Installing Multiple Operating Systems

   

On a computer with an appropriate disk configuration (outlined in Table 15-2), you can install more than one operating system and then choose between the operating systems each time you restart the computer.

For example, on an x86-based computer, you can set up a server to run Windows Server 2003 most of the time but allow the server to sometimes run Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition, in order to support an older application. (However, to do this you would need to make specific file system choices and would need Service Pack 5 or later, as described in "File System Compatibility" and "Choosing a File System" later in this chapter.) During restarts, a display appears for a specified number of seconds, allowing you to select between the two operating systems. (You can specify a default operating system that will run if no selection is made during the restart process.)

Table 15-2 shows the disk configurations on which you can install more than one operating system. You must follow the requirements in the table. For example, on a basic disk, you must install each operating system, including Windows Server 2003, in a separate partition. This ensures that each operating system does not overwrite crucial files that are needed by another operating system.

Table 15-2. Requirements for Multiple Operating Systems

Disk Configuration

Requirements

Basic disk or disks

You can install multiple operating systems, including Windows NT 4.0 and earlier operating systems, on a basic disk. Each operating system must be on a separate partition or logical drive on the disk. A partition or logical drive is a section of the disk that functions as a separate unit. Different partitions often have different drive letters , for example, C and D.

Single dynamic disk

You can install only one operating system. However, if you used Windows 2000 or Windows XP to change a disk with no partitions directly to a dynamic disk, you must return the disk to basic before you can install an operating system on it. For more information, see the paragraph that follows this table.

Multiple dynamic disks

Each dynamic disk can contain one installation of Windows 2000, Windows XP, or a product in the Windows Server 2Server 2003003 family. No other operating systems can start from a dynamic disk. However, if you used Windows 2000 or Windows XP to change a disk with no partitions directly to a dynamic disk, you must return the disk to basic before you can install an operating system on it. For more information, see the paragraph that follows this table.

Master Boot Record (MBR) disk on an Itanium-based computer

You cannot start operating systems from an MBR disk on an Itanium-based computer. You must use a GPT disk for this purpose.

GUID partition table (GPT) disk on an Itanium-based computer

You can install one or more operating systems on a GPT disk on an Itanium-based computer. The guidelines in this table for basic and dynamic disks apply to GPT disks on Itanium-based computers.

Note

On an Itanium-based computer, the operating systems that you can install include Windows XP, 64-Bit Edition; the 64-bit version of Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition; and the 64-bit version of Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition. On an Itanium-based computer, you cannot install earlier operating systems such as Windows 2000.


If you used Windows 2000 or Windows XP to change a disk with no partitions directly to a dynamic disk, you must return the disk to basic before you can install an operating system on it. All data will be lost in this process, so back it up first. You can then use Windows 2000 or Windows XP to revert to basic, or you can use Windows Server 2003 Setup. To use Windows 2000 or Windows XP, follow the instructions in Help for your operating system. To use Windows Server 2003 Setup, during the partitioning phase, find the dynamic disk among the list of available partitions and then delete it (which erases all data on all volumes ). You will be prompted to confirm your action. After you do this, the disk will contain only unpartitioned space, and you can use Setup to create a new (basic disk) partition on it.

Reasons to Install Only One Operating System

Setting up a computer so that you can choose between two or more operating systems at startup does have an advantage: It allows you to use applications that run only with a particular operating system. However, there are definite reasons to install only one operating system:

  • Each operating system uses valuable disk space.

  • Compatibility issues such as file system compatibility can be complex. For more information, see "File System Compatibility" later in this chapter.

  • On a dynamic disk, you can have only one operating system per disk. Dynamic disks also will not work with some operating systems. For more information, see Table 15-2.

  • It's no longer necessary to maintain multiple operating systems as a safeguard against problems with starting the computer. With products in the Windows Server 2003 family, you have other options for system recovery. For example, if you have a problem with a newly installed device driver, you can use safe mode, in which Windows Server 2003 restarts with default settings and the minimum number of drivers.

Requirements for Installing Multiple Operating Systems

Before you decide to set up a computer with more than one operating system, review the following restrictions.

  • On computers that contain MS-DOS and Windows Server 2003:

    • Install each operating system on a different partition, and install the applications used with an operating system on the same partition with it. If an application is used with two different operating systems, install it on two partitions.

    • MS-DOS must be installed on a basic disk on a partition formatted with FAT. If MS-DOS is not installed on the system partition, which is almost always the first partition on the disk, the system partition must also be formatted with FAT.

    • Windows Server 2003 must be installed last. Otherwise, important files that are needed for starting Windows Server 2003 might be overwritten.

    • File system compatibility might be an issue. See the upcoming section "File System Compatibility."

  • On computers that contain Windows 98 or Windows Me and Windows Server 2003:

    • Install each operating system on a different partition, and install the applications used with an operating system on the same partition with it. If an application is used with two different operating systems, install it on two partitions.

    • Windows 98 or Windows Me must be installed on a basic disk on a partition formatted with FAT or FAT32. If either Windows 98 or Windows Me is not installed on the system partition, which is almost always the first partition on the disk, the system partition must also be formatted with FAT or FAT32.

    • Windows Server 2003 must be installed last. Otherwise, important files that are needed for starting Windows Server 2003 might be overwritten.

    • File system compatibility might be an issue. See the upcoming section "File System Compatibility."

  • Regarding computers that contain Windows NT 4.0 and Windows Server 2003, see the upcoming sections "File System Compatibility" and "Multibooting with Windows NT 4.0."

  • On computers that contain some combination of Windows Server 2003 with Windows 2000 or Windows XP, or that contain multiple partitions with products in the Windows Server 2003 family:

    • Install each operating system on a different partition or, for dynamic disks, on a different disk, and install the applications used with an operating system on the same disk or partition with it. If an application is used with two different operating systems, install it in two places.

    • For an x86-based computer, choose any product in the Windows Server 2003 family for installation on a specific partition. For example, you can install Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition, in one location and Windows Server 2003, Web Edition, in another.

    • For an Itanium-based computer, you can choose among Windows XP, 64-Bit Edition; the 64-bit version of Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition; and the 64-bit version of Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition.

    • If Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 are installed, Windows Server 2003 must be installed last. Otherwise, important files that are needed for starting Windows Server 2003 might be overwritten.

    • If the computer participates in a domain, use a different computer name for each installation. Because a unique security identifier (SID) is used for each installation on a domain, the computer name for each installation must be unique, even for multiple installations on the same computer.

    • If you want to use the Encrypting File System (EFS), you must take certain steps to ensure that encrypted files will be available from each of the installations. For more information, see "Encrypting File System" later in this chapter.

File System Compatibility

On computers that contain multiple operating systems, compatibility becomes more complex when you consider file system choices. The file systems to choose from are NTFS, FAT, and FAT32. (For more information, see "Choosing a File System" later in this chapter.)

NTFS is normally the recommended file system because it is more efficient and reliable and supports important features, including Active Directory and domain-based security. With NTFS, however, you need to take file system compatibility into account when considering whether to set up a computer to contain more than one operating system because with Windows 2000 and the Windows Server 2003 family, NTFS has new features in addition to those in Windows NT. Files that use any new features will be completely usable or readable only when the computer is started with Windows 2000 or a product in the Windows Server 2003 family. For example, a file that uses the new encryption feature won't be readable when the computer is started with Windows NT Server 4.0 or Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition, which were released before the encryption feature existed.

Note

If you want to set up a computer with both Windows NT and Windows Server 2003, and you want to have an NTFS partition, the only appropriate version of Windows NT is version 4.0 with the latest released service pack. Using the latest service pack maximizes compatibility between Windows NT 4.0 and Windows Server 2003. (Specifically, you must have Service Pack 5 or later.) Even the latest service pack, however, does not provide access to files using the new features in NTFS.


Using NTFS as the only file system on a computer that contains both Windows Server 2003 and Windows NT is not recommended. On these computers, a FAT partition containing the Windows NT 4.0 operating system ensures that when started with Windows NT 4.0, the computer will have access to needed files. In addition, if Windows NT is not installed on the system partition, which is almost always the first partition on the disk, it's recommended that the system partition also be formatted with FAT.

If you set up a computer so that it starts with Windows NT 3.51 or earlier on a FAT partition and Windows Server 2003 on an NTFS partition, when that computer starts with Windows NT 3.51, the NTFS partition will not be visible. If you set up a computer this way, and the partition containing Windows NT 3.51 is not the system partition (which is almost always the first partition on the disk), the system partition must also be formatted with FAT.

Multibooting with Windows NT 4.0

If you plan to set up a computer so that it contains Windows NT 4.0 and Windows Server 2003, first review the following precautions :

  • If your only concern is ensuring that you can always start the computer, setting up the computer so that you can start it with different operating systems at different times is not necessary.

  • Using NTFS as the only file system on a computer that contains both Windows Server 2003 and Windows NT is not recommended.

  • Make sure that Windows NT 4.0 has been updated with the latest released service pack.

  • Install each operating system on a different partition, and install the applications used with an operating system on the same partition with it. If an application is used with two different operating systems, install it on two partitions.

  • Don't install Windows Server 2003 on a compressed drive unless the drive was compressed with the NTFS file system compression feature.

  • Windows Server 2003 must be installed last. Otherwise, important files that are needed for starting Windows Server 2003 might be overwritten.

  • If the computer participates in a domain, use a different computer name for each installation.

Encrypting File System

If you set up a server so that it contains some combination of Windows Server 2003 and Windows 2000 or Windows XP, or contains multiple partitions with products in the Windows Server 2003 family, and you want to use EFS on the computer, you must take certain steps. These steps make encrypted files readable between the different installations:

  • One approach is to ensure that all the installations are in the same domain and that the user of these installations has a roaming profile.

  • Another approach is to export the user's file encryption certificate and associated private key from one installation and import it into the other installations.

For more information about EFS, roaming user profiles, and importing and exporting certificates, see Help and Support Center.


   
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Introducing Microsoft Windows Server 2003
Introducing Microsoft Windows Server(TM) 2003
ISBN: 0735615705
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2005
Pages: 153

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