Before Upgrading Small Business Server 2000

Before upgrading Small Business Server 2000, you should do the following:

1. Ensure you have installed Small Business Server 2000 Service Pack 1. To verify that your server is running the service pack, click Start, and then click Small Business Server Administrator Console. In the console pane, click Server Status (BackOffice Home). In the details pane, click About. The Version should read 2000 with Service Pack 1. If you are not running Service Pack 1, you can install it using the disc, if it was included with your media, or download it from the Web. For more information about downloading the service pack, search for Knowledge Base article 326924 at the Microsoft Web: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=4441
2. Check the hardware requirements to ensure your computer meets at least the minimum requirements. However, using the recommended hardware improves system performance. To review the hardware requirements for Windows Small Business Server 2003, see Appendix A, "Additional Information."
3. Prepare your hard disk by running Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter. To open Disk Cleanup, click Start, click Run, and then type Cleanmgr.exe. To open Disk Defragmenter, click Start, click Run, and then type Dfrg.msc.
4. Verify that your computer hardware and existing applications are compatible with Windows Small Business Server 2003. To do this, see the Windows Server Catalog at the Microsoft Web site: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=4303

5. Ensure your hard disk has at least 2 gigabytes (GB) of free space. This space is temporarily used by Setup.
6. Collect required information for connecting to the Internet. Although your Internet connection settings are preserved during the upgrade process, the Configure E-mail and Internet Connection Wizard has new functionality that was not included in the Small Business Server 2000 Internet Connection Wizard. It is recommended that you complete the form to determine if there is new information that you need to collect. You will then be ready to complete the Configure E-mail and Internet Connection Wizard at the end of Setup as part of the To Do List.
7. Determine if there is new information for connecting to the Internet that you need to collect. Although your Internet connection settings are preserved during the upgrade process, the Configure E-mail and Internet Connection Wizard has new functionality that was not included in the Small Business Server 2000 Internet Connection Wizard. To determine if there is new information that you need to collect, complete the section "Required Information for Connecting to the Internet" in Appendix A of Getting Started. You will then be ready to complete the Configure E-mail and Internet Connection Wizard at the end of Setup.
8. The day or evening prior to beginning the upgrade, it is recommended that you complete a virus scan of all drives and files.

9. Complete and verify a full backup.
   1. Perform a full system backup including the System State data and Exchange. For more information about backing up Small Business Server 2000, see the white paper entitled "Backup and Recovery for Small Business Server 2000" on the Microsoft TechNet Web site: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=12282

2.  Verify that the backup ran successfully, and then test the integrity of the backup. To test the integrity of the backup, select random files from your backup, restore them to an alternate location, and then confirm that the files are the same.

10. If you are beginning the upgrade while users are still working on the network, have users log off from the domain.
11. It is recommended that you notify users that they will need to log off in a short while and that they will lose their Internet connection. You can quickly notify all users by using the net send command. At the command prompt, type: Net send * You must log off from the domain in approximately 5 minutes. At that point, the Internet will also be unavailable. Wait the specified amount of time, and then continue.
12. Unless your Internet connection device provides a firewall service for your local network, it is recommended that you disconnect your Internet connection device from the Internet.

13. Stop services for any third-party applications that are running on the server using the Local System account. If a third-party application is running using the Local System account, it may have a file lock on operating system files. This will prevent Setup from upgrading your operating system. To determine if an application is running as the Local System account, open Services (click Start, click Run, and type Services.msc) and check for third-party services that have Log On As set to Local System account. If there are third-party services using the account, stop the service, record the setting for Startup Type, and then set Startup Type to Disabled.
14. Turn off or disable any disk utilities that may be running, such as real-time antivirus monitoring software or backup software that use open file agents. Disk utilities can cause problems while running Setup.
15. For detailed instructions about upgrading from Small Business Server 2000, see Chapter 3C, "Upgrade Small Business Server 2000," of Getting Started.