Prepare your PC for Windows XP
Step 1: System Requirements
To use Windows XP, you need a PC with at least 233 MHz processor clock speed (300 MHz or higher recommended), Intel Pentium/Celeron family, AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor recommended; 128 MB of RAM or higher recommended (64MB minimum supported; may limit performance and some features); 1.5 GB of available hard disk space; super VGA (800 x 600) or higher resolution video adapter and monitor; CD-ROM or DVD drive; keyboard and mouse or compatible pointing device.
Step 2: First Things First: CD-ROM
Support for your computers CD-ROM drive and associated host adapter is essential, since Windows XP installs from the CD. Windows XP supports many SCSI and non-SCSI CD-ROM drives.
Step 3: Check the Hardware Compatibility List
You can use Microsofts Hardware Compatibility List, or HCL, to verify hardware compatibility with Windows XP. The HCL lists the hardware that has been tested and certified as compatible with Windows XP. You can access the HCL from http://www.microsoft.com/hcl.
Step 4: Not on the HCL?
A hardware item might still be compatible even if it is not listed in the HCL. Some devices emulate more common devices. For example, many sound cards emulate Sound Blaster cards, which are supported by Windows XP. Check with the manufacturer if your hardware is not listed to see if perhaps it emulates a more common device or if a Windows XP driver for the device is available. 
Compatibility Issues
Step 1: Overview
When planning a Windows XP installation, you will need to consider several compatibility issues that will determine how (or if) your programs will run in Windows XP.
Step 2: DOS Programs
Windows XP supports DOS and Win32 (32-bit Windows Applications) programs. In general, Windows XP can run DOS programs written for Windows 3.x. and programs that conform to the Window 9x compatibility standard. Check with the software publishers website to see if your program is compatible with Windows XP.
Step 3: Windows 3.x Programs
Windows XP also supports Win16 (16-bit Windows Applications) programs in addition to Win32. Windows XP can run programs written for Windows 3.x. and programs that conform to the Window 9x compatibility standard. Check with the software publishers website to see if your program is compatible with Windows XP.
Step 4: Dual Boot?
If you are upgrading your existing system to Windows XP, or if you intend to create a dual boot system between DOS/Windows 9x and Windows XP, you must verify your programs compatibility. Check with your software publisher or check out the Windows XP home page at http://www.microsoft.com.
Integrating With Other Operating Systems
Step 1: Integrating with UNIX
Windows XP integrates easily with UNIX. With its included TCP/IP protocol, Telnet and third-party support for NFS (Network File System used in Unix and Linux) and X Windows (Windows-like GUI for Unix and Linux), connecting to UNIX machines is simple.
Step 2: Integrating with Macintosh
Windows XP integrates easily with the Macintosh. Thanks to TCP/IP, Telnet and FTP, as well as AppleTalk, the Macintosh system integrates easily with a Windows XP machine.
Step 3: Integrating with NetWare
Windows XP integrates easily with Novell NetWare. Windows XP NetWare clients make it easy to connect Windows NT systems to NetWare servers, and also to emulate or even replace NetWare servers using Windows XP servers.
Step 4: Integrating with Windows9x
Windows XP integrates easily with various other Microsoft operating systems, including, of course, Windows 9x.
Understand File System Issues
Step 1: The FAT and FAT32 File Systems
One key compatibility issue you have to consider is your file systems. You have to decide whether to upgrade your file system to NTFS (NT File System). The FAT file system originated with DOS. FAT32 came as an add-on to Windows 95 and is included with Windows 98 and later. FAT32 offered many improvements over FAT, though neither provides the high level security and redundancy of NTFS.
Step 2: NTFS
The NT File System, or NTFS, provides many advantages over the FAT and FAT32 file systems. These advantages include recoverability, fault tolerance, security and more. In short, NTFS is the ideal option in most cases. You can convert your existing partitions to NTFS without any problems if you will be using Windows XP as your only operating system. If you have to have another non-NTFS compatible OS installed, you should leave the existing file system intact and create a new partition for NTFS.
Step 3: HPFS
Early versions of Windows NT supported OS/2 High Performance File System (HPFS). Windows NT 4.0 dropped HPFS support, and support has not been reinstated in Windows XP. A Windows XP computer cannot read or otherwise access HPFS files on a local drive. If your system contains an HPFS volume, you must convert the HPFS to FAT, FAT32 or NTFS. The only way to do this is to copy the files using OS/2 from the HPFS volume to a FAT volume, which can be accessed by Windows XP and converted to a NTFS volume.
Step 4: Disk Compression
Disk compression has been common in PCs for many years. It first became popular with the introduction of DoubleSpace and DriveSpace in DOS. Under Windows XP, you can compress and decompress individual files or directories. You will have to reconfigure your system if you intend to use Windows XP on a system that contains DOS or Windows 9x compressed DriveSpace volumes. To access files in the DriveSpace volume under Windows XP, you must copy the files to a non-compressed FAT volume outside of Windows XP.
Working with NTFS-5
Step 1: Defining Local Security
Windows XP uses local and network security to access resources. Network security is handled with share permissions as defined in the previous tutorial. Local security is specific to the machine where the resource resides. If Bob and Sally use the same computer, local security can be configured through NTFS so that Bob cannot see Sally's local folders and vice-versa. NTFS has stricter access controls than share permissions.
Step 2: Attributes of NTFS
NTFS is unique to Windows XP and Windows 2000. Other operating systems cannot see the file systems. This only affects you if you're booting Windows XP and another operating system on the same computer. It does not affect the ability to access network resources. NTFS has virtually no limit on partition sizes, it can be compressed, and it can set security down to individuals files within the same folder.
Step 3: Setting NTFS Folder Permission
To set NTFS permissions, right-click My Computer and choose Explore. Locate the folder on the NTFS partition to which you'd like to restrict access, right-click the folder and chose Properties. Click the Security tab, then click Permissions. From here, you can remove any account, edit the right to a resource, or click Add to allow more users or groups to access the resource.
Step 4: Editing Existing Security
To edit any existing security on a folder, right-click the folder and choose Properties. On the security tab, click Permissions and then add, remove, or edit the level of access to a resource.
Understand Security Issues
Step 1: Heightened Security
If you are upgrading to Windows XP, you need to be aware of the heightened security surrounding Windows XP. In Windows XP, each user has a pre-existing account created by an administrator on the computer in order to log in. This provides better security.
Step 2: Dual Boot Systems
Enabling users to dual-boot their systems between DOS or Windows 9x and Windows XP is a potential security risk. If the computers local resources must be secure, you should not leave DOS or Windows 9x on the system or allow the user to boot to either of these operating systems. Because of the lower amount of security in these systems compared with Windows XP, it is possible for an unauthorized user to access restricted information on the system.
Step 3: User Groups
Windows XP includes a default set of standard user groups, each with specific levels of access. Users in the Administrators group have access to all resources on the system. Administrators can create user accounts and groups, assign permissions to resources, control sharing of resources, and shut down the system.
Step 4: Level of Access and Password
Administrator access does not guarantee full access to all directories or files. A user can create a directory or file but not grant access to it as administrators. Make sure you remember the password you assign to the Administrator account when you install Windows XP. Without the password, you wont be able to log on after installation.
Retaining Network Settings
Step 1: Overview
Before you install a new copy of Windows XP in a LAN environment, you need to determine what network settings the PC will use. Before you update an existing Windows NT or Windows 9x installation to Windows XP, you should determine and record the computers existing network settings.
Step 2: Adapter Type
Know your adapter manufacturer/model in case Windows XP is incapable of detecting or incorrectly detects the NIC.
Step 3: Topology
Topology refers to what type of network you have, e.g., 10BaseT, Thinnet, etc. It is important to know in case Windows XP incorrectly detects or is unable to detect the topology.
Step 4: Domain or Workgroup
You will also need to know the name of the domain or workgroup in which computer will belong.
Choosing a Backup Method
Step 1: Overview
The method you use to back up your systems files depends on the operating system you are currently using, whether your system is connected to a network, and the type of local backup hardware is available to you, e.g., tape, floppy, or Zip.
Step 2: Local Backup
Simply copying files to a floppy disk is a good option if you have few document or other types of files to back up. If your system contains a tape or Zip drive, you might prefer to back up your data files to these devices. Before you proceed, verify that the backup hardware is compatible with Windows XP by checking the HCL.
Step 3: Network Backup
Another option is to back up your files to a network server. If you are considering this option, consult your network administrator to determine whether the space is available on a server and for help backing up your files.
Step 4: Install in Another Partition
Yet a third option is to leave all of your other OS resources intact and install Windows XP in a new partition. This is your only option if you are installing a dual boot system.
Backing up Critical Files
Step 1: DOS Systems
On DOS systems, back up your existing CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files. If you are using a network, back up the network files, such as PROTOCOL.INI and any other network configuration files specific to your network type. Back up all important document files as a precaution.
Step 2: Windows 3.x Systems
On Windows 3.x systems, you should back up your CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files. In addition, back up the SYSTEM.INI and WIN.INI files from your Windows directory as well as PROGRAM.INI, WINFILE.INI, CONTROL.INI and PROTOCOL.INI. You should really back up all of the .INI files in your Windows directory if you have the space. This will give you backups of all of your Windows system initialization files and your application INI files.
Step 3: Windows 9x Systems
You should back up your Windows Registry, initialization files, and system files.
Step 4: Windows NT Systems
If you are upgrading your existing Windows NT system to Windows XP, you should first back up the Registry. You should also consider backing up BOOT.INI, NTDETECT.COM and NTLDR from the root directory of the hard disk. These three files control the Windows NT boot process. In addition to backing up the files described here, you should have a Windows NT repair disk for your current Windows NT installation.
Planning the File System
Step 1: FAT/FAT32 Versus NTFS
WindowsXP is compatible with the FAT file systems used on DOS, Windows 95 systems, Windows 98, and the OEM/SR2 version of Windows 95. You can continue to use the FAT and FAT32 file systems. If you plan to use only Windows XP after you upgrade, then convert your FAT/FAT32 volume to NTFS, since DOS and Windows 9x dont support NTFS.
Step 2: Repartitioning the Drive
Back up the entire file system and create a bootable disk for your DOS or Windows 9x system to use if you have problems. Using FDISK, delete the existing partition and create a new partition for the FAT volume, leaving space for the NTFS partition. Format the FAT partition with FORMAT. Reinstall the previous operating system and restore the files to the FAT volume from the backup set. Then run Windows XP Setup to create the NTFS partition.
Step 3: HPFS Volumes
Microsoft dropped support for the HPFS file system with the introduction of Windows NT 4.0. If your system contains an HPFS partition and you want to continue to access it under Windows XP, you have to convert the HPFS partition to an NTFS partition.
Step 4: Converting from HPFS
To convert an HPFS volume to NTFS, you will need two programs: CONVERT.EXE, a Windows XP utility that converts a FAT or HPFS volume to NTFS, and NT. BACKACC.EXE, an OS/2 utility that copies the HPFS access control lists to a file. After converting the volume to NTFS, use ACLCONV.EXE to incorporate the access control lists into the new NTFS volume.
Planning Network Options
Step 1: Overview
After you plan how to incorporate your existing file system under Windows XP, you need to consider your options for networking. During installation, Setup prompts you to specify whether you want your system to become part of a network or domain. The choice you make depends on your LAN structure and how your workstation will participate on the network and access resources. If you are not sure which model to use, ask your network administrator.
Step 2: Choosing a Protocol
In addition to determining what role your computer will play on a network, you will need to decide which network protocols, clients and services you will need to use.
Step 3: NetBEUI
NetBEUI is cannot be routed. For this reason, NetBEUI is not a good choice for large networks. However, the ease with which you can configure it makes it ideal for small networks that dont require routing.
Step 4: NWLink (IPX/SPX)
Microsoft developed NWLink to be compatible with Novell NetWares IPS/SPX protocols. NWLink offers the advantages of NetWare compatibility, routability, and ease of configuration.
Step 5: TCP/IP
Despite being one of the oldest protocols, TCP/IP provides excellent performance, reliability and routability. TCP/IP works well in any size network and is a necessity for connecting to the Internet. The only downside to TCP/IP is that it requires considerably more configuration than some of the other protocols.
Getting Help
Step 1: Displaying Help Contents
To get help using the table of contents, open the topic(s) until you see the help page that best describes your question or problem. For example, click Files and Folders, and you will see the page topics.
Step 2: Displaying Help Topics
To get help using the table of contents, open the topic(s) until you see the help page that best describes your question or problem. For example, click Files and Folders, and you will see the page topics.
Step 3: Clicking Page Topics
When you click the page topic, the help information is displayed on the right side of the Help window. You can scroll through this page to read the information. Some topics include definitions of terms (indicated with an underline) or Related Topics links. Click the term to display a pop-up definition. Click the link to go to that page.
Step 4: Finding Topics In The Index
If you can't find what you are looking for using the Contents tab, you can look for a topic in the index. Click the Index tab, then type the word or phrase to find. As you type, Windows scrolls to display matching entries.
Step 5: Double-Clicking Index Topics
When you see the topic you want in the index listing, double-click it. You see the related help information in the right window pane.
Step 6: Searching for Help
Another way to get help is to search for a word or phrase. Click the Search tab, type the word or phrase to find, then click the List Topics button.