Windows SBS 2008 is preinstalled on my computer

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Updated: November 12, 2009

Applies To: Windows SBS 2008

Follow the steps in this section only if Windows SBS 2008 is preinstalled on your computer. If you are installing Windows SBS 2008 from the DVD, follow the steps in the I’m installing Windows SBS 2008 from the DVD section later in this document.

Because Windows SBS 2008 is preinstalled on your computer, you need to complete only the final installation steps to configure Windows SBS 2008.

To configure Windows SBS 2008

  1. Connect your computer to your network with a network cable.

Important

The installation may fail if you disconnect your computer from the network.

  1. Turn on the computer.

  2. If you are performing an unattended installation, connect the removable media (such as a floppy disk or a USB flash drive) that contains your answer file.

Note

Depending on the contents of your answer file, you may not see some or any of the following installation screens up to Step 12: Expanding and installing files.

  1. The Set Up Windows screen appears. Select your Country or region, Time and currency, and Keyboard layout, and then click Next.

  2. Type your product key in the text box, and then click Next.

  3. Read the license terms. If you accept them, select the I accept the license terms check box, and then click Start.

    The screen is black for several seconds as it prepares your desktop.

  4. Read the information on the Continue installation page, and then click Next.

  5. On the Verify the clock and time zone settings page, click Open Date and Time to verify the clock and time zone settings to select the date, time, and time zone settings for your server. When you are finished, click Next.

  6. If your network is connected to the Internet, click Go online and get the most recent installation updates (recommended). Getting the latest updates helps ensure a successful installation.

    If your network is not connected to the Internet or if you choose not to get updates, click Do not get the most recent installation updates.

Note

If an error occurs while you are getting the latest updates, the error is logged on the Installation Finished page. 

The **Connecting your server** page appears, and you can track the installation progress.

  1. On the Company information page, type information about your organization, and then click Next. This information is stored and used to configure your server tools so that you do not have to supply the same information multiple times.

  2. On the Personalize your server and your network page, type the name of your server in the Server Name text box. The server name must be a unique name on your network, and you cannot change the name after the installation finishes.

    Type the name of your internal domain in the Internal Domain Name text box. A domain enables you to manage access to resources on your network (for example, user accounts, client computers, shared folders, or printers). Default settings are provided for your internal domain. This separates your local (internal) network from the Internet (external) network.

Note

You cannot change the server name or the internal domain name after you finish this step. 

Click **Next**.
  1. On the Add a network administrator account page, type the information for a new administrator account.

Warning

Do not name the network administrator account either “Administrator” or “Network Administrator.” These account names are reserved for use by the system. 

**Important**

The new administrator account is not used until after the installation completes and you log on to your server for the first time. Until that time, you use the built-in administrator account with a blank password. You can also use the built-in administrator account to unlock the desktop if it becomes locked during a long installation. The built-in administrator account is disabled after the final server restart.

Write down your administrator account password and store it in a safe place. You will use this password if you ever need to restore your directory services by using Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM).

Click **Next**.

  1. A settings summary page appears. Click Back if you want to change any of these settings; otherwise, click Next

  2. The Expanding and installing files page displays the progress of the final installation process. This takes time to complete, and your computer will restart a couple of times.

  3. After the last server restart, the Installation finished page appears. If there are noncritical issues listed, click View installation issues. This opens the Installation issues page of the Windows SBS Console. Resolve the installation issues.

  4. Click the Windows SBS Console Home page, and then click Getting Started Tasks. You should complete the Getting Started Tasks immediately after your Windows SBS 2008 installation finishes. For more information, see the Getting Started Tasks section later in this document.

Note

After the installation finishes, you are automatically logged on with the new administrator account that you added during installation. The built-in administrator account password is set to the same password as the new administrator account, and then the built-in administrator account is disabled.