XP virgin asking for tips...

[MadMan007]

K, this will be my first install of XP; I have "installed" my personal "hardware" before so plz no virgin jokes... ;)

Anyway, I will be doing a fresh install of WinXP onto a brand-new computer this weekend. This system is for someone else, so I really want to get it right. I have checked www.tweakxp.com and while it has great tips for specific problems, there is no "beginners guide" as far as I could tell. Does anyone know of any good ones?

This is the hardware for the system:
ECS K7S5A; Xp1700+; 512MB PC2100 DDR; STB Velocity 4400 (until ATI 7500 AIW is avail.); Seagate Barracuda IV; Lite-On LTD-163; Yamaha CRW2200; floppy :) Anyone have any issues with these items in particular?

I have done plenty of installs, updates and tweaks of 9x, so that is where my experience lies. So, how does installing XP compare? Similar, easier, harder? I plan on tweaking the system using tweakxp tips and this info. (http://www.blkviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm)

I will post again with any issues, and TIA for your suggestions!

[el]

you will be fine xp is simple to install and the hardpart is removing the bloatware from the OS. make a OS partition is my only advice. about 5gigs is a good number to use.

[jw50]

The best way to do it is to go into the BIOS and change the boot sequence to boot from the CD, save and exit the BIOS, you will be prompted to press any key to boot to the CD, XP will load the files it need to do the installation, then let XP format the hard drive in NTFS and install XP. When the installation is complete go back into the BIOS and change the boot sequence back to the default. Load your motherboard drivers. Go to the Windows Update site and do all of the updates. Then load all of your applications. If you make sure that you are only loading programs that are compatible with XP you will be good to go.

[MadMan007]

Thanks for the replies, but I guess I was not clear before. I am looking for tips and what not regarding how to best optimize an XP install, as well as doing the actual install (which sounds just like installing 9x: boot from CD, etc, etc...)

So, tweakxp and xp-perience.org are two good places to start for tweaking it?