How to Install Windows 2000 Server

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: When you run the Windows 2000 Server Setup program

   Thorough planning will make your installation of W2K more efficient.
   
   An understanding of the configuration options will also help to ensure that you have properly configured your system.
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   Step 2: you have to provide information about how to install and configure the operating system.

   ,, They are all valid, so it all depends upon your needs and your limitations. ,, No existing partition is required. , No existing partition is required. ,, From within NT
   4.0, go to the I386 folder in your W2K installation CD and run the WINNT32.EXE command. , It doesn't matter how you run the setup process, but the moment it runs
   - all setup methods look alike. , In that phase you will be asked to accept the EULA and choose a partition on which to install W2K, and if that partition is new, you'll be asked to format it by using either FAT, FAT32 or NTFS. ,, 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. ,, 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. , Read it, and if you want to continue, press C. ,, Depending upon your existing disk configuration choose one of the following: , Press C. ,,, 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. , Deleting an existing partition erases all data on that partition. , After installation, use Disk Management to partition the remaining space on the hard disk. , After you create the partition on which you will install W2K, you can use Setup to select the file system with which to format the partition.
   
   W2K 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 W2K 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. ,, With SMARTDRV (or if setup was run by booting from CD) the copying will probably last a few minutes, no more than 5 max. ,,, You don't need to do anything at this stage. , If it works for you then later try to figure out how to make that specific piece of hardware work (it's probably not in the HCL). ,, Choose the locale that matches your location, for example, French (Canada). , Your keyboard layout determines which characters appear when you press keys on the keyboard. ,,, Failure to adhere to this could result in "????" fonts appearing instead of words on programs such as some Microsoft Office applications such as, but not limited to, Microsoft Outlook. ,,,,, 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. ,,,, BTW, if you have a NIC that is not in the HCL (see the What's the HCL? page) and W2K 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. , 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. ,, 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. , 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. , This account does not need to be the domain Administrator account.
   
   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.
   
   The person performing the installation must have appropriate permission to create a domain account for the computer during installation. , Read the Joining a Domain in Windows XP Pro and Requirements when Joining a Domain pages for more on this issue. , Press Next. , Enter the name and password of the domain's administrator (or your own if you're the administrator on the target domain). , You do not need to do anything. ,, Unfortunately, you must press Finish in order to reboot.. ,, you're done! Now you are finally finished!
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   Step 3: Here are some of the most important things you should take into consideration when planning for your Windows Server 2000 installation: Check your System Requirements Check the Hardware and Software Compatibility Determine its Disk Partitioning Options Choose one of the Appropriate File System: FAT

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   Step 4: NTFS Decide on a Workgroup or a Domain Installation Complete a Pre-Installation Checklist

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   Step 5: After you made sure you can go on

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   Step 6: you can now start the installation process!

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   Step 7: You can install the Windows 2000 Server in several different methods.

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   Step 8: Manual installations usually come in 3 flavors:

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   Step 9: •Boot from a CD.

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    Step 10: •Boot from the 4 Setup Boot Disks

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    Step 11: then insert the CD.

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    Step 12: •Boot from an MS-DOS startup floppy

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    Step 13: go to the command prompt

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    Step 14: create a 4GB FAT32 partition with FDISK

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    Step 15: reboot

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    Step 16: format the C partition you've created

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    Step 17: then go to the CD drive

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    Step 18: go into the I386 folder

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    Step 19: and then run the WINNT.EXE command.

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    Step 20: •You can run an already installed OS

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    Step 21: such as Windows NT 4.0 Server.

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    Step 22: If you want to upgrade some desktop OS such as Windows 98 into Windows 2000 Professional

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    Step 23: you can just follow the same procedure as above (However

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    Step 24: you cannot upgrade Windows 98 into W2K Server).

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    Step 25: The setup process begins loading a blue-looking text screen (not GUI).

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    Step 26: Start the computer from the CD.

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    Step 27: You can press F6 if you need to install additional SCSI adapters or other mass-storage devices.

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    Step 28: Setup will load all the needed files and drivers.

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    Step 29: Select To Setup W2K Now.

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    Step 30: In case your server is a new one

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    Step 31: or it is using a new hard disk that hasn't been partitioned yet

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    Step 32: you'll get a warning message.

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    Step 33: Read and accept the licensing agreement and press F8 if you accept it.

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    Step 34: Select or create the partition on which you will install W2K.

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    Step 35: •If the hard disk is not yet partitioned

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    Step 36: you can create and size the partition on which you will install Windows 2000.

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    Step 37: •If the hard disk is new and you want to create a partition that will span the entire hard disk's size - press Enter.

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    Step 38: •If the hard disk is already partitioned

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    Step 39: but has enough unpartitioned disk space

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    Step 40: you can create an additional partition in the unpartitioned space.

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    Step 41: •If the hard disk already has a partition that is large enough

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    Step 42: you can install Windows 2000 on that partition.

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    Step 43: •If the hard disk has an existing partition

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    Step 44: you can delete it to create more unpartitioned space for the new partition.

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    Step 45: If you select a new partition during Setup

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    Step 46: create and size only the partition on which you will install Windows 2000.

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    Step 47: Select a file system for the installation partition.

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    Step 48: Setup will then begin copying necessary files from the installation point (CD

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    Step 49: local I386 or network share).

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    Step 50: Note: If you began the installation process from an MS-DOS floppy

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    Step 51: make sure you have and run SMARTDRV from the floppy

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    Step 52: otherwise the copying process will probably last more than an hour

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    Step 53: perhaps even more.

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    Step 54: The computer will restart in graphical mode

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    Step 55: and the installation will continue.

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    Step 56: The setup process reboots and loads a GUI mode phase.

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    Step 57: It will then begin to load device drivers based upon what it finds on your computer.

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    Step 58: If your computer stops responding during this phase (the progress bar is stuck almost half-way

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    Step 59: and there is no disk activity) - shut down your computer and begin removing hardware such as PCI and ISA cards.

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    Step 60: Click Customize to change regional settings

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    Step 61: if necessary.

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    Step 62: •Current System Locale - Affects how programs display dates

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    Step 63: currency

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    Step 64: and numbers.

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    Step 65: •Current Keyboard Layout - Accommodates the special characters and symbols used in different languages.

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    Step 66: If you don't need to make any changes just press Next.

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    Step 67: If you do need to make changes press Customize and add your System Locale etc.

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    Step 68: Note for Hebrew users: In W2K it is NOT SAFE to install Hebrew language support at this phase!

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    Step 69: Read the Install Hebrew on Windows 2000 page for more info.

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    Step 70: Type your name and organization.

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    Step 71: Type the product key.

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    Step 72: Enter the appropriate license type and number of purchased licenses.

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    Step 73: Type the computer name and a password for the local Administrator account.

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    Step 74: Choose which components to install or remove from the system.

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    Step 75: Select the date

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    Step 76: and time zone settings.

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    Step 77: Setup will now install the networking components.

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    Step 78: After a few seconds you will receive the Networking Settings window.

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    Step 79: Press Next to accept the Typical settings option if you have one of the following situations: You have a functional DHCP on your network.

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    Step 80: Highlight the TCP/IP selection and press Properties.

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    Step 81: In the General tab enter the required information.

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    Step 82: In the Workgroup or Domain window enter the name of your workgroup or domain.

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    Step 83: To successfully join a domain you need the following: The person performing the installation must have a user account in Active Directory.

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    Step 84: 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).

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    Step 85: Enter the Active Directory domain name (in the form of xxx.yyy

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    Step 86: for example: DPETRI.NET) or the NetBIOS name of the NT 4.0 domain (in the form of xxx

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    Step 87: for example: DPETRI).

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    Step 88: A username/password window will appear.

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    Step 89: Next the setup process will finish copying files and configuring the setup.

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    Step 90: After the copying and configuring phase is finished

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    Step 91: 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.

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    Step 92: Setup finishes and displays the finish window.

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    Step 93: Windows 2000 reboots and you should get the CTRL-ALT-DEL window.

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    Step 94: That's it!

Detailed Guide

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