What you’ll need

- A Computer (…duh)
- A Windows XP Installation Disk
- Windows XP License Key
- The ability to follow simple instructions

These directions are for someone who is going to re-format a disk and do a fresh installation of Windows XP

- With the computer on, put the Windows installation disc in the CD-ROM and restart the computer
- First you want to make sure your computer is set to boot from CD-ROM
- You can do this by pressing the button the computer specifies on startup to enter setup (usually Del or F2).
- Then move over to the boot menu and make sure CD-ROM is the first boot device in the list, if it’s not, change it to where it is the first boot device
- Then save and close (usually F10) and allow computer to reboot
- When the computer restarts and boots from the disc allow it to load the installation files
- When it asks what you would like to do, press Enter to install Windows
- Then when the Licensing Agreement comes up press F8 to agree
- Then the setup screen shows the partitions and OS’s already on the computer
- To format the drive to install a fresh version of Windows you will press ESC
- Then on this screen highlight any existing partitions and delete by pressing D
- Then press Enter to delete the partition
- Then press L to confirm the deletion of the partition
- Then you should have a whole disk full of Unpartitioned space, press Enter to install Windows in this space. (If you would like to create additional partitions, you can do that here as well)
- Then here you will want to choose “Format the partition using the NTFS file system” (it should already be highlighted)
- Then the formatting process will start and it could take a while so go grab a sandwich
- Then the setup will begin copying all the Windows installation files which will take a while also so grab some chips to go with your sandwich
- Then allow the computer to reboot (don’t “press any key to boot from cd”)

- From here on the Windows Graphic Installer will guide you through the rest of the simple setup.