1. Chapter 3 Installing Windows XP Professional

2. Preparing for installation Pre-installation requirement; ◦ Hardware requirements ◦ Hardware compatibility list check ◦ Hard disk partition ◦ Suitable file system ◦ Join domain/workgroup or standalone PC

3. Hardware requirements Processor 300Mhz or higher Memory 128MB or higher Hard disk 1.5GB is min requirement Network interface card (NIC) Video adapter super VGA (800x600) or higher CD ROM drive / bootable floppy Input devices.

4. Hardware compatibility list (HCL) To obtain latest list, visit http://winqual.microsoft.com/HCL/

5. Hard disk Logical section of hard disk on which computer can write data is called disk partition. Partition allows a division of single physical hard disk space in multiple areas & each of which is treated differently

6. Required file system Windows XP Pro supports; ◦ File Allocation Table (FAT) ◦ File Allocation Table -32bit (FAT-32) ◦ NTFS FAT ◦ 2 types namely FAT/FAT16 & FAT32 ◦ Windows 95 & DOS supports FAT ◦ Windows 98, Me, 2000 & XP supports FAT32

7. Required file system NTFS ◦ Windows NT, XP, 2000, 2003 & Vista supports NTFS ◦ More security & flexibility compared to FAT32 ◦ When using dual OS, then use FAT32 ◦ Advantages ;  File & folder-level security  Disk compression  Disk quota  Data encryption

8. Join domain / workgroup During installation, you will be prompted whether you want to join domain or a workgroup Joining domain requires ◦ A domain name ◦ A computer account ◦ An available domain controller & DNS server Joining a workgroup requires ◦ A new/an existing workgroup name

9. Join domain / workgroup Domain ◦ A logical grouping of computers that share common security & user account information. ◦ This information is stored in a master directory database (SAM) which resides on a window server designated as domain controller Workgroup ◦ A collection of individual computers working together on a task in a local area environment (LAN). ◦ Workgroup provides easy sharing of files, printers & other sharing devices.

10. Installing over network Windows XP installation files are located on a shared folder on a distributed server during network installation. Target computer need to be connected to distributed server & setup is executed then.

11. Installing over network Requirement ◦ Distributed server ◦ FAT partition on target computer ◦ Network client Distributed server ◦ A computer which contains the shared Windows XP installation files that can be accessed by network client ◦ Located in I386 folder of Windows XP Professional installation CD ROM ◦ This file need to be copied & shared over the server

12. Installing over network FAT partition ◦ Target computer need FAT partition to copy the installation files. ◦ Partition size must be at least 1.5GB of hard disk space. Install a network client ◦ Is the software that allows target computer to connect to a distributed computer ◦ If you don’t have OS installed, then you have to boot from a client disk that includes a network client allowing for connection.