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terms). One role, called standalone, is actually a non-network role, and it simply means that the computer does not participate on a network. You can install any version of Windows on a standalone computer, and this is the only role that a Windows XP Home computer can play on a network. Every other modern version of Windows can be a member of either a workgroup or a domain (or, if you’re using Windows 7, a HomeGroup). You will learn more about the workgroup and domain member roles in Chapter 23, “Local Area Networking.”

Decide on Your Computer’s Language and Locale Settings

These settings are especially important for Windows operating systems because they determine how date and time information is displayed and which math separators and currency symbols are used for various locations.

Plan for Post-Installation Tasks

After installing Windows, you may need to install the latest service pack or updates. You may also need to install updated drivers and reconfigure any settings, such as network settings, that were found not to work. You will also need to install and configure any applications (word processor, spreadsheet, database, e-mail, games, etc.) required by the user of the computer. Finally, don’t forget to restore any data backed up before the installation or upgrade.

Installing and Upgrading Windows

At the most basic level, installing any operating system follows a fairly standard set of steps. You turn on the computer, insert an operating system disc into the optical drive, and follow the installation wizard until you have everything completed. Along the way, you’ll accept the End User License Agreement (EULA) and enter the product key that says you’re not a pirate; the product key is invariably located on the installation disc’s case. At the same time, there are nuances between installing Windows 2000 or upgrading to Windows Vista that every CompTIA A+ certified tech must know, so this section goes through many installation processes in some detail.

Installing or Upgrading to Windows 2000 Professional

On the face of it, installing Windows 2000 Professional seems fairly simple. You insert the installation disc, access the setup routine, and go! But that conceptualization does not hold up in practice.

Hardware Requirements

The minimum specs represent what Microsoft says you need so you can install the Windows 2000 Professional OS. However, you need to take these specifications and at least double them if you want to be happy with your system’s performance.

Here is a more realistic recommendation for a useful Windows 2000 Professional computer system:

If your test system(s) exceeds the recommended configuration, all the better. You can never have too fast a processor or too much hard disk space.

Installing or Upgrading to Windows XP Professional

You prepare for installing Windows XP just as you do for installing Windows 2000. Windows XP has a few different aspects to it that are worth considering as a separate issue.

Upgrade Paths

You can upgrade to Windows XP Professional from all of the following versions of Windows:

Windows 98 (all versions)

Windows Me

Windows NT 4.0 Workstation (Service Pack 5 and later)

Windows 2000 Professional (including service packs)

Windows XP Home Edition

XP Hardware Requirements

Hardware requirements for Windows XP Professional are higher than for previous versions of Windows, but are still very low by modern hardware standards.

Microsoft XP runs on a wide range of computers, but you need to be sure that your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements as shown here. Also shown is my recommended minimum for a system running a typical selection of business productivity software.

Hardware and Software Compatibility

You’ll need to check hardware and software compatibility before installing Windows XP Professional—as either an upgrade or a new installation. Of course, if you purchase a computer with Windows XP preinstalled, you’re spared this task, but you’ll still need to verify that the application software