Installing windows vista

Recommended minimum hardware requirements for Windows Vista

The following list describes the recommended minimum hardware requirements for basic functionality of the different editions of Windows Vista. Actual hardware requirements will vary, depending on system configuration and on the programs and the features that you install. If you install Windows Vista over a network, additional hard disk space may be required.

Windows Vista Home Basic

• 800-megahertz (MHz) 32-bit (x86) processor or 800-MHz 64-bit (x64) processor
• 512 megabytes (MB) of system memory
  Note On system configurations that use system memory as graphics memory, at least 448 MB of system memory must be available to the operating system after some memory is allocated for graphics.
• DirectX 9-class graphics card
• 32 MB of graphics memory
• 20-gigabyte (GB) hard disk that has 15 GB of free hard disk space
• Internal or external DVD drive
• Internet access capability
• Audio output capability

 

 

 

1) Shall we begin? (Image 1.1)

After configuring the system for booting from a CD/DVD, the Windows Setup screen appears.
At this point, Setup is loading the driver files it needs to continue with installation.

 

 

 

 

2) Progress Bar: (Image 1.2)

The next screen is a more graphical progress bar indicating Windows Vista is still working in the background.

 

 

 

 

3) Option Selections: (Image 1.3)

The first options you will come across are selections for Language, Time and currency format, and Keyboard layout.
Make your selections by using the pull down menus and press the Next button.

 

 

 

 

4) Install Now: (Image 1.4)

Here we have the option of repairing a previous installation or "Install Now."
Highlight the "Install Now" button to continue to the next screen.

 

 

 

 

5) Please Wait: (Image 1.5)

Windows Vista is working in the background. This may take several minutes depending on the system.

 

 

6) Product Key: (Image 2.1)

This screen is where you enter your product key or "CD Key" as it is sometimes called.
An option also exists to automatically activate Vista upon first coming online. I uncheck this box to ensure everything is running smoothly before activating and having issues later on. 30 days is the standard amount of time before activation is required, though some products (such as MSDN subscriptions) have 60 days or more.
After entering your product key, press the Next button.

 

 

 

7) License Agreement: (Image 2.2)

Here we see the License Agreement you must accept before continuing.
After reading the agreement, check the box next to "I accept the license terms".

 

 

 

8) Option Selections: (Image 2.3)

Here we would be able to choose an "Upgrade" install (if running setup from a previous version of Windows, such as XP) or a "Custom" (clean) install.
Select the whole box containing "Custom (advanced)" to continue to the next screen.

 

 

9) Hard Drives: (Image 2.4)

This is where you can select which hard drive/partition to install Vista on. Since this system only has one hard drive, only one place Vista can go. Advanced options are shown in the next screen shot.
This is also where you would install drivers for your RAID/ACPI controller by using the "Load Driver" option. After the installation of the RAID/ACPI drivers, your hard drives should appear as shown tot he right.
If no additional drivers are needed, select the Next button.



 

 

 

10) Advanced Options: (Image 2.5)

The advanced options allow creation of multiple partitions and the option of formatting existing partitions.
After finishing your particular partition configuration that you desire, select the Next button.

 

 

 

 

11) Installing...: (Image 3.1)

Here is where Vista installs major components of the OS. This process can take 10 to 60 minutes depending on the system.

 

 

 

 

 

12) Reboot: (Image 3.2)

Here we see the system needing to reboot to continue installation tasks.
You can hit the Restart Now button or just allow the reboot to happen automatically after several seconds.

 

 

 

 

13) First Time: (Image 3.3)

Here we see a "..." progress as Vista tries to start for the first time. This process may take several minutes before going to the next screen.

 

 

 

14) Completing Installation: (Image 3.4)

Vista continues to install at this screen. Depending on system, another reboot or two may happen before the next screen is displayed.

 

 

 

15) Account Creation: (Image 3.5)

Here is where we create the first user account for the system and select an icon to be displayed on the login screen. Ensure you password your account.
After finishing entering your information and icon selection, select the Next button.

 

 

16) PC Name: (Image 4.1)

Here is where we can name the system for networking purposes. By default, it uses the account name entered in the previous step and adds "-PC" to it. We can also select a background for the desktop.
After making your selection, select the Next button.

 

 

 

 

17) Updates: (Image 4.2)

Here we can configure Windows Update with several options. I suggest "Use recommended options" or the top option for most PC users.

 

 

 

 

18) Time Settings: (Image 4.3)

Here is where you can set the time and daylight savings time options.
After configuring your time zone, clock settings and date, select the Next button.

 

 

 

19) Network Configuration: (Image 4.4)

Vista now asks our network configuration by asking "Home, Work or Public Place."
Descriptions are expanded on screen so I will no go into them here.
Make your selection to continue to the next screen.

 

 

 

20) Thanks!: (Image 4.5)

On this screen, we are thanked by Bill G. for installing Windows Vista.
After you are done being thanked, select the Next button.

 

 

 

 

21) PC Performance: (Image 5.1)

Vista now checks the system performance to automatically configure a few options. This may take several minutes while the system does this and it will only do it this one time.

 

 

 

22) Login: (Image 5.2)

We are finally greeted with the login screen, however, there is still more configuration to come.
Enter in your password that you used previously during the install process and hit ENTER or the little blue arrow to login.

 

 

 

23) Desktop Setup: (Image 5.3)

Your account profile starts being created here starting with your personal desktop configuration. More happens on the next screen. This process will also take several minutes, but only happen once.

 

 

 

 

24) Account Profile: (Image 5.4)

Vista now sets up profile configurations for Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player as well as a few more Windows applications. This could take several more minutes but we are almost there!

 

 

 

25) Welcome Screen: (Image 5.5)

Vista is installed!
On this screen, we are presented with our system configuration as well as several different options.
I hope you enjoyed this install guide and I thank you for reading!

Here's What You Need to Use Windows XP Professional

•           PC with 300 megahertz or higher processor clock speed recommended; 233 MHz minimum required (single or dual processor system);* Intel Pentium/Celeron family, or AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor recommended

•           128 megabytes (MB) of RAM or higher recommended (64 MB minimum supported; may limit performance and some features)

•           1.5 gigabytes (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 Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device

Start the computer from the Bootable CD of Windows XP.

1) Shall we begin?

After configuring the system for booting from a CD, the Windows Setup screen appears. At this point, Setup is loading the driver files it needs to continue with installation.

 

2) Welcome to Setup:

The "Welcome to Setup" screen appears with the option of Continuing Setup, Repair a previous installation, Quitting. Press ENTER to Continue Setup. You may also choose R to Repair or F3 to Quit and reboot the system.

3) Windows XP Licensing Agreement:

The "Windows XP Licensing Agreement" screen, otherwise known as "EULA," displays the legal in's and out's of this particular software package. You may press F8 to signify that you agree with the terms, hit ESC if you do not agree and PAGE UP or PAGE DOWN to scroll through each screen. Note: If you do not agree to the terms, setup will quit and reboot the system.

 

4) Insert the previous version

As this is an Upgrade, a previous qualifying product is required to be inserted in the CD drive to continue. Even though Microsoft states that "Windows 95" cannot be upgraded to XP Home, the CD is good enough for a clean install. At this point, the options include pressing ENTER to Continue or F3 to Quit and reboot the system.

5) Hard drive partition information:

Hard drive partition information is now displayed. This varies with each systems hardware configuration. This example already has a partition defined. I will choose not to use this and create a new one by pressing D. You may skip this and the next few steps if you do not have any partitions defined. At this point, the options include pressing ENTER to Install on the selected partition, D to Delete the selected partition, or F3 to Quit and reboot the system.

6) Warning screen:

After pressing D to delete the selected partition, a warning screen appears explaining the pitfalls of deleting it. This particular screen only appears when the partition selected to be deleted is formatted as a bootable system partition. Other partitions will display the next screen. I want this to happen, so I press ENTER to continue. The options include pressing ENTER to continue, or ESC to Cancel.

7) Confirmation screen:

A confirmation screen that displays the logical drive, what file system the partition is currently using, the size in MB and controller information. Options include L to Delete the partition and ESC to Cancel the action.

8) No partitions have been previously defined:

If no partitions have been previously defined, this screen will be displayed. You may section your hard drive in as many partitions as you wish by selecting C to Create a Partition and then entering in a value less then the total available. Here, I will Create a Partition in the highlighted, unused portion. Select the partition you wish to install to using the UP arrow and DOWN ARROW keys. Press ENTER to use the highlighted partition and Install, C to Create a Partition, or F3 to Quit and reboot the system.

9) Enter in the partition size:

Enter in the partition size in MB within the displayed minimum and maximum. I chose the default or maximum available here. You may choose ENTER to Create the new partition or ESC to Cancel the action.

10) Continue to create partitions:

Continue to create partitions until all space is used or the configuration meets your requirements. Note: a small portion will be unavailable to partition. This is normal. In this example, it is 2 MB. I chose drive C: or Partition1 to install the Operating System You may choose ENTER to Install to the selected partition, D to Delete the highlighted Partition, or F3 to Quit and reboot the system.

11) Format the partition:

Since this OS supports NTFS, format the partition with it. If you do not, many folder and file security features will be unavailable. Note: If you are dual booting your system, a previous OS will not be able to read the local information. This is a fact with Windows 9x and Me. If you have a requirement to view this partition from another OS installed on the system, do not format it as NTFS. Also, the boot partition must be formatted with FAT32 if you wish to dual boot. I have found no problems accessing a NTFS partition mapped as a network drive from an older OS. Select what format you wish to use by pressing the UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW keys. Press ENTER to confirm your selection and Continue or ESC to Cancel

12) Setup formats the partition:

Watch the progress bar as Setup formats the partition, or get up and get a soda. It may take awhile.

13) Creating File List:

Setup is now figuring out what files to copy over to the hard drive.

 

14) Setup copies various files:

After the partition is finished formatting, Setup copies various files to support booting from the hard drive and continue on.

 

15) Creates various information files:

Setup then creates various information files required to continue on with setup.

16) Press ENTER to Restart:

The first reboot and the end of the blue background has arrived. If you are impatient, press ENTER to Restart before the 15 seconds expire. ENTER to Restart the Computer is the only option available.

 

17) Windows XP boot screen:

The new Windows XP boot screen is displayed. Now you need to boot from hard disk drive not from your cd as we have done previously.

18) Windows XP Installation:

If you have installed Windows before, this type of screen will look familiar.

Sit back. It may be awhile.

19) Faster and more reliable:

Every Windows OS that comes out has the same claim. Faster and better. It is subject to debate whether or not it could get "any worse."

20) Region and Input Languages:

A little while later, you will be prompted with options of configuring your Region and Input Languages. The default was fine for me, so I selected Next.

Options include Customize button, Details Button, plus the standard Back and Next.

21) Enter in your Name:

Enter in your Name and optional Organization information, and then select the Next button.

22) 25 digit Product Key:

Thought you could get away from it? Think again Enter your unique 25 digit Product Key that came with your CD, then select the Next button.

23) Enter a Computer name:

The "suggested" name for the computer is always really whacked out. Choose one that meets your needs.

24) Date, Time and Time Zone:

Configure the proper information for the Date, Time and Time Zone here.

 

25) Network Settings Dialog:

The Network Settings Dialog is next. Under usual circumstances, the Typical settings are fine. Choose your method and select the Next button

 

26) Display Settings Pop-up:
               Windows XP no longer likes the "default" resolution of 640 x 480 and prompts you of that fact. Select OK to continue.

 

27) Please wait:

800 x 600 is a wonderful thing; however, I chose to have it time out and return to 640 x 480 for this guide.

28) The Welcome Screen:

The "Welcome Screen" will now appear while Windows XP Hod in the background.

 

29) Display Settings Pop-up:

A balloon dialog appears

30) Windows XP tour: Click the balloon dialog to start a tour of Windows XP. Even if you do not wish to see the information, you should click on the balloon to get rid of the annoyance in a timely fashion.

 

1) Windows XP Tour dialog: Windows XP Tour dialog popup is shown. Select the Cancel button to never see it again.

32) Activate:

A little reminder also appears in the task bar about activating.

33) That is all!

That's all there is to it! I hope this guide helped you out or gave you a sneak peek at what is to come. More information about  Windows XP is located HERE