Windows XP, Installing and Setup
By: Arie SlobWindows Welcome
The first time Windows XP boots, you will be presented with a Welcome Screen. This is also known as "Out of Box Experience" (OOBE). It is important to note that you will not see the OOBE screen if your display resolution is less than 800x600. You also won't see this if you join a domain.
You will be guided through some simple tasks, such as connecting to the Internet, registering your OS with Microsoft (optional), Activate Windows XP, create user accounts, and so on. At this stage, Windows XP is ready for use.
Post Installation Tasks
There are a few things you should do first when you have XP up-and-running. The first is to see if your installed software (in an upgrade situation) works. If you are having problems with a piece of software, first attempt to uninstall it, and then reinstall using the original setup disks. You should also check the Web site of the software vendor to see if there is any support information posted about known issues with Windows XP, and check for any updates to the software. If you still have problems, access Windows XP Help and Support, and select the Fixing a problem link under Pick a Help Topic. There you will find help in solving application and software problems.
Next up is checking your hardware. For this, you need to open Device Manager (Select Start, right-click on My Computer and choose Properties from the menu. Select the Hardware tab, and click the Device Manager button. Check that all of your hardware was detected and is working. If there are any problems, you'll see a 
next to the device name. First, right-click the device, and choose Update Driver, this will launch the Hardware Update Wizard.
Ensure that the Windows XP CD-ROM is in the CD-ROM drive, and click Install the software automatically (Recommended). If this doesn't work, visit the Web site for the hardware and see if there is an updated Windows XP-compatible driver. If there isn't, you could also try installing a Windows 2000 driver. You will get a warning that the driver you are about to install has not passed Windows Logo testing to verify its Windows XP compatibility, select Continue Anyway. I had to do this for my old ATI Rage Pro Turbo drivers, as the Windows XP driver wouldn't let me use my dual displays. It works fine with the Windows 2000 driver though!
Next visit the Windows Update Web site. You'll find a link to Windows Update on the All Programs menu, which you can access from All Programs at the bottom of the new Start Menu. Once the Windows Update site has loaded, you need to press the Scan for updates link near the center of the page. It is expected that a number of updates will be listed on the Windows Update Web site shortly after the October 25th launch of Windows XP.
Defrag your system drive. All this installing of software has probably fragmented your drive substantially. Disk Defragmenter can be accessed via Start > All Programs > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools
On the last page of this installation guide we list some Microsoft Knowledge Base articles dealing with setup issues in Windows XP. You should have XP up-and-running by this time, so it's time to check out some customizing options!
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