Hello everyone, today we will talk about how to install Windows XP to your computer. I will write several options, for example, installation from a flash drive and in other articles - on a virtual machine. Windows XP is a very old system that evokes nostalgic feelings for many, so let's try installing it on a PC again and do a little work!

By the way, before installing Windows XP, I advise you to read the material: “”. This is necessary to set boot from disk to first place. If you are doing this from a flash drive, then read about, with which you can not rearrange drives, but immediately select a flash drive to boot.

Preparing to install Windows XP from a disc

If you have an old distribution kit with Windows XP lying around, then let's proceed directly to the installation. If you don't have a distribution kit, I recommend downloading the image from the following links:

https://win-torrent.net/windowsxp_torrent

http://free-max.ru/windows_xp

Using them you can find images without keys.

We enter the BIOS and move to the tab Boot or Advanced(depending on the BIOS version). We get into the parameter Boot Devices Priority and use the F5 and F6 keys to move the desired device to the first place, for example, a CD/DVD drive. Or Using Enter, select the desired boot device.

For the settings to be saved, you need to go to the tab Exit and select the option there "Exit & Save Changes".

If you have a different BIOS version, say Award, you can do the following: open the section "Advanced BIOS Features".

Select a parameter First Boot Device. Nearby there is an option HDD0, which is responsible for booting from the hard drive. Press Enter and select CDROM if you are booting from a disk.

To save the changed parameters, you need to go to the option in the main window "Save & Exit Setup". A red confirmation window will appear, where we press the button Y.

How to install Windows XP using a disc

Once you have done everything necessary and exited the BIOS saving the settings, you should see this black window with the phrase "Press any key to boot from CD", which means "press any key to boot from disk." Be sure to press any key for the installation to proceed.

The welcome menu is revealed to our eyes. There are several options here that we can use:

• Proceed directly to installing Windows XP.
• Recover Windows XP using the Recovery Console.
• Exit the installer.

Naturally, you need to select the first option by pressing the key ENTER.

In the next window, accept the terms of the license agreement using the key F8.

Now we need to deal with the sections. In this example we see three sections. You can delete all sections to put them together (done with the D key), or install them in a ready-made section. I'll select the drive called "Section 2", it just has the letter C. The selection is made by pressing the Enter key.

In the next window you need to select the formatting type. To completely clear the partition table, you can select full formatting, but this is not necessary. Select a parameter “Format partition in NTFS system<Быстрое>» .

Here is the installation of Windows XP. We've waited! During this process, the computer may reboot a couple of times. Now you know how to install Windows XP, or rather, how to get started.

As soon as the installation files are copied to the disk, a window will appear asking you to specify the regional data. In this case, click Next.

If you are asked to enter a product key, enter it. In case you downloaded another image, the key may be embedded in it, so you will not see this window.

Another window where we are asked to specify the date and time. Then press the button "Further".

"Skip" how to uninstall Windows.

I suggest looking at a few links

Reinstalling the operating system allows you to correct accumulated operating errors, reformat hard drives, and completely clear the registry. It is recommended to reinstall Windows XP every six months.

Step 1. When you turn on your computer, enter the BIOS and set your drive to be the first priority boot device.

On a note! You can boot from the drive in another way: during the procedure “POST" enter the boot menu and select yourCD-ROM orDVD-ROM.

Step 2. During installation, you will be prompted to download specific drivers for SCSI or RAID devices. These drivers are used for server systems, so you can skip this step for a home computer.

Step 3. Please review the End User License Agreement (EULA). To confirm your consent, press F8. In case of failure (ESC), the installation will be interrupted.

On a note! The agreement has several points that few people pay attention to. For example, according to the specified document, you have the right to copy the installation disk no more than twice for each paid license. This way you can avoid various lawsuits related to the use of unlicensed copies of distributions!

Step 4. Check out the capacity of your hard drive. To install to the selected partition, use the Enter key and go to step 7. If you want to change the number of volumes, go to step 5.

Step 5. Create the required number of logical partitions (volumes) of the hard drive by pressing the “C” key. Specify the size of the new volume.

Step 6. Specify the logical drive where you want to install XP.

Step 7 Check the desired option to format your hard drive.

Important! It is preferable to choose a full format rather than a quick format, since it checks for bad sectors. Please note that when installingXP volume selected for installation is completely cleared!

Step 8 Wait until the partition formatting process finishes.

Step 9 Wait until the process of copying system files finishes.

Step 10 To continue, a reboot is required; as a rule, it occurs automatically.

Step 11 After downloading, the system installation process begins.

Step 12 At the request of the installer program, configure the regional settings you need.

It is advisable to select the default layout as the one you use most often. You can change it later, in an already installed system.

Step 13 Setting up the ownership of programs is necessary for subsequent display in Windows XP of the name of the copyright holder of this licensed copy.

Step 14 When prompted by the installer, enter the key. As a rule, stickers with license keys are located on the computer case or on the original boxes for installation disks.

Step 15 Create and enter a computer name (required parameter), as well as a password for the “Administrator” account (optional parameter, but it is better to specify).

On a note! If your computer is not on a workgroup or domain network, you can specify any name. Otherwise, you should use the name in Latin, but make sure that it does not coincide with the previous one, otherwise problems may arise when connecting to a domain controller or another computer.

Step 16 Specify date and time settings.

On a note! When installing older versionsXP may have a problem with time zones. Currently, winter and summer time have been cancelled, but these transitions remain in the system. To avoid them without installing additional updates, specify your time zone for another country (for example, instead of Moscow, specify Istanbul).

Step 17 Network parameters are set as follows: if your computer should have a static IP, check the “Special parameters” option. If you select “Regular settings”, the network address of your computer, gateway and DNS server will be assigned automatically.

Step 18 Specify the domain or network group that your computer belongs to. The default is Workgroup.

Important! If you need to connect to a domain, it is better to specify it immediately during installation - this will allow you to quickly receive all operating system updates, security settings and standard workstation settings.

Step 19 Wait for the installation to complete.

Step 20. When prompted by your computer, give your consent to the system automatically adjusting your screen settings.

Step 21 Check the desired option in the Screen Resolution Wizard.

Step 22 Perform the final setup of the operating system according to the instructions.

Step 23 Check the desired system update option.

Important! Technical supportWindowsXP was discontinued in 2014, so there are currently no updates, with the exception of very important ones, for example, protection against ransomware viruses.

Step 24 Upon request, register your copy of Windows with Microsoft Corporation. Essentially, this feature provides access to all system updates.

Step 25 Specify computer users.

On a note! Users must be specified even if your machine is on a domain, since these records only apply to a specific workplace.

Step 26 Complete the installation wizard.

Step 27 After completing the Windows installation process, you need to update the drivers for all devices.

Conclusion

We have looked at the main points of OS installation, but do not forget about the difference between installing on a “stand-alone” machine and a station in the domain. Try to update your system drivers as often as possible to maintain stable operation.

Video - Installing Windows XP

Windows XP is one of the most popular operating systems and although it is many years old, many people still use this system. If you have an old computer that you want to restore, or if you want to install XP on a new computer, it won't take long.

Note: Microsoft no longer supports Windows XP, meaning it no longer provides updates for this system. So consider installing or.

Steps

Part 1

Settings

Your computer must meet (or exceed) the minimum system requirements to run Windows XP. You can find information about your computer's components in its instruction manual or by using DirectX diagnostics.

• To run DirectX Diagnostics, open the Run dialog box (press WinKey + R), type DXDIAG, and click OK.
• Minimum System Requirements
  • Processor: 300 MHz (Intel or AMD)
  • RAM: 128 MB
  • 1.5 GB free disk space
  • Video card: Super VGA (800x600)
  • CD/DVD-ROM
  • Keyboard and mouse
  • Network adapter (for connecting to the network)
  • Sound card and speakers or headphones

1. Find the Windows XP key. It is printed on a sticker that is located on the disc box or on the system unit. The key is a set of 25 characters, divided into 5 groups (5 characters per group). You will need the key to complete the Windows installation.

   Set your computer to boot from a CD/DVD (not your hard drive). This will allow you to boot from the installation disk. You can change the boot order in the BOOT menu in BIOS.

   Create users. After activating the system, a window will open in which you can create users. Enter your name and the names of the people who will be working on this computer. Click Next to continue.

• Don't forget to set the BIOS to boot from CD priority. On older computers, the BIOS has options to boot from floppy disk (Floppy), hard disk drive (HDD), and compact disc (CD-ROM). You need to select CD-ROM as the first boot device.
• If you encounter difficulties during the installation process, Windows Installer will provide detailed information about the error. Find the error on this site and read about how to fix it.
• Installation will take from 15 to 40 minutes. It all depends on the speed of your computer. It is better not to leave the computer, since during the installation process you need to configure network settings, time, etc.

Greetings. I decided to write about it today how to install Windows XP. They just brought me a computer, it’s kind of old, it’s already old. 256 MB RAM, Celeron processor, 40 GB hard drive. Well then? But whatever, XP is just right for him.

It’s just that everyone is already writing about installing Windows 8, but something has gone wrong with me. Well, oh well, I think that XP will still live, because whatever one may say, it’s a good OS and many people still work with it. I would like to immediately apologize for the photos; I took the photos on a 15-inch monitor and also on my phone. Ideally, of course, you could install Windows XP on a virtual machine and take beautiful screenshots, but I have a living example :).

Preparing to install Windows XP

Important! Make sure that drive C (the drive on which you have or have installed the operating system) does not contain information that is important to you. Desktop and folder "My Documents" is stored on drive C. If there is information, it can be copied to drive D using a boot disk.

If everything is fine, then we move on. Insert the Windows XP installation disc into your computer's drive and restart your computer. If, after the download starts, you see loading at the bottom of the screen (the dots will move), then everything is fine. Quickly press any key (we didn’t have time:), restart the computer again) and you can proceed to the beginning of the installation.

Well, if you didn’t boot from the CD, but the computer started booting as usual from the hard drive, or an error appeared that caused you to reinstall the operating system, then it means that you don’t have boot from the drive set first in your BIOS. I already wrote an article about that, but in this computer the BIOS was different from what is described in the article.

Go to the “Boot” tab.

Click “Boot Device Priority”.

Using the “Enter” and “Top” “Down” keys, set CD/DVD first, then the hard drive, etc. Now press F10 and save the changes. The computer will restart and the CD will begin loading. Press any button and proceed to the beginning of the installation.

Windows XP installation process

As soon as you press any key, we see this:

Here you will have to wait, well, nothing can be done, we wait :).

In this window, press “Enter”.

We accept the license agreement by pressing the F8 key.

As you can see, I have already found an old version of Windows XP and you can try to restore it, but I think you also need a clean installation, so press “Esc”.

We select the partition on the hard drive in which we want to install the operating system. As a rule, this is C:, select it and press “Enter”.

Confirm the installation with the “C” key.

Here you need to choose how the partition will be formatted. I advise you to choose FAT and not fast. Press “Enter”. Confirm formatting by pressing the “F” key.

We wait until the partition on the hard drive is formatted.

Copying files from the disk will start immediately, wait again :(.

You can immediately set up the language and keyboard. Click “Next”.

Enter your name and organization name. Go ahead.

Setting the time and date. Click “Next”.

We're waiting again, just don't go too far :).

I left “Regular settings” and clicked “Next”.

You can register with Microsoft. But I refused. Let's continue.

We specify users by computer.

Congratulations! Windows XP installation is complete.

All friends, the installation is complete and you can start using your computer. I also want to note that I installed the simplest build of Windows XP. You may also have an assembly, for example from ZWER, where the installation process may be slightly different. For example, in this version I still entered the key, I forgot to take a photo. But in the assembly from ZWER there seems to be no such item. Well, if it asks for a key, then look for it in the text file that you most likely downloaded with the disk image.

Well, that's it. Good luck friends!

Most often on the Internet you can find instructions on how you can install Windows 7, 8 or 10 as a second system when Windows XP is already installed on your computer. This is a relatively simple task that even an inexperienced user can handle, since a newer operating system always retains the bootloader of the old one and automatically creates a menu in which the user can choose when booting which system to boot - the new one or the previous one. In this article we will look at the opposite situation - when Windows 7, 8, 10 is installed on the computer, and the user wants to install Windows XP in parallel. The piquancy of the situation is that after installing Windows XP, the previously installed Windows 10/8/7 will stop loading and its bootloader will have to be restored.

Installing Windows XP as a second system after Windows 7/8.1/10

If you have a desktop computer, then it would be even better to use an SSD for modern Windows 7/8.1, and a classic hard drive for XP. In this case, you can temporarily disable the SSD with Windows 7-10 so as not to accidentally erase anything from it, calmly install XP and then proceed to configure the boot order.

METHOD 1. Installing Windows XP with a connected hard drive with Windows 7/8.1/10 or installing Windows XP on another partition of the same physical disk

This is a common situation that most users face. In addition, this method is suitable for inexperienced users who have several physical drives, but do not want or cannot disconnect the hard drive with Windows 7/8.1.

Attention! This method is not suitable for SSDs. If you want to install XP and 7/8.1 on an SSD, you will need to first prepare the drive for XP using the Alignment Tool, then install XP, and only then can you install Windows 7/8.1.

Step 1 Prepare the partition for the second operating system.

Create a partition on your hard drive where you will subsequently install XP. If you need to partition a disk or redistribute space between existing partitions, use the free MiniTool Partition Wizard Home program (Download from the official website).

Important! Prepare sections EXCLUSIVELY on Windows 7/8.1/10 BEFORE installing XP! We strongly DO NOT recommend partitioning the disk in the XP installer! All you have to do in the XP installer regarding partitions is select the partition you want and quickly format it!

Let's say you have three partitions on your disk:

1. Bootable (capacity 100MB for Windows 7 or 350MB for Windows 8/10)
2. System, where Windows 7/8./10 is installed.

For Windows XP, you create a fourth partition. Where it will be placed and from which section to cut off the area is up to you. Of course, it is more logical to arrange the sections like this:

1. Bootable
2. System, where Windows 7/8/8.1 is installed.
3. Windows XP installation section
4. Disk with user data.

Although you will format the partition in Windows XP Setup, you can format it in Windows 7/8/10 so that you can set a label. And the label will help you not to make a mistake in choosing the right partition in the XP installation program.

Step 2 Install Windows XP

Boot from the installation CD or bootable USB flash drive and install Windows XP on the prepared partition. Be extremely careful when choosing a section. Be guided by its size.

Select a section and click Enter:

Select an item Format partition in NTFS system (fast):

Further steps for installing Windows XP do not differ from its usual installation as the only operating system.

After installation is complete, boot into XP and install all necessary device drivers. Set up your network and internet (if necessary).

Step 3 Restore the bootloader of the first operating system and add an entry for the second previous generation system to it

A. Preparatory stage. Downloading support software

Click Register at the bottom of the page:

To download, just like it on behalf of your Facebook account or subscribe by email:

The program requires Microsoft .NET 2.0 SP2 Framework. You can download from the Microsoft website http://www.microsoft.com/ru-RU/download/details.aspx?id=1639:

1. Install Microsoft .Net 2.0 SP2 Framework.
2. Install EasyBCD program.

B. Restoring the Windows 7/8/10 bootloader

During the installation of XP, the Windows 7/8/10 bootloader got lost. Therefore, the first thing we need to do is restore it.

Launch EasyBCD.

1. Go to section BCD installation.
2. Select the partition where the Windows 7\8 boot loader was located before installing XP.
   In most cases, this is the very first partition, 100MB in size for Windows 7 or 350MB if your first system was Windows 8\8.1.
3. Select bootloader type - Windows Vista/7/8 in MBR
4. Click the button Rewrite MBR

After this, the Windows XP bootloader will be erased, and a new type of bootloader will be installed in its place.

Restart your computer. Now, instead of XP, your copy of Windows 7/10 should boot again.

Now our task is to add a second entry to the bootloader - to boot XP.

B. Adding XP boot entry to Windows 7/8/10 bootloader

Install EasyBCD in the same way again - now on Windows 7/8/10.

Launch EasyBCD.

1. Click Add a note
2. Select OS type Windows NT/2k/XP/2k3
3. Select a system name.
   This is the name that will appear in the menu when loading. We recommend removing the word Microsoft.
4. Click the button Add:

Now go to the section Current settings and check that the second boot entry is added:

After this you can click the button Edit boot menu, select the time for displaying the menu with a choice of operating systems at boot and rename the OS names. If you make changes, don't forget to click the button at the end Save:

METHOD 2. Installing Windows XP while the hard drive with Windows 7/8.1/10 is disconnected

This method, as we wrote above, is more suitable for desktop computers and only some laptops where it is possible to connect several data storage devices. The advantages of this method:

1. You don't risk accidentally erasing an already installed Windows 7/8.1/10 while installing XP.
2. If you unmount any of the physical disks, you will be able to boot from the remaining disk because this method places the boot loaders on different physical disks. You may only need to adjust the boot order in the BIOS.

Step 1 Turn off your computer. Disconnect the data cable from the hard drive on which Windows 7/8.1/10 is installed

Step 2 Turn on your computer and install XP on the remaining hard drive in the usual way - as if this Windows would be the only one. Install all necessary drivers.

Step 3 Turn off the computer and connect the hard drive with Windows 7/8.1/10 back to the previous SATA port.

Step 4 Download Windows 7/8/10.
If you haven't changed the boot priority in the BIOS, by default you should boot from the same drive into your old Windows 7/8/8.1.

A.Installing software for editing bootloaders

Install Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0 SP2 and EasyBCD (described in Method 1).

Now the only thing we need to do is add an entry to the Windows 7/8/8.1 bootloader about XP installed on another drive.

B.Adding the Windows XP boot entry to the Windows 7/8.1/10 bootloader

Follow these steps:

• go to the tab Add a note;
• select OS Windows;
• select type Windows XP;
• specify the desired system name in the OS selection menu;
• click the button Add for adding.

After this, restart your computer, select Windows XP from the menu and make sure that it boots from its hard drive.