Before Upgrading Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003

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Before upgrading from Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003, you should prepare your computer for the upgrade. To review the specific changes made to the operating system as part of upgrading to Windows Small Business Server 2003, see "Changes made to the operating system" later in this topic.

Note

  • In addition to the items listed below, there are several requirements for upgrading from Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003 that are automatically checked by Setup in the next step. For more information about these Setup requirements for upgrading to Windows Small Business Server 2003, see the "Windows Small Business Server 2003 Setup Requirements" white paper at the Microsoft Web site: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=16548
  1. Prepare you 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.
  2. Check the hardware requirements to ensure your computer meets at least the minimum requirements. However, using the recommended hardware requirements provides for better system performance for your computer. To review the hardware requirements for Windows Small Business Server 2003, see Appendix A, "Additional Information," of Getting Started.
  3. Ensure your hard disk has at least 2 gigabytes (GB) of free space. This space is temporarily used by Setup.
  4. Collect required information for connecting to the Internet. These include the settings used to connect your server to the Internet and settings used to send and receive Internet e-mail. 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. For more information, see the section "Required Information for Connecting to the Internet" in Appendix A of Getting Started
  5. The day or evening prior to beginning the upgrade, it is recommended that you complete a virus scan of all drives and files.
  6. Complete and verify a full backup.
    1. Perform a full system backup including the System State data. For more information about backing up your server, click Start, and then click Help and Support.
    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.
  7. If your server is already a domain controller and you are beginning the upgrade while users are still working on the network, have users log off from the domain. 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. From 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.
  8. 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. Important
    • When disconnecting your Internet connection device from the Internet, do not disconnect it from your server.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. For detailed instructions about upgrading from Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003, see Chapter 3B, "Upgrade Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003," of Getting Started.

If you are upgrading from Windows 2000 Server

  • Check that hardware drivers and existing software are supported. During installation, Setup automatically checks your hardware and reports any potential conflicts. To verify your computer hardware and that existing applications are compatible before starting Setup, check the hardware and software compatibility information in the Windows Server Catalog at the Microsoft Web site: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=4303 Important
    • Ensure that you have updated drivers for your hardware devices and the latest system BIOS (basic input/output system). The device manufacturers can help you obtain these items. Additionally, if you have a hardware driver that is not listed in the Windows Catalog or that the system compatibility check indicates is not supported and you do not have a manufacturer-supplied driver file for use with Windows Server 2003, contact your hardware manufacturer before running Setup.

Changes made to the operating system

After Setup is complete, your operating system has the following changes:

  • The server must be at the root of the domain forest. A forest is a grouping or hierarchical arrangement of one or more active directory trees. A tree is a grouping or hierarchical arrangement of one or more domains. The Windows Small Business Server 2003 domain is a single tree in a single forest.
  • There can only be one computer running Windows Small Business Server 2003 or earlier in the Windows Small Business Server 2003 domain. However, you can have additional domain controllers running Windows Server.
  • You cannot establish any type of trust between the Windows Small Business Server 2003 domain and any other domain. A trust is a logical relationship established between domains to allow user accounts and global groups defined in one domain to be given rights and permissions in another domain.
  • Terminal Server is not included. However, you can remotely administer computers using Remote Desktop for Administration (in Windows 2000 Server, this was called Terminal Services in Remote Administration mode), which allows you to connect to the console or to create up to two new sessions from another computer. If you want to use Terminal Server to host applications centrally, you must install a second server. For more information about installing a second server in your Windows Small Business Server network, click Start, and then click Help and Support after Setup is complete.
  • Server Administrator Kit (SAK) is not included. This component is not supported by Windows Small Business Server 2003.
  • POP3 Service is not included. Windows Small Business Server 2003 includes Exchange as its Internet e-mail solution. Additionally, if you want to retrieve POP3 e-mail from an ISP, you can use the Microsoft Connector for POP3 Mailboxes. For more information about the connector, see Help and Support Center after Setup is complete.
  • Multiprocessor support for up to 2 processors. Windows Small Business Server 2003 does not support more than two processors. However, hyperthreading by processors is supported.