As a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 support
professional, one of your tasks may be to install the operating system.
Step #1:
Plan your installation
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:
·
Check
System Requirements
·
Check
Hardware and Software Compatibility
·
Determine
Disk Partitioning Options
·
Choose
the Appropriate File System: FAT, FAT32, NTFS
·
Decide
on a Workgroup or Domain Installation
·
Complete
a Pre-Installation Checklist
After
you made sure you can go on, start the installation process.
Step #2:
Beginning 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.
Step #3:
The text-based portion of the Setup program
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.
1. Start the computer
from the CD.
2.
You
can press F6 if you need to install additional SCSI adapters or other
mass-storage devices. If you do you will be asked to supply a floppy disk with
the drivers and you CANNOT browse it (or a CD for that matter). Make sure you
have one handy.
3.
If
you want, you can press F2 to run the ASR sequence. For that you need a good
backup created by the Windows Server 2003 backup program, and the ASR floppy
disk. If you plan to install a new copy of 2003 - don't do anything.
4. Setup will load all
the needed files and drivers.
5.
Select
To Setup Windows Server 2003 Now. If you want, and if you have a previous
installation of the OS, you can try to fix it by pressing R. If not, just press
ENTER.
6. Read and accept the
licensing agreement and press F8 if you accept it.
7.
Select
or create the partition on which you will install Windows Server 2003.
Depending upon your existing disk configuration choose one of the following:
·
If
the hard disk is unpartitioned, you can create and size the partition on which
you will install Windows Server 2003.
·
If
the hard disk is already partitioned, but has enough unpartitioned disk space,
you can create an additional partition in the unpartitioned space.
·
If
the hard disk already has a partition that is large enough, you can install
Windows Server 2003 on that partition. If the partition has an existing
operating system, you will overwrite that operating system if you accept the
default installation path. However, files other than the operating system
files, such as program files and data files, will not be overwritten.
·
If
the hard disk has an existing partition, you can delete it to create more
unpartitioned space for the new partition. Deleting an existing partition
erases all data on that partition.
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.
8.
Select
a file system for the installation partition. After you create the partition on
which you will install Windows Server 2003, you can use Setup to select the
file system with which to format the partition. Windows Server 2003 supports
the NTFS file system in addition to the file allocation table (FAT) and FAT32
file systems. Windows Server 2003, Windows XP Professional, Windows 2000, and
Windows NT are the only Microsoft operating systems that you can use to gain
access to data on a local hard disk that is formatted with NTFS. If you plan to
gain access to files that are on a local Windows Server 2003 partition with the
Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows 98 operating systems, you should format the
partition with a FAT or FAT32 file system. We will use NTFS.
9.
Setup
will then begin copying necessary files from the installation point (CD, local
I386 or network share).
10.
Note:
If you began the installation process from an MS-DOS floppy, make sure you have
and run SMARTDRV from the floppy, otherwise the copying process will probably
last more than an hour, perhaps even more. With SMARTDRV (or if setup was run
by booting from CD) the copying will probably last a few minutes, no more than
5 max.
11.
The
computer will restart in graphical mode, and the installation will continue.
Step #4:
The GUI-based portion of the Setup program
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.
1. Click Customize to
change regional settings, if necessary.
·
Current
System Locale - Affects how programs display dates, times, currency, and
numbers. Choose the locale that matches your location, for example, French (Canada
·
Current
Keyboard Layout - Accommodates the special characters and symbols used in
different languages. Your keyboard layout determines which characters appear
when you press keys on the keyboard.
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.
To
install Hebrew support:
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!!!
2. 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.
3. Type
your name and organization.
4. Type the product
key.
5. Enter the
appropriate license type and number of purchased licenses.
6. Type
the computer name and a password for the local Administrator account. The local
Administrator account resides in the SAM of the computer, not in Active Directory. If you will be installing in a domain, you need either a
pre-assigned computer name for which a domain account has been created, or the
right to create a computer account within the domain.
7.
If
you enter a password that is blank or does not match the required complexity
settings you will get a warning message.
8. Select the date,
time, and time zone settings.
9. Setup
will now install the networking components.
After a few seconds you will receive the
Networking Settings window. BTW, if you have a NIC that is not in the HCL 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:
·
You
have a functional DHCP on your network.
·
You
have a computer running Internet Connection Sharing (ICS).
·
You're
in a workgroup environment and do not plan to have any other servers or Active
Directory at all, and all other workgroup members are configured in the same
manner.
Otherwise
select Custom Settings and press Next to customize your network settings.
10. Highlight the
TCP/IP selection and press Properties.
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.
11.
In
the Workgroup or Domain window enter the name of your workgroup or domain.
·
A
workgroup is a small group of computers on a network that enables users to work
together and does not support centralized administration.
·
A
domain is a logical grouping of computers on a network that has a central
security database for storing security information. Centralized security and
administration are important for computers in a domain because they enable an
administrator to easily manage computers that are geographically distant from
each other. A domain is administered as a unit with common rules and
procedures. Each domain has a unique name, and each computer within a domain
has a unique name.
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:
·
The
person performing the installation must have a user account in Active
Directory. This account does not need to be the domain Administrator account.
and
·
The
computer must have an existing computer account in the Active Directory
database of the domain that the computer is joining, and the computer must be
named exactly as its domain account is named.
or
·
The
person performing the installation must have appropriate permission to create a
domain account for the computer during installation.
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).
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.
12. Next
the setup process will finish copying files and configuring the setup. You do
not need to do anything.
13. After
the copying and configuring phase is finished, if Windows Server 2003 finds
that you have a badly configured screen resolution it will advise you to change
it and ask you if you see the new settings right.
BTW,
the minimum supported screen resolution in 2003 is 800X600.
14. Setup
finishes and boots Windows Server 2003.
15.
That's
it! you're done!
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