be like rebuilding the engine of your car while you're driving down the street.....

Do you have two HDD? you could do the clean install on your second drive then reformat the original.

I'm not sure how to do this (can't remember) but when booting from the winXP disc, it does give you the option to exit to DOS. Once there, you can format your HDD.
 
Keebler Elf

Keebler Elf

The Original Elf
Aug 31, 2001
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They're separate drives. My current OS is on a different drive than the one I'll be using for the install. So I can reformat the other drive (which also has a specific partition for the new install OS) without interfering with my currently running OS.
 
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