How to Abort XP Installation

Installing Windows XP is an easy task for a person who follows instructions fairly well and has read up on installing Windows operating systems. Most people are intimidated by this type of task. If you're attempting this installation for the first time and feel as though you've bitten off more than you can chew, the setup portion of the installation provides you with many chances to abort the installation.

Instructions

1. Press "F3" on the keyboard when "Welcome to Setup" appears on-screen to abort the Windows XP installation. This is the first of many opportunities to abort the installation.

2. Press the "Esc" key on the "Licensing Agreement" screen to refute the Licensing Agreement and return to the "Welcome to Setup" screen. Then you can press "F3" to abort the installation.

3. Press the "F3" key on the "Install" or "Delete Partition" screen. This is the last opportunity to abort the Windows XP installation if you're not creating a partition on the hard drive. If you're partitioning the hard drive, there are more chances to abort the installation.

4. Press the "Esc" key on the partition deletion confirmation screen to go back to the "Install" or "Delete Partition" screen. There, you can cancel the installation by pressing the "F3" key.

5. Press "Esc" on the second screen that prompts you to confirm a partition deletion (the screen says, "You asked Setup to delete the partition"). Doing so will return you to the previous partition deletion confirmation screen. You can then press "F3" to return to the "Install" or "Delete Partition" screen and abort the installation with the "Esc" key.

6. Press "F3" on the "Install" or "Create a Partition" screen to cancel the installation.

7. Press "Esc" to cancel a partition creation and return to the "Install" or "Create a Partition" screen, where you can abort the installation by pressing "F3."

8. Press the "F3" key on the screen with the following message: "The following list shows the existing partitions and unpartitioned space on this computer."

9. Press "Esc" on the screen that prompts you to choose the file system that you'll use to format your chosen partition. This marks the last opportunity to abort the Windows XP installation in a way that won't damage the computer. If you miss this chance, you'll have to eject the CD or turn of the computer; however, doing either during the installation can cause the computer to have a partial operating system, and the computer will not function.

References

• Microsoft: Install Windows XP