hopefully someone can help me. I was giving a computer it is a 2001 gateway intel 1000mhx, 128 memory, and 20G ultra ata hard drive. I am having alot of issues and I realize the windows no longer supports me. I want to by xp and complety wipe out the computer and start over. Is this hard to do? How much time does it take? Can a computer idiot like me do it? Thanks in advance for the help.

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XP is pretty easy to install. It takes about a Hour. The problem will be your Computer doesn't really have enough Ram to run XP. I would suggest getting rid of the 128 meg stick, and put in two sticks of 256 megs. XP needs about 512 megs of Ram to run well. Right now if you install XP it would run really slow.

to install XP
Disconnect all external devices like Printers, etc you can install them later
Set CDrom to be first Boot Device in Bios
Boot to XP CD, and read prompts
At Partition Screen Delete Partitions
Now Create New Partition
Format Partition, in ntfs, or Fat 32
The Install Starts, and follow Prompts
After Install Go to Device Manager, and look for missing Drivers
Install Missing Drivers
Make sure Firewall Enabled
Get Internet working
Install Programs

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Alng with Steve's reply, you may have problems finding some drivers for your hardware 
also.  It's something you would need to research before you start, otherwise you 
may have limited graphics and no sound or modem abilities.  Drivers should be available 
either from Gateway (if they supported your machine for an XP upgrade) or on independant 
websites but there are no guarantees of this...  Best to go to MS website and run 
the upgrade advisor to see how your machine would pass the test for XP when it comes 
to the hardware AND installed software compatibilty.  You will also have problems 
with your software working in most cases.  Things such as CD writing, third party 
system utilities, antivirus software etc etc amoung others may well have to be updated 
or new versions purchased.  You can do it, but if you have not gone through an update/grade 
process, it would be best to have someone experienced help you avoid the mistakes 
and headaches that will certianly pop up  IME (in my experience)..  Good Luck..







On Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at 4:55 pm, Leanne wrote:

>hopefully someone can help me.  I was giving a computer it is a 2001 gateway intel 

>1000mhx, 128 memory, and 20G ultra ata hard drive.  I am having alot of issues and 

>I realize the windows no longer supports me.  I want to by xp and complety wipe 
out 

>the computer and start over.  Is this hard to do? How much time does it take? Can 

>a computer idiot like me do it? Thanks in advance for the help. 

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