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Quick Reference Guide 27
Reinstalling Windows XP
NOTICE: You must use Windows XP Service Pack 1 or later when you reinstall Windows XP.
To reinstall Windows XP, perform all the steps in the following sections in the order in which they
are listed.
The reinstallation process can take 1 to 2 hours to complete. After you reinstall the operating
system, you must also reinstall the device drivers, virus protection program, and other software.
NOTICE: The Operating System CD provides options for reinstalling Windows XP. The options can
overwrite files and possibly affect programs installed on your hard drive. Therefore, do not reinstall
Windows XP unless a Dell technical support representative instructs you to do so.
NOTICE: To prevent conflicts with Windows XP, disable any virus protection software installed on your
computer before you reinstall Windows XP. See the documentation that came with the software for
instructions.
Booting From the Operating System CD
1
Save and close any open files and exit any open programs.
2
Insert the
Operating System
CD. Click
Exit
if
Install Windows XP
message appears.
3
Restart the computer.
4
Press <F12> immediately after the DELL™ logo appears.
If the operating system logo appears, wait until you see the Windows desktop, and then shut
down the computer and try again.
5
Press the arrow keys to select
CD-ROM
, and press <Enter>.
6
When the
Press any key to boot from CD
message appears, press any key.
Windows XP Setup
1
When the
Windows XP Setup
screen appears, press <Enter> to select
To set up
Windows now
.
2
Read the information on the
Microsoft Windows Licensing Agreement
screen, and press
<F8> to accept the license agreement.
3
If your computer already has Windows XP installed and you want to recover your current
Windows XP data, type
r
to select the repair option, and remove the CD.
4
If you want to install a new copy of Windows XP, press <Esc> to select that option.
5
Press <Enter> to select the highlighted partition (recommended), and follow the
instructions on the screen.
The
Windows XP Setup
screen appears, and the operating system begins to copy files and
install the devices. The computer automatically restarts multiple times.
NOTE: The time required to complete the setup depends on the size of the hard drive and the speed of
your computer.
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