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How can I install Windows Server 2003 on my server?
As a Microsoft Windows Server support professional, one of your tasks may be to install the operating system.
Update: Get step-by-step instructions on how to install Windows Server 2008 here.
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When you run the Windows Server 2003 Setup program, you must provide information about how to install and configure the operating system. Thorough planning can make your installation of Windows Server 2003 more efficient by helping you to avoid potential problems during installation. An understanding of the configuration options will also help to ensure that you have properly configured your system.
I won’t go into that part right now (I might later this month, no promises…) but here are some of the most important things you should take into consideration when planning for your Windows Server 2003 installation:
After you made sure you can go on, start the installation process.
You can install Windows Server 2003 in several methods – all are valid and good, it all depends upon your needs and your limitations.
For example, you can install directly from a CD by booting your computer with the CD, or you can also copy the I386 folder from a CD and run the setup process by going into the I386 folder and using the WINNT or WINNT32 command (depending upon your existing operating system).
It doesn’t matter how you run the setup process, but the moment it runs – all setup methods look alike.
The setup process begins loading a blue-looking text screen (not GUI). In that phase you will be asked to accept the EULA and choose a partition on which to install 2003, and if that partition is new, you’ll be asked to format it by using either FAT, FAT32 or NTFS.
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If you select a new partition during Setup, create and size only the partition on which you will install Windows Server 2003. After installation, use Disk Management to partition the remaining space on the hard disk.
The setup process reboots and loads a GUI mode phase.
It will then begin to load device drivers based upon what it finds on your computer. You don’t need to do anything at this stage.
If you don’t need to make any changes just press Next.
If you do need to make changes press Customize and add your System Locale etc.
Note for Hebrew users: Unlike W2K, it is SAFE and it is OK for you to install Hebrew language support at this phase.
After pressing Customize go to the Languages tab and select the “Install files for complex script and right-to-left languages”.
A warning message will appear. Press Ok.
Warning: You must now press Apply!!!
Setup will copy the necessary files from the installation point.
You can now go to the Regional Options tab and select Israel in the Location drop-down list, and Hebrew in the Standards and Formats drop-down list. Click Ok.
Note: Read the Install Hebrew on Windows Server 2003 page for more info.
After a few seconds you will receive the Networking Settings window. BTW, if you have a NIC that is not in the HCL (see the What’s the HCL? page) and Windows Server 2003 cannot detect it, or if you don’t have a NIC at all, setup will skip this step and you will immediately go to the final phase of the setup process.
Press Next to accept the Typical settings option if you have one of the following situations:
Otherwise select Custom Settings and press Next to customize your network settings.
In the General tab enter the required information. You must specify the IP address of the computer, and if you don’t know what the Subnet Mask entry should be – you can simply place your mouse pointer over the empty area in the Subnet Mask box and click it. The OS will automatically select the value it thinks is good for the IP address you provided.
If you don’t know what these values mean, or if you don’t know what to write in them, press cancel and select the Typical Settings option. You can easily change these values later.
If you’re a stand-alone computer, or if you don’t know what to enter, or if you don’t have the sufficient rights to join a domain – leave the default entry selected and press Next.
If you want to join a domain (NT 4.0 domain of W2K/2003 Active Directory domain) enter the domain’s name in the “Yes, make this computer a member of the following domain” box.
To successfully join a domain you need the following:
and
or
Also, you need to have connectivity to the domain’s domain controllers (only to the PDC if on an NT 4.0 domain) and a fully functional DNS server (only in AD domains). Read the Joining a Domain in Windows XP Pro and Requirements when Joining a Domain pages for more on this issue.
Enter the Active Directory domain name (in the form of xxx.yyy, for example: DPETRI.NET) or the NetBIOS name of the NT 4.0 domain (in the form of xxx, for example: DPETRI). Press Next.
Note: If you provide a wrong domain name or do not have the correct connectivity to the domain’s DNS server you will get an error message.
A username/password window will appear. Enter the name and password of the domain’s administrator (or your own if you’re the administrator on the target domain).
Note: Providing a wrong username or password will cause this phase to fail.
BTW, the minimum supported screen resolution in 2003 is 800X600.
You may also want to read:
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