Computers that contain Windows NT 4.0 and Windows Server 2003

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Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Computers that contain Windows NT 4.0 and Windows Server 2003

If you plan to set up a computer so that it contains Windows NT 4.0 and Windows Server 2003 operating systems, first review the following precautions:

  • It is no longer necessary to maintain multiple operating systems as a safeguard against problems with starting the computer. With products in the Windows Server 2003 family, you have other options for system recovery. For example, if you have a problem with a newly installed device driver, you can use Safe Mode, in which Windows Server 2003 restarts with default settings and the minimum number of drivers. For more information about Safe Mode and other options, see Understanding Disaster Recovery.

  • Using NTFS as the only file system on a computer that contains both Windows Server 2003 and Windows NT is not recommended. For more information, see Multiple operating systems and file system compatibility.

  • Make sure that Windows NT 4.0 has been updated with the latest released Service Pack. For details, see Multiple operating systems and file system compatibility.

  • Install each operating system on a different partition, and install the applications used with an operating system on the same partition with it. If an application is used with two different operating systems, install it on two partitions.

  • Do not install Windows Server 2003 on a compressed drive unless the drive was compressed with the NTFS file system compression feature.

  • Windows Server 2003 must be installed last. Otherwise, important files that are needed for starting Windows Server 2003 will be overwritten.

  • If the computer participates in a domain, use a different computer name for each installation.