Step-by-Step: Installing Windows 2003 | Windows Server 2003 for Dummies

In this section, we walk you through an entire Windows Server 2003 installation - screen by screen. We don't have enough space in this book to present screens for every possible type of installation, so in this section, we provide instructions on one type of installation: from a bootable CD-ROM drive.

Server: Are you ready?

The first major task in getting the software onto a system is to make the server ready for the process. Generally, these are the issues you must resolve before traveling into the Windows Server 2003 installation process:

Ensure that all hardware is HCL compatible.

Although it's possible to install Windows 2003 on a system with some components not on the HCL, it's not always easy. In short, if it's not HCL compatible, you don't want to keep it in your system.
Install the NIC in the server.

Fortunately, Windows 2003 supports Plug and Play, so most card changes can be made on the fly - unless you have a card so old it still uses dual in-line package (DIP) switches or jumpers .
If you need an internal modem and want to connect the server to external sources such as the Internet, install the modem.

Windows 2003 Setup: A walkthrough

The following steps detail the Windows 2003 installation process from a bootable CD-ROM drive. Throughout this installation, we accept the default options. Ready, set, here are the steps:

Tip	Your system must be configured to boot from the CD. This is accomplished by editing the CMOS. Consult your motherboard documentation on how to enter, edit, and save the CMOS settings.

Insert the Windows Server 2003 CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive and boot the computer. If prompted to press a key to boot from the CD, do so.

A gray GUI screen appears that lists the five main installation processes: Collecting information, Dynamic Update, Preparing installation, Installing Windows, and Finalizing installation. In addition, the Windows Setup Wizard starts automatically.
Choose the default installation type, which is New Installation (Advanced), and click Next .

The License Agreement screen appears.

Warning

Use caution when working through the GUI wizard. Often, after you click the Next button to continue, the system takes several seconds (sometimes up to a minute) to change the display. Do not try to click the Next button again - even if you suspect that you missed the button by accident . If you click the Next button twice, you skip screens and the Back button does not always work; in some places the Back button is grayed. If you wait two to five minutes and the system doesn't change the display, try clicking Next again.

Read the license agreement, click the I Accept this Agreement option, and then click Next.

The Your Product Key screen appears.
Enter the 25-character product key and click Next.

The Setup Options screen appears, which allows you to choose installation and accessibility options, as well as set the language and region.

Tip	The Product Key is usually found on a sticker on the CD case.

Use the default options for copying and installing files. If you require special accessibility features during installation, such as Magnifier or Narrator, click the Accessibility Options button and make your selections. If the default language/region is incorrect, make a new selection from the drop-down list. Click Next to continue.

The Get Updated Setup Files screen appears.
If you have Internet Access, click the Yes, Download the Updated Setup Files option and then click Next. If you don't have Internet access, click the No, Skip this Step and Continue Installing Windows option and then click Next.

If you chose Yes, Dynamic Update downloads updated installation files.

Setup copies the installation files and restarts your computer in text mode. Eventually, the Windows Server 2003 Setup routine prompts you with the following:

Welcome to Setup.
This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft (R) Windows 2003 (TM) to run on your computer.
- To set up Windows now. press ENTER.
- To repair a Windows installation using Recovery Console, press R.
- To quit Setup without installing Windows, press F3.
Press Enter to continue.

Setup prompts you to select the drive and partition where Windows Server 2003 will be installed.
Use the arrow keys to select a partition hosted by a physical hard drive and then do the following:
- If you want to use all the free space on a drive for the Windows 2003 boot partition, press Enter after selecting the location.
- If you want to use only a portion of the free space on a drive for the Windows 2003 boot partition, press C. Next, you're prompted for the size of the partition to create. Type a value between one and the maximum space available on the drive and then press Enter. The newly created partition appears on the list of drives and partitions as "New (Unformatted)." Select this new partition and press Enter.
- If you need to delete existing partitions, select the partition and then press D. You're prompted to confirm partition deletion by pressing L. After you press L, the partition is destroyed .
Usually, you want to select the first drive on the system and the first free partition for the Windows 2003 boot drive. Also, you should create a partition of at least 1.5GB to host Windows 2003 (but we recommend at least 4GB).
When Setup asks for the file system with which you want to format the selected partition, select NTFS and then press Enter.

Setup spends a considerable amount of time formatting the drive, especially if the partition is large. After formatting is complete, Setup inspects your hard drives, builds a file list, and then copies lots and lots of files from the CD to the newly formatted drive. This would be a great time to stretch, change your oil, get coffee, or learn how to cross stitch .
When you see a message stating that the system will be rebooted, you can press Enter to immediately reboot or wait 15 seconds for the setup process to reboot automatically.

Be sure there are no floppies in the drive. Also, do not press a key to boot to the CD. If your CD boots automatically instead of requiring a keypress to initiate a CD boot, eject the CD before the reboot.

After the reboot, Windows 2003 Setup re-enters the GUI mode. Setup scans your computer for devices and installs drivers appropriately.
When the Regional and Language Options wizard screen appears, accept the defaults and click Next if you're in the United States. If you live elsewhere, make the necessary changes using the Customize or Details button and then click Next.
When Setup prompts you for your name as well as your organization's name , type the necessary information and then click Next.

If you're using the server for personal use, you can leave the organization's name blank.
When Setup asks you to select the type of licensing you're using, click the Per Server option or the Per Device or Per User option, and then click Next.

Check your purchase order to verify which license you purchased before marking this selection. Per-device or per-user licensing is typically used on enterprise networks and per-server licensing on small networks. You can change from per-server licensing to per-device or per-user licensing only once, so you must consider this installation option carefully before continuing.

Tip	If you're not sure which option to choose, select Per Server. Make sure that the Number of Concurrent Connections setting is correct. It defaults to 5.

When Setup prompts you for a computer name and the administrative user account password, type them and then click Next.

Tip
If your organization employs a naming convention, make sure the computer name you select complies with this policy.

The administrator account password should be a non-blank, complex password of at least six characters, preferably with upper- and lowercase characters and at least one number or nonalphanumeric character. Well, it should be if you don't want someone to figure it out easily.
If Setup prompts you for dialing information, type the correct dialing information and then click Next.

Setup prompts you for dialing information if it detected a modem in your computer. In most cases, you need to provide only an area code.
Enter the correct date, time, and time zone information according to your present location, and then click Next.

Setup proceeds to load drivers for the detected network components.
Decide whether you want to accept the default settings or customize the settings for your network.

The typical settings set TCP/IP to use DHCP, a dynamic configuration service. If your network offers this service and this system is required to employ it, use the default settings.

If you need to specify an IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway, choose the custom settings.
If you're customizing the settings, do the following:
1. Choose the Custom Settings option and then click Next.
  
  Setup displays the name of the detected NIC and lists several installed-by-default network services: Client for Microsoft Networks, Network Load Balancing, File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks, and Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
2. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click the Properties button.
  
  The Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog box appears.
3. Click the Use the Following IP Address option.
4. Type the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway.
5. Click OK.
If you're using the default settings, do the following:
1. Choose the Typical Settings option.
2. Click Next.
  
  Setup prompts you for the name of the workgroup or domain that this system will join.
When asked whether your computer will be part of a domain, do one of the following:
- If the system will be joining a workgroup, click the No option, type a workgroup name (the default is WORKGROUP), and then click Next.
- If the system will be joining a domain, click the Yes option, type the name, and then click Next. Type the administrator-level user account and password (if needed) and then click OK.
Setup copies and configures system components and then fine-tunes the Start menu and Registry. While this goes on, you get to wait. Keep waiting, and waiting, and waiting. (As if you have nothing better to do.)

After Setup completes its work, you'll see a message stating that the system will be rebooted. You can press Enter to immediately reboot or wait 15 seconds for the setup process to reboot automatically. The Welcome splash screen appears after reboot.
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to display the Log On to Windows dialog box.
Type your password for the Administrator account, and then click OK to log on.

After several moments, the Windows Server 2003 desktop appears - a sure sign that you've successfully installed Windows Server 2003! (Just to keep you on your toes, Windows Server 2003 automatically launches the Configure Your Server Wizard in preparation for your next set of tasks . Jump to Chapter 10 to find out more about this wizard.)

Tip

Copying the \i386 subdirectory from your Windows Server 2003 CD-ROM to your newly installed server makes drivers and other resources immediately available to you if you want to add services and resources later. If you don't take this recommended step, you must insert the CD-ROM every time you want to add resources or services to that machine.