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The 3 Different Ways to Install Windows XP

By Tim Fisher, About.com

Installing or reinstalling the Microsoft Windows XP operating system can be difficult and time consuming. These simple guides will step you through the process quickly and painlessly.

Windows XP Clean Installation

After serious system problems it's often necessary to wipe your Windows XP system clean and start over from scratch. A clean installation will require the deletion of everything on your computer so a good backup of your data is necessary. Also, all of your software will need to be reinstalled after the clean installation is over. This may be the most frustrating and time consuming of all of the Windows XP installations but it's very often the most effective.

This guide is broken into four parts for a total of 34 steps and will visually walk you through every part of the reinstallation process.

Windows XP New Installation

If you're planning on installing Windows XP on a new, empty hard drive then this step by step guide is for you.

This guide is broken into 30 steps over three parts and will walk you through the entire process. Every action is accompanied by a screen shot so you'll always know exactly what the next screen will be.

Windows XP Repair Installation

Repairing a Windows XP installation is valuable when you need to keep your programs and data in tact but need to restore the Windows XP system files to their original state. This is often an easy fix for complicated Windows XP issues.

This easy to follow, visual guide is broken into two parts for a total of 19 steps.

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