2009 Build Your Own PC Setup: Install Windows XP

[Erroltuckerx]

his voice makes me sleepy.

[Death6able]

hey i just got a computer but it wasn't setup wat do i do now

[aurangzib]

hey so you can put 2 hard drives in a computer

[pcfix411]

Mindbitesdotcom, Not just another video, this one stands out.

[numptybaws3]

If I buy a PC with no operating system how do I get my existing XP onto my new hardrive in the new computer?

[Mindbitesdotcom]

With your XP CDs. Although, if you're buying a new computer you should seriously consider upgrading to Windows 7.

[coolboy00173]

2 GB Ram is good for 250GB Hard Drive.

[Mindbitesdotcom]

a 250GB drive will be woefully small by today's standards.

[Kevinfootball]

Is a 2GB hard drive good

[Mindbitesdotcom]

A 2GB hard drive is comically undersized by today's standards. You will probably want at LEAST a 500GB drive but a 1TB drive should be what you're looking at when building a new machine.

[nordthernlights]

no............

[homiegmarkster]

i took apart my old emachine that wasnt working and put it back together and it actually works i didnt even put new thermal paste on i just left the old stuff, the only hard thing was getting the power button light and power switch wired correctly, cause i forgot where all the wires went

[Mindbitesdotcom]

Well done! Some of the most uncertainty in building a machine is where those little LED wires go and where the front USB and Power button wires connect.

[aksolder]

i have an old harddrive and a new computer with a new harddrive . i want to take out the new harddrive and put the old one and isnstall the xp. after that if i put the new harddrive back would it change anything or hurt the new harddrive or hurt the computer? PLS anyone reply

[Mindbitesdotcom]

Why do you want to take out a new hard drive with (I assume) Vista on it and install XP on a old hard drive?

[Orsiepompom]

what exactly does partitioning do?

I'm building a PC, I know the physical aspects, but not so sure about BIOS/ software

[Mindbitesdotcom]

Partitioning is the process of taking your hard drive and dividing it up into different virtual drives. Once partitioned your computer will see two hard drives instead of one. This is good if you run multiple operating systems as well as being a great way to separate your operating system from your files to try and reduce the damage that viruses can do.

Building your own PC is a great way to learn! Just go slow and be sure to ask lots of questions if you're unsure!

[Orsiepompom]

ah, thankyou, I see now. But why did you partition the 1TB HDD into 1 1TB HDD, for future partitioning, perhaps?

[Mindbitesdotcom]

Because when you get a brand new hard drive it isn't formatted to be recognizable by your operating system, creating a single partition is the simplest way to use all of the space your hard drive offers.

[Orsiepompom]

ok, so if I want a 500gb drive (only one) and want to install vista on it, I partition it to 1 500gb partition, then continue. All my files will also be stored on that partition?

[Mindbitesdotcom]

Yep. That's the standard way that almost every OEM computer is set up.

[Orsiepompom]

k, thanks alot for the help, I'm gonna do my first build very soon, so I just want to be certain about everything :)

doesn't seem too difficult, the only daunting thing is that all the parts are so pricey and if something were to go wrong... :S

[Mindbitesdotcom]

A good test if you're unsure is to go on Craigslist or wherever and pick up an old running desktop for $50 or whatever. Take it all apart, put it back together, if you break something no big deal! 

Something to consider.

[Orsiepompom]

I already have an old win98 to XP upgraded PC, it's unused, I guess I could just try and take everything apart and put it back together, no biggy if a part breaks. also, I've already opeed it up and examined it, everything seems simple enough, I'm sure I can do it, thanks for the help :)

[Mindbitesdotcom]

Actually disassembling everything into it's base parts will give you great experience and give you an even better place to start from when you begin building!

[jk001ful]

i knew how to do this long time a go!!!!!!!!!

[She7a99]

Thnxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[smartbro678]

ummm is it similar to vista when you install it?

[Mindbitesdotcom]

Very similar. It may look different but the steps are essentially the same!