How to Fresh Install Win XP (Step-by-Step Guide)

[ennma]

I don't know about copyrights though, because I don't believe I seen any disclaimer to the documents, but since you mentioned it I think I would rather not post on the net, I don't want to be sued.

ennma

[graywolf]

This tread has a lot of old information in it. Let's see if we can not come up with something a bit simpler:


1. Backup My Documents (if you want to save your personal data).

2. Find your old Windows XP Pro CD.

3. Download N-Lite (freeware).

4. Download the latest service pack from microsoft (currnently SP3)

5. Use N-Light to copy your CD to the hard drive.

6. Use N-Light to slipstream the service pack into the copy.

6a. N-Lite has a lot of other options you may want to investigate.

7. Use N-Lite to burn a new bootable CD of the slipstreamed copy of Windows.

8. Boot up the CD and do a new install.

9. Install Thinkpad drivers from Lenovo's site.*

10. Install desired software (This is a good time to upgrade).

11. Restore My Documents if you backed it up.

I just did this for a HD upgrade on my X24 this weekend, so know it works. It would have been simpler if I had all the software in one place before I started. It has been the quickest full install, I have ever done (even figuring the N-Lite learning curve in).


*NOTE: I discovered that the only drivers I actually needed from Lenovo were the PowerManagement Driver, and the Display Driver. The others seem to be optional as Windows has something that works for everything else.

[Marin85]

Do you think it makes difference if you install Lenovo drivers after installing XP or just integrate them in the XP install CD using nLite?

Marin

[califas]

Has anyone used a Dell XP Pro reinstallation disc instead? It is almost identical to a normal XP disc. I suppose I could extract the i386 folder from the Dell disc and use this guide to make a disc but if I can avoid doing this that would be great.

[deepti123]

awesome guide ....