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Windows XP Installation Guide - Installation Guide Part 2

  1. Now is when we want to update the USB drivers so that they are properly installed for USB2.0 functionality. To do this, click Start Button, then right click My Computer and choose Properties. Click the "Hardware" tab, then click the "Device Manager" button. On the tree in the Device Manager you should see a device with a yellow question mark over it called either "USB Controller", "Serial Device", or something of similar wording.

    Right click that device and choose "Update Driver." Make sure the "dot" is in the box called "Install the Software Automatically" – then click the "Next" button.
    Windows will find the proper USB2.0 drivers and stack from Service Pack 1a and install them properly. Once the process is finished, you may be prompted to reboot the computer. It not, reboot now anyway as this is a major configuration change.
  2. Intel Application Accelerator is not a necessary piece of software to install. For every person who reports good luck with IAA, there's another person reporting bad luck. So installing IAA is a personal choice.
  3. Now is a very good time to install Microsoft DirectX. Hopefully you'll still have your "Drivers CD" to hand, if not you are going to have to download.
    I would recommend the use of DirectX version 9.0b as this is stable and contains some bug fixes from the original DirectX 9.0
  4. Now is the time you want to install your LAN drivers. Depending on your motherboard and whether you are using a PCI NIC or onboard NIC, Windows may or may not have drivers installed already.
    If you are using onboard LAN, go get the CDROM that came with your motherboard. Put it in and install the LAN drivers ONLY. Do not install any LAN Utility software if possible. Follow all instructions rebooting if required.
  5. It is now time to go online and get some updates from Microsoft, either through your newly installed network connection via broadband or through your old dial-up modem (which should be installed now if required).
  6. Go to "Windows Update" and install all available "non driver" updates. If some updates need to be installed by themselves, the site will prompt you. If this happens you will want to return to Windows Update after rebooting to get the remainder of any "non driver" updates.
    Only proceed to the next step once all "non driver" updates have been installed.
  7. Now is when you want to update the drivers for any PCI cards you have OTHER THAN your video card, sound card, and TV Tuner card. Video, sound, and any device that relies on video and sound should have their drivers installed last.
    Try whenever possible to use WHQL certified drivers for best compatibility and system stability.
  8. Now you want to install your video card drivers. Video card drivers are updated quite often and I would recommend going along to the manufacturers website rather than using any installation CD that came with the card. Of course these drivers should also be on the "Drivers CD" you created before starting all this.
    Make sure you reboot your system after the video card installation even if you are not prompted to do so.
  9. Once the video drivers and software are installed and you are back at the desktop, go ahead and install your Sound Card drivers.
  10. Now install any TV Tuner card drivers if you have such a device.

This is more or less "Job Done".

You've followed the rules listed in the "Background" section of this guide and the end result should be a very stable operating system installation. It may well be worthwhile using your system for another week or so before activating Windows, just to make sure all is as it should be.

<Background>
<Preparation Notes>
<Install Guide Part 1>
<Install Guide Part 2>


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