Start Setup from a network

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

To start Setup from a network

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.
On the computer on which you want to install, 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.
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.
Follow the Setup instructions.

Notes

To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. 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, consider using Run as to perform this procedure.
Setup works in several stages, prompting you for information, copying files, and restarting.
For information about unattended Setup, see Related Topics.
If you have a mass storage controller (such as a SCSI, RAID, or Fibre Channel adapter) for your hard disk, see Related Topics for information about how to ensure that the controller driver file is available to the Setup program.
If you have specialized hardware requiring a custom hardware abstraction layer (HAL) file supplied by your computer manufacturer, see Related Topics for information about how to make the HAL file available during Setup.

Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.