Install The Operating System

At this point, the CD-ROM drivers are installed. So, you are ready to install the operating system. You can choose whatever operating system you wish. I generally use Windows, as do most people. For the sake of this tutorial, I will assume you are installing Windows. I will offer a broad outline of the installation processes to each version of Windows I think you have any chance of using.

As a note, as we all know, a lot of the Microsoft operating systems out there are “upgrades”. This means that it will ask for and check to make sure you have a previous version of the OS before installing. In some cases, if you only have upgrades, you may need to install more than one operating system on a machine to eventually get the one you want. For example, my version of Windows XP is an upgrade. To get it installed, I typically install Windows 98 first. Since it itself is an upgrade, I have it detect some old Windows for Workgroup diskettes I have. The reason I use Windows 98 as a start is because you can run its setup directly from DOS, whereas you cannot run Windows 2000 or XP setup programs directly in DOS Mode. Once 98 is installed, I turn around and install Windows XP (or Windows 2000 if you wish) as a “New Installation” rather than upgrade (although that’s my personal preference). This is described below. When you are done, you can use the built-in OS Loader to choose which operating system you want to use when you boot.

Windows 95 Installation:

Begin Setup. At the DOS prompt, type "D:setup". If your CD-ROM is a letter other than D:, type in that drive letter instead.
SCANDISK. Once begun, the setup program will begin to run a SCANDISK on your hard drive. This will proceed automatically and, hopefully, without error. If you get an immediate error stating that you have no extended memory manager, don't fret. This is probably because this drive is brand new and you don't have DOS installed on it. Simply hit ESC and move on.
Welcome Screen. At this point, you will see the graphical interface of Windows 95 and a Welcome screen. You should see a mouse cursor. Makes sure your mouse works. If not, double-check its connections. You can setup Win95 without a mouse, but I wouldn't recommend it. Now, hit "Continue".
License Agreement. You should see the Setup Wizard load, then a license agreement. Read it, if you want, then click Yes.
Setup Start. Setup will tell you all about the three phases of this install process. How nice of Microsoft to warn us.=) Click Next.
Choose Install Directory. You will be prompted to tell the computer what directory to install Windows to. The default is C:WINDOWS, and I strongly recommend leaving this value at default.
Options. Upon continuation, setup will run some routine tests on your system. After this, you will be offered four options for a setup routine, "Typical", "Portable", "Compact", and "Custom". Pick the options that best suits you. For most people, I recommend choosing "Typical". If you wish to have more control over what Microsoft would like to install on your machine, choose "Custom".
Authentication Code. Setup will prompt you for a long string of numbers and letters that proves you indeed bought this software. This code should be available with a Certificate of Authenticity.
Hardware Search. At this point, setup will analyze your computer to see what components are installed. When asked if it has a MIDI or sound card, or video capture card, check the appropriate boxes. This search may take several minutes, and expect your hard drive to be very loud and active.
Select Components. Windows will ask you which components you would like to install. Simply click on those you want. I recommend choosing at least Accessories, Communications, Multimedia, and Disk Tools.
Network Configuration. Even if you don't have a network, Windows will want to add a network card. Just accept the defaults and move on. This can be fixed later.
ID. You will be asked for your network identification. Just type something in for each line just to make Windows happy. You can always change these names later.
Double-Check Settings. Change any settings that aren't right. Some drivers will have to be installed later.
StartUp Disk. Windows will ask you if you want to make a startup disk. Make one if you would like. You can always make one later as well.
Copy Files. Setup will now copy all of the files to your computer's hard drive. This may take awhile depending on the speed of your system. When it is finished, click "Finished".
First Boot. Well, first Windows 95 boot. You will see a nice blue screen. At the bottom, it will say "Getting Ready To Run Windows 95 For The First Time". It will do some thinking, and it might take a while. Just let it go.
Password. You might be prompted for a password. Just hit "Cancel".
Hardware Setup. Windows will now detect all plug-and-play devices and configure them automatically.
Time Zone. You will see a lovely world map. If you are installing OSR1, you can click on the map on your location and set the time zone. In OSR2, Microsoft made the map unclickable (to be politically correct with regards to border disputes) so you will have to chose it manually below.
Add Printer. The Add Printer Wizard will appear. You can install your printer now, if you like, or later if you want. If you'd like to wait, just hit "Cancel".
SetUp Finished. You will see a dialog saying setup is done. Click OK and the system will reboot.
Check Settings. Upon reboot, you should see basic Widows 95. At this point, you can check a few things to just to make sure setup did its job and that there are no problems. Right-click on "My Computer" and choose "Properties". Then, just double-check everything. Is the correct CPU detected? Right amount of memory? All of your hardware listed?
Optimize the OS. At this point, you might as well optimize the system a tad from the start. Follow the procedures in the section on OS optimization. This includes optimizing your swap file and disk cache settings, integral components of performance that Microsoft configured poorly.
Install Additional Drivers. If you're like most, you have additional hardware that is not yet set up. This probably includes your video card, sound card, modem, etc. Install these drivers now. Follow the procedures outlined in their documentation. You may have to reboot a few times.
Last-minute changes. At this point, reboot your machine and make sure all parts work. Then, change your wallpaper, screensaver, etc to match your innermost desires. Then, YOUR DONE!
Windows 98 Installation:

Your CD-ROM drive should already be set up. If you had the luxury of a Windows 98 system disk, you can get the CD-ROM going easily by using this disk to boot the system and choosing to boot with CD-ROM support when asked.
Type “Setup” at the command prompt to start the process. It will warn you that setup is going to do a routine check on your system. This is fine. Press Enter.
It will do it’s thing. When its done, you’ll be presented with the Windows 98 setup screen, with the Welcome box. Here it says this could take from 30-60 minutes. Choose Continue.
It’ll load the wizard and present the license agreement. If you are feeling weird, you can read through it. Otherwise, hit “I accept this Agreement.”
It will then ask for the product key. You can find this on the CD-slip that help the Windows CD when you bought it. Type it into the blank boxes. The key is quite cryptic, so you need to be careful that you are hitting the right keys.
If you are using an Upgrade CD, then you will be shown the Upgrade Compliance Check window. Find your disks or CD that contains a previous Microsoft OS. It could be that you have Windows 95 on your hard disk already. In my case, I used my old Windows for Workgroup diskettes. Choose the drive that contains the old OS. Follow the prompts. It will ask for several disks, if you are using floppies. Once it is happy that you are indeed upgrading, it will move on.
Select the directory to which you want to install Windows. For most people, the default of C:WINDOWS will do just fine. Hit Next.
Setup will “prepare the directory”. Just wait.
You will be presented with your setup options. You are given four options: Typical, Portable, Compact, and Custom. The explanations for them are given. Choose the one you want. For the regular user, Typical will do just fine. If you want more control, and don’t necessarily want everything Microsoft thinks should be on your computer, choose Custom.
Type in your name and company name in the provided spaces.
If you chose custom, you will be given a window to select those components you want installed. Go ahead and do that now.
You will be shown an Identification window, where you can choose your computer’s network ID. Even if you will not be on a network, make up a name.
Computer Settings: Most likely, these are right. If not, hit Change and change them to the suitable settings.
Choose your location from the Scroll Box and hit next.
The next window informs you that setup will make a startup disk for you. If this is your first install and you do not already have a Win98 system disk, I recommend you do this. Just follow the prompts. If you don’t want to make one, Microsoft doesn’t really give you an easy out. Just hit next. It will start compiling the data. When it pops up with a window saying to put a floppy in drive A:, just hit cancel and you will get away with not making a startup disk. Sneaky, huh.
The next window just says that Windows is ready to start copying files. Hit next.
Now you can sit back for a bit, watch the little Microsoft messages flash across the screen, watch the Estimated time remaining get smaller, or just leave and go get coffee. Windows will sort of take care of things from here, but I’ll walk you through the rest anyway.
When the system needs to re-start, Windows will do it automatically for you.
The hard drive will click away for a few minutes while setup does its thing. When the blue screen comes back, you will see a window saying Setting up Hardware. This is where setup is detecting your plug-n-play hardware and other components and installing the drivers for it. Just be patient. When its done, it will re-start again.
After it has finalized the settings, it will first give you a window to set your time zone and date. Go ahead and do this.
It will continue to coast for a few minutes.
When it re-starts this time, it will go into Windows and you are done.
Windows will install some of the drivers for you, but these are stock drivers and may be old. It is probably a good idea to grab the latest drivers for all of your hardware and update the drivers yourself. Some hardware you will outright have to install yourself. After the drivers are installed, you can customize the video settings, get that nagging “Welcome” window to go away along with that stupid web menu.

Windows 2000 Installation

Windows 2000 is a great OS, but I recommend being able to test your hardware first under the OS. Some hardware has problems under Win2000, or at the least, settings disabled. I’d recommend sticking to Win98 unless you’d had a chance to mess with Win2000 with your hardware.

When starting setup, you will first see a “Windows 2000 Setup Wizard”. Here you can select an upgrade or a clean install.
Plug in the product key when asked. It is every bit as cryptic has the Win98 codes.
It will then ask you if you feel like hopping over to the Microsoft site to check out the Hardware Compatibly list. Whatever. Not much of a point.
A window will ask if you have an upgrade packs. These are small patches to make certain programs work under Win2000. You probably don’t have any, so move on.
It will then ask whether you want to upgrade your file system to NTFS. If you want increased compatibility or simply want to dual-boot with Win98, then leave your file system as FAT32. If, after understanding the ins and outs or NTFS, you still want to go with it, then go ahead.
It will start to wind and grind, detect things, and otherwise make noise. It will then spit out an upgrade report.
The upgrade report may show a few issues. Probably not a big deal. You can handle them later.
It then gives you a message that you’re ready to install, that it will take 75 to 90 minutes, and that it will restart 3 times. Yes, good, whatever….hit next.
Sit back and watch the pretty pictures. You’re pretty much done, other than the wait.
Windows XP Installation

Insert the CD into the CD-ROM. Click Install Windows. If your CD doesn’t automatically run when inserted, then run setup.exe manually on the CD.
Choose the type of installation you want: Upgrade or New Installation. Upgrade is recommended if you just want one OS on your machine, but choose New Installation for an easier process. I’ve had problems trying to do an upgrade to XP.
Agree to the license agreement.
Enter the product key.
Choose whether or not to do Dynamic Update. This will download the latest setup files from Microsoft before continuing. You must have an active internet connection, and obviously a modem, set up to do this.
Skip 7-10 if you are doing an upgrade.
You will have the option to control some “Advanced Options”. In here, the important things to set are the location of the setup files, the folder name of Windows (which you might want to define if you are putting more than one version of Windows on this machine) and whether or not to copy the install files to the hard drive.
After continuing, you will have a slight difference in that that PC will boot into a DOS setup area.
You will be asked which file system to use. You can convert to an NTFS file system or use FAT 32 or, the default, which is to leave the file system as is, which I recommend.
You will be asked to select which partition to install Windows XP to. It is best to install it to a different partition than any other version of Windows, as Microsoft recommends it. But, you have full control.
Once these steps are done, you will sit back and watch it copy all your files over and do its thing.