Installing from an Existing OS

If your computer already has an operating system with access to the CD-ROM drive, such as DOS, Windows 3. x , Windows for Workgroups, Windows 9 x , Windows NT, Windows 2000, or Windows XP, you can launch the Windows Server 2003 setup from that OS. This is the only way to accomplish an upgrade install. If you launch an install from a bootable CD, a full install is performed automatically.

Tip 

Although you can begin the Windows Server 2003 installation from DOS, Windows 3. x , Windows for Workgroups, or Windows 9 x , you can't upgrade to Windows Server 2003 from these operating systems. Regardless of the existing OS, you must meet the minimum hardware requirements to install Windows Server 2003, which would not ordinarily be found on a system running Windows 9 x or earlier.

To install from the CD-ROM drive, issue one of the following from a command prompt or a Run dialog box:

• If you're using a 16-bit operating system, such as DOS, Windows 3.1, or Windows for Workgroups, you need to use this command:

  <CD - ROM drive letter >:\i386\winnt

• If you're using a 32-bit operating system, such as Windows 9 x , Windows NT, Windows 2000, or Windows XP, and you don't have autorun enabled, you need to use this command:

  <CD - ROM drive letter >:\i386\winnt32

If you try to run the wrong setup program, the tool will tell you just run the other program.

If autorun is enabled, you see the Welcome to Windows Setup wizard screen.

Manually launching Setup from DOS, Windows 3. x , or Windows for Workgroups requires you to do the following after the DOS, text-only display appears, asking for confirmation of the location of the distribution files:

1. Make sure that the screen shows the correct path to the i386 directory on the distribution CD-ROM, and then press Enter.

   Setup copies files from the CD to your hard drive.

2. After Setup informs you that all files have been copied , press Enter to reboot and continue.

   After the machine has rebooted, the setup resumes at Step 8 of the "Windows 2003 Setup: A walkthrough" section earlier in this chapter.

Tip 

If you insert the Windows Server 2003 CD into a CD-ROM drive under an operating system with autorun enabled (for example, Windows NT), the Windows Server 2003 splash screen appears and asks whether you want to upgrade to Windows 2003. By clicking Yes, you don't need to manually locate and execute WINNT or WINNT32.

Launching Setup from Windows 9 x , Windows NT, Windows 2000, or Windows XP requires you to follow these steps:

1. On the Welcome to Windows Setup Wizard screen, choose New Installation (Advanced). Click Next.

2. Read the license agreement. Choose the I Accept This Agreement option and then click Next.

3. Enter your product key and then click Next.

   The Setup Options screen appears.

4. Click the Advanced Options button.

5. Alter the Windows installation folder if the default is not satisfactory.

6. To install Windows 2003 to a partition other than the one currently hosting an operating system (highly recommended), be sure the I Want to Choose the Install Drive Letter and Partition during Setup option is selected.

7. Click OK.

8. Click the Next button to continue.

Setup copies files from the CD to your hard drive. It then offers a 10-second delay before automatically rebooting your computer.

After the machine has rebooted, the setup resumes at Step 8 of the "Windows 2003 Setup: A walkthrough" section earlier in this chapter.