********************************************************************** Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition Setup Text Files, Part 4 of 4: Running Setup ********************************************************************** This part of the text file series provides recommendations for preparing your system for a new installation or an upgrade, and it explains how to run Setup for Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition. This part of the text file series also provides a description of the Manage Your Server program, which appears after Setup completes the installation. Together, Setup and the Manage Your Server program help you get your servers up and running quickly. For more information about the deployment of servers, see the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Deployment Kit. You can view the Windows Deployment and Resource Kits on the Web at: http://www.microsoft.com/reskit/ The following list of headings can help you find the information about running Setup that applies to you. For information about planning an upgrade or a new installation, see Server1.TXT, Server2.TXT, and Server3.TXT. Contents -------- 1.0 Preparing Your System for an Upgrade 2.0 Starting Setup for an Upgrade 3.0 Preparing Your System for a New Installation 4.0 Starting Setup for a New Installation 5.0 Planning for Unattended Setup 6.0 Entering Server Settings for a New Installation 7.0 Configuring Your Server 8.0 Product Activation for Products in the Windows Server 2003 Family ====================================================================== 1.0 PREPARING YOUR SYSTEM FOR AN UPGRADE ====================================================================== This section describes the basic steps to take in preparing your server for an upgrade. ---------------------------------------- 1.1 Checking the System Log for Errors ---------------------------------------- Use Event Viewer to review the system log for recent or recurring errors that could cause problems during the upgrade. For information about viewing errors, see Help for the operating system that you are running. ---------------------- 1.2 Backing Up Files ---------------------- Before upgrading, it is recommended that you back up your current files, including anything containing configuration information, for example, the System State and the system and boot partitions. You can back up files to a variety of different media, such as a tape drive or the hard disk of another computer on the network. -------------------------------------------------------------- 1.3 Preparing Mirror Sets and Other Disk Sets for an Upgrade (Windows NT 4.0 only) -------------------------------------------------------------- With the disk management technologies in Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, you could create volume sets, mirror sets, stripe sets, or stripe sets with parity, each with specific capabilities and limitations. By using dynamic disks, introduced with Microsoft Windows 2000, you can take advantage of similar technologies, and with Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition, you can also extend dynamic volumes without repartitioning or reformatting. This transition from the technologies used in Windows NT 4.0 means that you must make certain choices before running Setup for Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition. For important information about these choices, see "Working with Volume, Mirror, or Stripe Sets or Stripe Sets with Parity" in Server2.TXT. ------------------------------- 1.4 Disconnecting UPS Devices ------------------------------- If you have an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) connected to your target computer, disconnect the connecting serial cable before running Setup. Setup automatically attempts to detect devices connected to serial ports, and UPS equipment can cause problems with the detection process. ------------------------------------- 1.5 Reviewing Hardware and Software ------------------------------------- When you start Setup for an upgrade, the first process it carries out is a check for compatible hardware and software on your computer. Setup displays a report before continuing. Use this report, along with information in Relnotes.htm (in the \Docs folder on the Setup CD), to find out whether you need to update your hardware, drivers, or software before upgrading. Confirm that your hardware and software is designed for products in the Windows Server 2003 family by checking the hardware and software compatibility information in the Windows Catalog at: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/catalog/ If you have hardware devices that do not use Plug and Play, see "Taking an Inventory of Devices That Do Not Use Plug and Play" in Server1.TXT. ====================================================================== 2.0 STARTING SETUP FOR AN UPGRADE ====================================================================== If you are upgrading to Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition, you can start Setup from the CD or from a network. For information about the versions of Windows from which you can upgrade, see "Operating Systems from Which You Can Upgrade" in Server1.TXT. For information about providing a mass storage driver or a Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) file during Setup, see "Providing a Mass Storage Driver or a HAL File" later in this text file. IMPORTANT: To run Setup for an upgrade, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure. As a security best practice, if you start Setup from a computer running Windows 2000, consider using Run as. Run as is a secondary logon method that you can use to start commands or programs using a different security context. For example, you can log on as a member of the Users group and, without logging off, run a command as a member of the Administrators group. To find more information in Windows 2000 about Run as, on a server running Windows 2000, click Start, click Help, click the Search tab, and then search for "runas." >>>TO START AN UPGRADE FROM THE CD ON A COMPUTER RUNNING WINDOWS 1. Insert the CD in the drive, and wait for Setup to display a dialog box. 2. Follow the Setup instructions. >>>TO START AN UPGRADE FROM A NETWORK 1. On a network server, share the installation files by either inserting the CD and sharing the CD-ROM drive or by copying the files from the I386 folder on the CD to a shared folder. 2. On the computer on which you want to install Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition, connect to the shared folder or drive that contains the Setup files. 3. Run Setup.exe. 4. Follow the Setup instructions. ====================================================================== 3.0 PREPARING YOUR SYSTEM FOR A NEW INSTALLATION ====================================================================== This section describes the basic steps to take in preparing your server for a new installation. ---------------------------------------- 3.1 Checking the System Log for Errors ---------------------------------------- If the computer already has a working operating system, review the system log for recent or recurring errors (especially hardware errors) that could cause problems during the installation. For information about viewing event logs, see Help for the operating system on your computer. ---------------------- 3.2 Backing Up Files ---------------------- Before you perform a new installation, it is recommended that you back up your current files, unless the computer has no files or the current operating system files have been damaged. You can back up files to a variety of different media, such as a tape drive or the hard disk of another computer on the network. ----------------------------- 3.3 Uncompressing the Drive ----------------------------- Uncompress any DriveSpace or DoubleSpace volumes before installing. Do not install Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition, on a compressed drive unless the drive was compressed with the NTFS file system compression feature. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.4 Preparing Mirror Sets and Other Disk Sets (Windows NT 4.0 only) --------------------------------------------------------------------- With the disk management technologies in Windows NT 4.0, you could create volume sets, mirror sets, stripe sets, or stripe sets with parity, each with specific capabilities and limitations. By using dynamic disks, introduced with Windows 2000, you can take advantage of similar technologies, and with Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition, you can also extend dynamic volumes without repartitioning or reformatting. This transition from the technologies used in Windows NT 4.0 means that you must make certain choices before running Setup for Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition. For important information about these choices, see "Working with Volume, Mirror, or Stripe Sets or Stripe Sets with Parity" in Server2.TXT. ------------------------------- 3.5 Disconnecting UPS Devices ------------------------------- If you have an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) connected to your target computer, disconnect the connecting serial cable before running Setup. Setup automatically attempts to detect devices connected to serial ports, and UPS equipment can cause problems with the detection process. ====================================================================== 4.0 STARTING SETUP FOR A NEW INSTALLATION ====================================================================== This section explains how to start Setup for a new installation. Setup works in several stages, prompting you for information, copying files, and restarting. Setup concludes with the Manage Your Server program, which you can use to adjust the server configuration for your specific needs. For important information to help you make the initial choices offered by Setup, see Server2.TXT and Server3.TXT. For information about unattended Setup and other options available when you start Setup, see "Planning for Unattended Setup" later in this text file. --------------------------------------------------- 4.1 Providing a Mass Storage Driver or a HAL File --------------------------------------------------- If you have a mass storage controller that requires a driver supplied by the manufacturer, or if you have a custom Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) file supplied by the manufacturer, provide the appropriate driver file or HAL file during Setup. 4.1.1 Mass Storage Drivers and the Setup Process ------------------------------------------------- If you have a mass storage controller (such as a SCSI, RAID, or Fibre Channel adapter) for your hard disk, confirm that the controller is designed for products in the Windows Server 2003 family by checking the hardware and software compatibility information in the Windows Catalog at: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/catalog/ If your controller is compatible, but you are aware that the manufacturer has supplied a separate driver file for use with products in the Windows Server 2003 family, obtain the file (on a floppy disk) before you begin Setup. During the early part of Setup, a line at the bottom of the screen prompts you to press F6. Further prompts will guide you in supplying the driver file to Setup so that it can gain access to the mass storage controller. If you are not sure whether you must obtain a separate driver file from the manufacturer of your mass storage controller, you can try running Setup. If the controller is not supported by the driver files on the Setup CD and therefore requires a driver file that is supplied by the hardware manufacturer, Setup stops and displays a message saying that no disk devices can be found, or it displays an incomplete list of controllers. After you obtain the necessary driver file, restart Setup, and press F6 when you are prompted. 4.1.2 Using a Custom HAL File ------------------------------ If you have a custom Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) file supplied by your computer manufacturer, before you begin Setup, locate the floppy disk or other medium containing the file. During the early part of Setup, a line at the bottom of the screen prompts you to press F6: at this time press F5 (not F6). After you press F5, follow the prompts to include your HAL file in the Setup process. ------------------------------------------------------- 4.2 Methods for Starting Setup for a New Installation ------------------------------------------------------- The sections that follow, "Starting a New Installation from a CD" and "Starting a New Installation from a Network," explain how to start Setup for a new installation. For information about starting Setup for an upgrade, see "Starting Setup for an Upgrade" earlier in this text file. For information about unattended Setup and other options available when you start Setup, see "Planning for Unattended Setup" later in this text file. 4.2.1 Starting a New Installation from a CD -------------------------------------------- If you use the Setup CD, you have several options for starting Setup, as explained in the following procedures: Note: If you are running Setup on a computer running Microsoft Windows 3.x or MS-DOS, for best efficiency, use disk caching. Otherwise, the Setup the Setup process (started from Winnt.exe) could take a long time. To enable disk caching on a computer running Windows 3.x or MS-DOS, you can use SMARTDrive. For information about SMARTDrive, see the documentation for Windows 3.x or MS-DOS. >>>TO START SETUP FROM THE CD ON A COMPUTER RUNNING MS-DOS 1. Insert the CD in the drive. 2. At the command prompt, type: d: where d is the drive letter of the CD-ROM drive. 3. Type: cd i386 4. Type: winnt 5. Follow the Setup instructions. >>>TO START SETUP FROM THE CD ON A COMPUTER RUNNING WINDOWS Before starting this procedure on a computer running Windows NT 4.0, apply Service Pack 5 or later. 1. Insert the CD in the drive. 2. To begin Setup, do one of the following: * For a computer running any version of Windows other than Windows 3.x, wait for Setup to display a dialog box. * For a computer running Windows 3.x, use File Manager to change to the CD-ROM drive and to change to the I386 directory, and then double-click Winnt.exe. 3. Follow the Setup instructions. >>>TO START SETUP FOR A NEW INSTALLATION FROM THE CD Another way of using the Setup CD is to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive. This method applies only if you want to perform a new installation, not an upgrade. Using this method, you can perform an installation on a computer that does not have an operating system, although you can also use this method on computers that have operating systems. 1. Determine whether the computer on which you want to start Setup can be started from the CD-ROM drive and whether you want to perform a new installation (not an upgrade). Continue only if both are true. 2. Insert the CD in the drive, and then restart the computer. 3. Follow the instructions for your operating system to boot the computer from the CD. 4. Wait for Setup to display a dialog box, and then follow the Setup instructions. 4.2.2 Starting a New Installation from a Network ------------------------------------------------- To install Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition, from a network, you either share the files directly from the CD or copy them to a shared folder. Then, you start the appropriate program to run Setup. >>>TO INSTALL WINDOWS SERVER 2003, STANDARD EDITION, FROM A NETWORK 1. On a network server, share the installation files, either by inserting the CD and sharing the CD-ROM drive or by copying the files from the I386 folder on the CD to a shared folder. 2. On the computer on which you want to install Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition, connect to the shared Setup files: * If you are sharing the CD-ROM drive, connect to the shared drive and change to the I386 folder. * If you are sharing a folder, connect to that folder. 3. Find and run the appropriate file in the I386 directory of the CD or in the shared folder: * From a computer running MS-DOS or Windows 3.x, run Winnt.exe. * From a computer running Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows NT with Service Pack 5 or later, Windows 2000, or Windows XP, run Winnt32.exe. 4. Follow the Setup instructions. ====================================================================== 5.0 PLANNING FOR UNATTENDED SETUP ====================================================================== This section provides general information about unattended Setup. For detailed instructions on running unattended Setup (also called automated installation), see "Automating and Customizing Installations" in the Windows Server 2003 Deployment Kit. You can view the Windows Deployment and Resource Kits on the Web at: http://www.microsoft.com/reskit/ To simplify the process of setting up a product in the Windows Server 2003 family on multiple computers, you can run Setup unattended. To do this, you create and use an answer file, a customized script that answers the Setup questions automatically. Then, you run Winnt32.exe or Winnt.exe with the appropriate options for unattended Setup. Choose the command according to the operating system that is running when you start unattended Setup: * To start unattended Setup on a computer running MS-DOS or Windows 3.x, use Winnt.exe (with the appropriate options). * To start unattended Setup on a computer running Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, or a product in the Windows Server 2003 family, use Winnt32.exe (with the appropriate options). With Windows NT 4.0, before starting unattended Setup, apply Service Pack 5 or later. To learn about unattended Setup, see the following sources: * For detailed instructions on running unattended Setup (also called automated installation): See "Automating and Customizing Installations" in the Windows Server 2003 Deployment Kit (described in the first paragraph of this section). * To view the command options available for Winnt.exe: On a computer running Windows 3.x or MS-DOS, insert the Setup CD for Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition, in the CD-ROM drive and open the command prompt. Then, change to the CD-ROM drive, change to the I386 directory, and type: winnt /? * To use an x86-based computer to view the command options available for Winnt32.exe: On a computer running Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, or a product in the Windows Server 2003 family, insert the Setup CD for Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition, in the CD-ROM drive, and open the command prompt. Then, change to the CD-ROM drive, change to the I386 directory, and type: winnt32 /? * To use an Itanium architecture-based computer to view the command options available for Winnt32.exe: On an Itanium architecture-based computer running Windows XP 64-Bit Edition; the 64-bit version of Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition; or the 64-bit version of Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition, insert the Setup CD for the 64-bit version of the product in the CD-ROM drive and open the command prompt (click Start, click Run, and then type cmd). Then, change to the CD-ROM drive, change to the IA64 directory, and type: winnt32 /? ====================================================================== 6.0 ENTERING SERVER SETTINGS FOR A NEW INSTALLATION ====================================================================== If you are upgrading, you can skip this section because Setup uses your previous settings. After you start Setup, a process begins in which necessary Setup files are copied to the hard disk. During this process, Setup displays dialog boxes that you can use to select various options. The following sections outline the items that you specify as you run Setup. Before working with these sections, see Server2.TXT and Server3.TXT for important background information about issues such as partitions, file system choices, and the handling of TCP/IP name resolution. You can modify some settings after running Setup by using the Configure Your Server Wizard or other configuration tools. Note: If you have a mass storage controller (such as a SCSI, RAID, or Fibre Channel adapter) for your hard disk, see "Providing a Mass Storage Driver or a HAL File" earlier in this text file. If you have specialized hardware that requires a custom Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) file supplied by your computer manufacturer, see "Using a Custom HAL File" earlier in this text file. Choosing or Creating a Partition for Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition -------------------------------------------------------------- During a new installation of Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition, a dialog box gives you the opportunity to create or specify a partition on which you want to install. You can create a partition from the available unpartitioned space, specify an existing partition, or delete an existing partition to create more unpartitioned disk space for the new installation. If you specify any action that will cause information to be erased, you will be prompted to confirm your choice. For more information, see the section on planning partitions for new installations in Server3.TXT. IMPORTANT: If you delete an existing partition, all data on that partition is erased. Performing a new installation of Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition, on a partition that contains another operating system overwrites the existing operating system. Selecting Regional and Language Options --------------------------------------- You can set up Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition, to use multiple languages and regional options. If you select a European country or region in the list of countries/regions, or if you live in a country or region where the euro has been introduced, it is a good idea to verify that the default currency settings in Regional and Language Options meet your needs. After you run Setup, you can modify these options by clicking Regional and Language Options in Control Panel. Personalizing Windows --------------------- Enter your name and, as an option, your organization. If you select a European country or region in the list of countries/regions, or if you live in a country or region where the euro has been introduced, it is a good idea to verify that the default currency settings in Regional and Language Options meet your needs. After you run Setup, you can modify regional and language options by clicking Regional and Language Options in Control Panel. Choosing a Licensing Mode ------------------------- Select your client licensing mode. For information about licensing modes, see Server2.TXT. If you are unsure which mode to use, select "Per Server," because you can change once from "Per Server" mode to "Per Device or Per User" mode at no cost. Entering Your Computer Name --------------------------- During Setup, in the Computer Name and Administrator Password dialog box, follow the instructions for entering your computer name. The recommended length for most languages is 15 characters or less. For languages that require more storage space per character, such as Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, the recommended length is 7 characters or less. It is recommended that you use only Internet-standard characters in the computer name. The standard characters are the numbers from 0 through 9, uppercase and lowercase letters from A through Z, and the hyphen (-) character. Computer names cannot consist entirely of numbers. If you are using DNS on your network, you can use a wider variety of characters, including Unicode characters and other nonstandard characters, such as the ampersand (&). Using nonstandard characters might affect the ability of non-Microsoft software to operate on your network. For more information about DNS, see "Name Resolution for TCP/IP" in Server3.TXT. The maximum length for a computer name is 63 bytes. If the name is longer than 15 bytes (15 characters in most languages, 7 characters in some), computers running Windows NT Server 4.0 and earlier will recognize this computer by the first 15 bytes of the name only. In addition, there are additional configuration steps for a name that is longer than 15 bytes. For more information, in Help and Support Center, see "Namespace planning for DNS." To view Help and Support Center, after running Setup, click Start, and then click Help and Support. If a computer is part of a domain, you must choose a computer name that is different from any other computer in the domain. To avoid name conflicts, the computer should be unique on the domain, workgroup, or network. If this computer is part of a domain, and it contains more than one operating system, you must use a unique computer name for each operating system that is installed. For example, if the computer name is FileServerNT when the computer is started with Windows NT Server 4.0, the computer must have a different name, perhaps FileServerNew, when it is started with a product in the Windows Server 2003 family. This requirement also applies to a computer that contains multiple installations of the same operating system. For more information, in Help and Support Center, see "Planning your domain structure." Setting the Administrator Account Password ------------------------------------------ During Setup, in the Computer Name and Administrator Password dialog box, type a password of up to 127 characters in the Administrator Password box. For the strongest system security, use a password of at least 7 characters, and use a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and other characters, such as *, ?, or $. IMPORTANT: After Setup is completed, for best security, change the name of the Administrator account (it cannot be deleted) and keep a strong password on the account at all times. For more information about security and the administrative rights and permissions held by the Administrator account and the Administrators group, see Help and Support Center. You can view Help and Support Center after Setup is complete by clicking Start, and then clicking Help and Support. Setting the Date and Time ------------------------- During Setup, in the Date and Time Settings dialog box, set the date, time, and time zone. If you want the system to automatically adjust for daylight saving time, select the "Automatically adjust clock for daylight saving changes" check box. You can change your computer's date and time after Setup is complete. If your computer is a member of a domain, your computer clock is probably synchronized automatically by a network time server. If your computer is not a member of a domain, you can synchronize your computer clock with an Internet time server. Specifying Networking Settings ------------------------------ You can specify networking information for TCP/IP or other protocols during Setup, or you can use typical settings and then make any necessary changes to your networking configuration after installation. For basic background information about TCP/IP configuration and Setup, see "Networks: TCP/IP, IP Addresses, and Name Resolution" in Server3.TXT. For additional information about TCP/IP configuration, see Help and Support Center as well as the Windows Deployment and Resource Kits for the Windows Server 2003 family. To open Help and Support Center, after completing Setup, click Start, and then click Help and Support. >>>TO ALLOW SETUP TO ASSIGN OR OBTAIN AN IP ADDRESS * When you click "Typical settings" in the Networking Settings dialog box, Setup checks to see if there is a DHCP server on your network. If there is a DHCP server on your network, DHCP provides an IP address. If there is no DHCP server on your network, Setup will use a limited IP addressing option called Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA). On a server using APIPA, complete the network configuration after Setup, because a server using APIPA can communicate only with other computers using APIPA on the same network segment. For basic background information about IP address configuration, including additional information about the limitations of APIPA, see "IP Addresses" in Server3.TXT. >>>TO SPECIFY A STATIC IP ADDRESS AND SETTINGS NEEDED FOR DNS AND WINS 1. During Setup, in the Networking Settings dialog box, click "Custom settings," and then click Next. 2. In the Networking Components dialog box, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). 3. Click Properties. 4. In the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog box, click "Use the following IP address." 5. In IP address, Subnet mask, and Default gateway, type the appropriate addresses. 6. Under "Use the following DNS server addresses," type the address of a preferred DNS server and, optionally, an alternate DNS server. If the local server is the preferred or alternate DNS server, type the same IP address as assigned in the previous step. 7. If you will use a WINS server, click Advanced, and then click the WINS tab in the Advanced TCP/IP Settings dialog box to add the IP address of one or more WINS servers. 8. Click OK in each dialog box, and continue with Setup. Specifying the Workgroup or Domain Name --------------------------------------- A domain is a group of accounts and network resources that share a common directory database and set of security policies and might have security relationships with other domains. A workgroup is a more basic grouping, intended only to help users find objects such as printers and shared folders within that group. Domains make it easier for an administrator to control access to resources and keep track of users. For more information, see "Deciding Between Workgroups and Domains" in Server3.TXT. For more information about name conflicts, see "Entering Your Computer Name" earlier in this text file. ====================================================================== 7.0 CONFIGURING YOUR SERVER ====================================================================== When Setup is complete, the computer restarts. Setup has now completed the basic installation. Manage Your Server appears on the screen the first time you log on as the computer's administrator. You can use Manage Your Server to install and configure server roles, including file servers, print servers, Web and media servers, and networking and communications servers. You can start Manage Your Server at any time if you are logged on as an administrator. To start Manage Your Server, click Start, and then either click Manage Your Server or point to All Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Manage Your Server. Also at this point, you can view Help and Support Center by clicking Start, and then clicking Help and Support. If you have used Windows NT in the past, one topic you might find useful is "New ways to do familiar tasks," which is available in the online Help topics or through use of the Search feature in Help and Support Center. Choosing Server Components -------------------------- You can use the Windows Components Wizard to select the appropriate components for your server. To use this wizard, after running Setup, click Start, and then click Control Panel. In Control Panel, double-click Add or Remove Programs, and then, on the left side of the dialog box, click Add/Remove Windows Components. With this wizard you can choose and install individual components. ====================================================================== 8.0 PRODUCT ACTIVATION FOR PRODUCTS IN THE WINDOWS SERVER 2002 FAMILY ====================================================================== After you install a product in the Windows Server 2003 family, if the product was purchased individually rather than through a volume licensing arrangement, you will have to activate the product unless your hardware manufacturer has preactivated it for you. Product activation is quick, simple, and unobtrusive, and it protects your privacy. It is designed to reduce software piracy (illegal copies of a product). Over time, reduced piracy means that the software industry can invest more in product development, quality, and support. This results in better products and more innovation for customers. The following details help explain product activation: Software reminders ------------------ Until you activate your product, it provides a reminder each time you log on and at common intervals until the end of the activation grace period stated in your End-User License Agreement (30 days is the typical grace period). If your activation grace period passes and you do not activate the product, your computer will continue to function, except that when you log on locally or log on through Remote Desktop for Administration (the new name for the Windows 2000 functionality known as Terminal Services in Remote Administration Mode), you will only be able to use the Activate Windows Wizard. How the software handles activation ----------------------------------- Activation is simple and anonymous. When you activate your product, it means that your product key is now associated with the computer (the hardware) it is installed on. After that happens, your product key cannot be used for activation on other computers (unless you are enrolled in a special program that permits additional activations, for example, a program through the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN)). Your local operating system does some of the work of creating the association between your product key and the computer it is installed on. It uses your Product ID, which is derived from your product key, and puts it together with a coded number (called a hardware hash) that uniquely represents the hardware components that make up your computer (without representing any personal information or anything about the software). When you activate, you provide this number, through the Internet or by phone, so that it can be confirmed as representing a legal installation. After you activate, if another person has an illegal copy of your software, and that person tries to use your product key to activate the software on another computer, the coded numbers will show that your product key is already associated with a particular set of hardware (your computer). The other person's activation will not work. The Installation ID that the local operating system generates, representing the association between your product key and the computer it is installed on, is used only for the purpose of activation. Methods for activation ---------------------- After your operating system is installed, begin activation by clicking Start, and then clicking Activate Windows. (You can also click the key icon that appears in the lower right corner of the screen.) By following the instructions on the screen, you can activate through the Internet or by phone: * Internet: When you activate through the Internet, your computer transmits coded information that shows that your product key is associated with your computer hardware. Activation is carried out through a secure server. A confirmation ID is passed back to your computer, automatically activating your product. This process normally takes just a few seconds to complete. No personally identifiable information is required to activate your product. * Phone: When you activate by phone, information on the screen guides you through a few simple steps. When you choose the country or region where you are located, a phone number (toll-free, wherever possible) appears on your screen. When you call the number, a customer service representative asks for the Installation ID that is displayed on your screen. The customer service representative enters that number into a secure database, confirms that the number represents a legally installed product, and provides a confirmation ID to you. Then, you type the confirmation ID into the spaces provided on the screen, and activation is complete. Reactivation (rarely needed) ---------------------------- If you overhaul your computer by replacing a substantial number of hardware components (not just a few), the operating system might view your hardware as a completely different computer, not the one on which you activated. In this situation, you can call the telephone number displayed on the telephone activation screen, and, through a quick, simple process, you can reactivate your product. --------------------------------------------------------- 8.1 Product Activation Compared to Product Registration --------------------------------------------------------- Product activation is not the same as product registration. As discussed above, product activation is required, and it is completely anonymous. Product registration, in contrast, is completely optional, and it allows you to provide personal information, such as your e-mail address, if you choose. Registration entitles you to receive information about product updates and special offers directly from Microsoft. All registration information provided is stored securely, and no information is ever loaned or sold to other parties. Information in this document, including URL and other Internet Web site references, is subject to change without notice. Unless otherwise noted, the example companies, organizations, products, domain names, e-mail addresses, logos, people, places and events depicted herein are fictitious, and no association with any real company, organization, product, domain name, e-mail address, logo, person, place or event is intended or should be inferred. Complying with all applicable copyright laws is the responsibility of the user. Without limiting the rights under copyright, no part of this document may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), or for any purpose, without the express written permission of Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft may have patents, patent applications, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property rights covering subject matter in this document. Except as expressly provided in any written license agreement from Microsoft, the furnishing of this document does not give you any license to these patents, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property. (c) 2002-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.