Windows Tips

Preparing to Install Windows XP
Before you install Windows XP, run through this simple checklist:

Confirm that your hardware satisfies the system requirements Microsoft’s official spec sheet says the bare minimum configuration includes a 233 MHz processor from the Pentium/Celeron family or the AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family (or compatible); 64 MB of RAM; 1.5 GB of spare disk space; and a video adapter capable of Super VGA (800x600) resolution. The recommended configuration is at least a 300 MHz CPU with 128 MB of RAM. You’ll also need a mouse or other pointing device, a keyboard, and a CD-ROM or DVD drive.

tip -Don’t skimp on RAM

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Defining an acceptable level of performance is strictly a matter of personal preference. The speed of the CPU is probably the least critical element of a Windows XP system. A fast hard disk and gobs of memory will do much more to keep a system running smoothly with multiple applications and multiple users. If you plan to use memory-intensive programs such as Microsoft Outlook, Adobe PhotoShop, or Macromedia’s Shockwave, don’t settle for less than 256 MB of RAM. And if you plan to take advantage of Fast User Switching to allow multiple users to log on simultaneously, you’ll need still more RAM—figure on 64 MB for each additional user.