Build4 Install Log

I'm re-installing the operating system (OS) onto an old computer with only 13GB of disk. I'm going to partition the drive with Ranish Partition Manager (RPM), and create a couple of OS partitions and a data partition. This is the log of what I'm doing.

• Enter the BIOS by pressing the 'delete' key while the computers booting. Set the boot sequence to "A, C, SCSI"
• Put RPM floppy in floppy drive, reboot & run rpm243
• Set Master Boot Record (MBR) to 'Boot Manager' & 'Text 25x80'
• Add 'Boot Manager' (0xF0) at 1,649 to 1,649
• Create the following partition table. Don't forget to format the FAT32 partition with 'F'.
  Make sure each partition starts with a number like s/0/1 and ends with a number like e/254/63.
  Make sure partitions you want to copy between are exactly the same size.
  For installation of Windows, only make the Windows XP partition visible by putting '1' & b' in that line eg for partition @1.

Partition Table

Configuration

Installing Windows XP Upgrade via Windows 98

• Remove the RPM floppy & put Windows XP CD in
• On this weird Award BOIS, set the boot sequence to "CDROM,C,A"
• Press 'space' when it says "Press a key to boot from CD...."
• Press 'enter' to select "Set up Windows XP now"
• Press F8 to agree to license agreement that no one reads !
• Swap over to the Windows 98 CD for upgrade verification
• Select "C: Partition1 [unknown]" for where to install Windows
• Select "Format the partition using the NTFS file system"
• Swap back to the Windows XP CD
• For Regional and Language Options etc
  • Click 'customize' and change the 2x options to English (UK) & UK
  • Click the 'advanced' tab and select English (UK) & click 'OK'
  • Enter just your first name or whatever.
  • Enter the product key
  • Enter computer name 'build4'
  • Select time zone GMT+0 London
• When your computer reboots, don't press a key to boot from the CD
• For "Who is on your computer" enter your first name
• You should now be in Windows XP.

Reinstate RPM

Windows being Windows, it will have removed the RPM software in the Master Boot Record (MBR). So, before you can proceed properly it needs to be re-instated.

• Reboot with the RPM floppy in the drive.
• Go into the BOIS by pressing the 'delete' key and change the boot sequence to "A, C, SCSI"
• Run rpm243
• See My Partition Table for how to re-instate RPM
• Put the '2' against the data partition @1,246, to make it visible to Windows.
• Take out the RPM floppy and reboot

Software Installation

• Install Service pack 2 (SP2). Leave automatic updates till later.
• Rename C: to "Windows XP (C:)" & F: to "Common Data (F:)"
• In 'Common Data' create folders "Downloaded Apps" for downloaded apps or install files & "Data" for user data.
• Install the following:
  • Zone Alarm firewall
  • AVG anti-virus (unlike ver6, with ver7 you don't need an email address & to register to get the serial number)
    Put rescue disk on to hard drive in data partition F:\AVG Rescue Disk
    You can register to gain post access to the support forum here: http://free.grisoft.com/register
  • Spyware:
    • Spybot
    • SpyWareBlaster
    • AdAware
  • Graphics & Video
    • Irfanview
    • SlowView
  • Word processor & HTML editor
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Install Diamond SupraExpress 56e external modem (yuck !)
    • Plug it all in and reboot computer (make sure to plug PSU into power input, not empty hole !)
      Run the setup program on the CD and select UK for the country.

Further Windows XP tweaks

These are things that will just make using the computer easier.

• Change the drive letters for the CD-RW drive & the DVD drive to W: & R: respectively.
  Go to Control Panel -> Performance & Maintenance -> Administration Tools
  Then Computer Management -> Disk Management
  Right click on the things you want to change, and select "Change drive letters & paths..."
  This avoids partitions being moved around later on.
• Change the mouse settings, so the mouse moves faster for example.
  Go to Control Panel -> Printers and Other Hardware -> Mouse -> Pointer Options -> Motion Speed
• Move My Documents, My Favorites, My Music, My Pictures, Desktop
  Use "Folder Redirector" - a brilliant simple program
  Just restart Windows to see all the changes.
• Change some of the XP defaults (in Windows Explorer -> Tools -> Folder Options... -> View
  • "Display the contents of system folders"
  • "Display the full path in the title bar"
  • "Show hidden files and folders"
  • Untick "Hide extensions for known file types"
  • "Show control panel in My Computer"

Software Installation

• AceFTP3
• DAP7 (Download Accelerator Plus 7) from PCW DVD Dec 2004
• Sun Clock
• WinRAR - installed
• Pegasus Mail
• Nero Burning ROM 5
• PowerDVD

Install Basic Drivers

From yellow drivers CD.

Install Diamond SupraExpress 56e modem Driver

Put CD in, and run XP install program (Start -> Control Panel -> Printer and Other Hardware -> Phone and Modem options -> Modems -> Add...)
Select "Diamond MultiMedia Systems" and then you get "Diamond SupraExpress 56e Memory"
Select COM1, and have it plugged into the upper socket.
That's better, it's now listed.

ISP Installation

Run Tesco install disk, up to the point where it has an 'install' button, and would then connect to the internet.
Tesco allow 2x user phone numbers, so it can be configured at one and used at another.
You can always right-click on the header and choose 'unlock' to set the phone number, username & password manually.

Configure Pegasus Mail

AceFTP3 Setup

In Profile: Server = ftp.tesco.net, port = 21, User ID = the bit before the @ in your account name.
In server features: Server type = Auto Detect, Untick 'persistent transfer modes'

Activate Windows, without registering, online.
Update AVG anti-virus