Before You Begin installing Windows SBS 2008
Updated: February 17, 2009
Applies To: Windows SBS 2008
Before you begin your installation of Windows SBS 2008, perform the following tasks:
Ensure that your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements. This includes determining if you need additional hardware and verifying that the drivers for your hardware are supported by Windows Server 2008.
For more information, see the "System Requirements" section in "Planning Your Windows Small Business Server 2008 Network" at the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=104282).
To find hardware and software that is compatible with Windows Server 2008, see the Windows Server Catalog at the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=80785).
Important
Before you install Windows SBS 2008 on a pre-existing computer, Microsoft recommends that you fully format and then repartition the hard disk drives of the pre-existing computer. By formatting and repartitioning the hard disk drives, you remove the possibility that hidden partitions remain on the drives.
Prepare your network. For information about how to prepare your network before you install Windows SBS 2008, see the "Prepare Your Network" section in "Planning Your Windows Small Business Server 2008 Network" at the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=104282).
Complete the Windows Small Business Server 2008 Installation Worksheet. Taking time to collect the information and to complete the Installation Worksheet helps make the Windows SBS 2008 installation process easier. It also documents the initial installation details of your network for future reference.
To print the Installation Worksheet, see the "Windows Small Business Server 2008 Installation Worksheet" section in "Planning Your Windows Small Business Server 2008 Network" at the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=104282).
For information about completing the Installation Worksheet, see the "Complete the Windows Small Business Server 2008 Installation Worksheet" section in "Planning Your Windows Small Business Server 2008 Network" at the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=104282).
Determine how to install Windows SBS.
If you bought your server from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and your server is preinstalled with Windows SBS 2008, begin with the step-by-step instructions, Windows SBS 2008 is preinstalled on my computer, later in this document.
If Windows SBS is not preinstalled on your computer, begin with the step-by-step instructions, I’m installing Windows SBS 2008 from the DVD, later in this document.
Determine if you will perform an unattended installation. If you want to perform an unattended installation, you must create the required answer files. An unattended installation is used by some installers to complete the installation without requiring a person to click through the installation screens. An answer file contains the information that is needed to complete the installation.
You can create an answer file that contains your server information, company information, and network administrator account information by using the Windows Small Business Server 2008 Answer File Tool. For more information, browse to X:\tools\answerfile.htm on the first Windows SBS 2008 DVD, where X: represents your CD/DVD drive.
You can create additional answer files to use during the operating system installation stage if you plan to install Windows SBS 2008 from the DVD. For more information, see the Windows Automated Installation Kit available at the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=115422).
Read the Windows SBS 2008 Release Documentation. The release documents contain the latest information that may be critical to properly installing and configuring Windows SBS 2008. They are located at the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=104289).