- Planning the Server Installation
- Server Hardware Requirements
- Checking Hardware and Software Compatibility
- Understanding Server Licensing Issues
- Choosing to Upgrade or Make a Clean Installation
- Using Supported File Systems
- Performing a Clean Installation
- Performing an Upgrade
- Understanding Windows Product Activation
- Choosing Between a Workgroup and a Domain
- Summary
- Q&A
Checking Hardware and Software Compatibility
If you plan to upgrade a server that is running Windows NT 4 or Windows 2000 Server, you should probably run the hardware and software compatibility test provided on the Windows Server 2003 installation CD. This text lets you know if the server is configured with hardware that is not on the Windows Server 2003 Hardware Compatibility List, and it provides a list of any software running on the server that is not compatible with Windows Server 2003.
To run the Check System Compatibility utility, place the Windows Server 2003 CD in the CD-ROM driver of a currently running server.
The Welcome screen for the Windows Server 2003 family opens. Click the Check System Compatibility button on the screen.
On the next screen, you are given the option of checking the compatibility of the server's software and hardware automatically. A link is also provided to take you to the Windows Server 2003 Compatibility Web site, where you can check the hardware compatibility list. Select the option Check My System Automatically.
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A Get Updated Files dialog box opens. This downloads additions to the hardware compatibility list from Microsoft (see Figure 3.1). Make sure the Download Updated Files option is selected, and then click Next.
Figure 3.1 Allow the dynamic update from Microsoft.
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After the compatibility utility is upgraded dynamically, a screen appears listing any software or hardware compatibility issues on the server that you will want to upgrade. Drivers are software, so any driver that is found to be incompatible will be removed from the system when you upgrade to Windows Server 2003. This means that some legacy devices (such as an old modem) might not operate on the server. If there are also hardware issues, you should consider replacing the hardware component with a device on the hardware compatibility list.