Win XP Home: CLean install questions

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BrandtP

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Apr 7, 2002
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I am going to have to install WinXP myself. I will be reformatting my HD, then installing WinXP Home. I currently have a cable internet connection. What settings do I have to record to enable my Internet after installing WinXP? I am assuming since the connection has been activated by the ISP I should be able to plug in the network cable and be set.

Also, is there a list of tweaks for XP I can use?
Lastly, I will eventually upgrade my motherboard and CPU. Can this be done without reformatting the hard drive? IS there a comprehensive guide for amateurs like me for this?

Thanks in advance.
 
I have cable Internet access and I've never had to do anything at all to configure XP for it. The only thing that is done at all is to let some applications know that you have a broadband connection. IE will pick that up automatically, as will Outlook or Outlook Express (and everything else Microsoft).

Just go ahead and install. I usually recommend repartitioning AND reformatting on a clean install. The only hardware thing you need to keep an eye on is the case where your hard drive is bigger than 137 gigs. If that's the case, you'll either need to update XP to SP-1a (at a minimum) or download the drive manufacturer's utility to patch XP to support larger drives. The one thing you DON'T need to worry about is the cable access.


<font color=green>****</font color=green> Never Assume <font color=red>ANYTHING</font color=red> <font color=green>****</font color=green>
 
I have Comcast Cable Internet and I did a clean install before. I don't really have to do anything to get internet connection except plug the line into my NIC card. Even though, I did a clean install the speed of my download was only 200KP/s, which is good, but not great. After using a program to configure my internet connection, I can be faster and enjoy 2x the amount of speed.
Go to http://www.tweakxp.com/ for all your tweaking needs. They have great suggestions, but don't go overboard.
As far as determining to format the hard drive when upgrading to a new motherboard and CPU depend on what you getting. If from AMD system to Intel system or vice versa, then you would have to do a clean install. Otherwise, you will see a blue screen of death or memory dump. Sometime you have to do a clean install and sometime you could just reinstall OS, but it really depend.
 
Thanks for the answers, everyone. XRock, in regard to your internet connection, whenever I had a slowdown in performance, I would head to pcpitstop.com and run their internet connection optimization utility and things would improve. Unfortunately, you may have to do some searching as they moved it IIRC. It is a free utility, so don't get it confused with some of the pay services available on the site.
 
I use Befaster program to optimize my internet connection and it is not free. I'm getting 4 Mbit per sec and that as good as it will get. Of course if I want faster, that mean more money for more speed. Really, 4 Mbit is blazing fast comparing to dial up network. Can you image, I use to download hundred of songs using dial-up network when DSL or broadboard was not availiable. Now I'm able to down 1,000+ plus songs within matter of hours.
 
How much more optimize you could get depend on what they,the ISP provider promise you. For me, it is 4 Mbit. I see you have 6 Mbit and you still want more. It is true, you always want more speed even though you are still a lot faster than most people.
I remember I used to live at my dad house and have slow SBC DSL. I was only able to do 30 KB/sec. I don't know how or why SBC give that area DSL because that house was beyond their distance spec. An engineering person from SBC has to come to my dad house inorder to maintain a stable connection. Only DSL was availiable at the time and I was desperate, even though I'm getting crappy connection.
 
BrandtP: Technically, you haven't confirmed that you've clean installed Windows XP Home and got your internet connection running again. So, I'll reply...

Go to <b>Control Panel > Network Connections</b>

Right-click the connection that your cable modem is connected to, and go to <b>Properties</b>.

Select <b>Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)</b>, then click <b>Properties</b>.

If your ISP gave you any settings to enter in there when you set it up, there should be a bunch of information there that you'd need to write down. However, if both are set to obtain your IP and DNS server addresses automatically, you shouldn't need to do anything after Windows XP is installed.

Personally, if I didn't have my router connected to my DSL modem, I'd have to enter a username and password to "connect" to "start" my DSL connection. (I'm with SBC Yahoo DSL, dynamic IP.)

As for a list of tweaks, I haven't seen anybody mention Black Viper's website. So:

<A HREF="http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm" target="_new">Windows XP Home and Professional Service Pack 2 Service Configurations</A>

If you're upgrading the motherboard and processor, you need to reformat and clean install Windows. Otherwise, the chipset drivers will remain for the previous motherboard and will clash with your new motherboard.

<A HREF="http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=49901840" target="_new">Fred Langa's Favorite Tools, Utilities, And Add-Ons</A>

<A HREF="http://www.pcpitstop.com/internet/default.asp" target="_new">PC Pitstop Internet Connection Center</A>

<A HREF="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=slipstream+%22windows+xp%22+sp2&btnG=Search" target="_new">Slipstream SP2</A>

Oh yeah, right after Windows XP is done installing, it's best to install your motherboard chipset drivers first, NIC/audio/modem in between, then graphics drivers last. (Thanks Toey, it's stuck with me since you've mentioned it.)

Please reply and let us know how things are going! :smile:

Bryan Villarin
<A HREF="http://blogged.btvillarin.com" target="_new">All Narfed Up</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.btvillarin.com/index.php?showtopic=329" target="_new">My System</A>
 
Sorry, bt. I actually haven't even bought XP yet. I will order a copy from Newegg soon when the new hardware has been decided upon. Just doing lots of preemptive problem solving. I do appreciate your step by step help. As I have said in many other posts I sometimes need to be taken by the hand.

Thanks for pointing me to Black Viper's site. I stumbled onto it the other day and it truly is a wealth of information. The XP installation walkthrough with pictures was very informative.
 
Alrighty then, that's fine. At least we know what your status is right now. :wink:

I guess this will be <b>one</b> step-by-step guide you can check out:

<A HREF="http://www.theeldergeek.com/clean_installation_of_windows_xp.htm" target="_new">Clean Install Windows XP</A> (TheElderGeek.com)

I have some links on my main website pertaining to Windows XP stuff, if you wanted to sift through that as well. It's about to undergo an overhaul, so it's nothing to write home about. My blog, on the other hand, is where I'll post cool stuff I come across. (Yeah, a plug for my site - for shame!)

Anyways, if you do come across problems, you should probably start another thread to be more specific - unless you don't think this is enough info to help you get through a clean install. :smile:

See ya!

Bryan Villarin
<A HREF="http://blogged.btvillarin.com" target="_new">All Narfed Up</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.btvillarin.com/index.php?showtopic=329" target="_new">My System</A>
 
The cable/dsl modem has to be setup once, and when it is done it does not matter what PC (or router) is connected to it after, no need to call no body.

..this is very useful and helpful place for information...
 
Thanks everyone. I think that with all the posts and links to Eldergeek and Black Viper I should be okay. The whole APCI HAL issue wasn't covered on Black Viper so thanks for the link to Elder Geek. This clean install will be on a brand new motherboard, would that still be a potential problem? I would think by now that issue would have been resolved.
 
The only conflict would be if there's a hardware incompatibility. Otherwise, you're starting with a clean software slate (so to speak). You should be fine. :smile:

Oh yeah! If you want to be able to setup Windows XP without actually having ot be there, you should check out <A HREF="http://blogged.btvillarin.com/2004/09/16/nlite-a-gui-windows-install-customizer/" target="_new">nLite</A>.

I'm to clean install my own system with the latest version, except this time not removing anything. It helps a lot in terms of walking you through creating an <A HREF="http://unattended.msfn.org/" target="_new">unattended Windows XP CD</A>.

Bryan Villarin
<A HREF="http://blogged.btvillarin.com" target="_new">All Narfed Up</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.btvillarin.com/index.php?showtopic=329" target="_new">My System</A>
 
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