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SysPrep installation The System Preparation (SysPrep) utility is actually a diskduplication method. It is used to prepare a master image of an existing Windows XP/ 2000 Professional installation. This image can then be copied to other computers with identical hardware. The Sysprep utility removes the computer-specific information from the image. This method can only be used for clean installations. The computer used for this purpose is known as the master or reference computer and can have any number of applications installed besides the OS. After running SysPrep, you must use a third-party utility to create the actual image of the disk.

Remote Installation Service (RIS) You can use the RIS for unattended large-scale deployments of Windows XP and Windows 2000 Professional. RIS requires that the computer must be connected to a Windows domain; a domain controller running Active Directory service, and a DNS server, and that a DHCP server is available during installation.

Installation options. The Windows setup program gives you several options for the installation. These include the installation method, a choice of the filesystem for the diskpartition, networkconfiguration, and provision for multibooting the computer (installing two or more operating systems on the same computer).

Installation type You can choose from typical, full, minimal, or custom. The typical installation installs most common components while the full installation installs all mandatory as well as optional components. If you are experienced in installations, you can customize the installation using the custom installation option.

Network configuration Installing the networkcomponents is optional at the time of initial setup. You can install these components later. Even when you have selected to include the networking components, you can initially let the setup join the computer to a workgroup and later change it to a domain membership.

Multiple-boot system You can install Windows XP or Windows XP Professional with any other Windows OS and keep the system as a multiboot system. At the time of installation, you are given the option of whether you want to delete the existing OS, upgrade it, or keep the system as dual or multiboot.

Disk partition. One of the most important decisions when installing the operating system is about disk partitions. A partition is a logical section of the hard disk where the system can store data. When you start installing the operating system, the setup program lets you install the operating system on an existing hard disk partition, or you can create a new partition. If you decide on using the existing partition to creatre a new one, all previously stored data on that partition will be lost Microsoft recommends that you should create only one partition during installation that is to be used for installing the operating system and that you make other partitions after the installation is complete. When you partition the disk, you must also