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Windows Server 2003 is the more scalable and better performing successor of Windows Server 2000. This article describes how to install Windows Server 2003 R2.

Initial Setup

The first part of the Windows Server installation uses a text user interface.

1. Boot your computer from the Windows 2003 R2 CD number 1. Press Enter in the Welcome to Setup screen.

2. Press F8 to agree to the Windows Licensing Agreement.

3. Select the partition where you wish to install Windows 2003 and press Enter.

4. Select the file system of the partition and press Enter to start the format process. The default which is NTFS file system is the best.

5. Install will now start copying the basic files and will automatically reboot when finished.

GUI Setup

The second part of the Windows Server installation uses a graphical user interface.

1. After rebooting, installation will continue in a GUI environment.

2. Customize the way number, dates, currencies and time are displayed and click Next to continue.

3. Fill in the Name and Organization fields and click Next to continue.

4. Enter your Product Key and click Next to continue.

5. Select your licensing mode and click Next to continue.

6. Fill in the Computer name, Administrator password and Confirm password and click Next to continue.

7. Set the correct date and time and click Next to continue.

8. Leave the default selection Typical Settings and click Next to continue.

9. Choose whether the computer will be a member of a workgroup or a domain and click Next to continue.

10. Setup will continue copying files and automatically reboot when finished.

Windows Server Setup

The third part of the Windows Server installation will be performed inside Windows Server itself.

1. Press Ctrl-Alt-Del to log on to Windows.

2. Type in your password and click Ok to continue.

3. Load the Windows Server 2003 R2 CD number 2 and click Ok.

4. Click Next to continue.

5. Click Next to continue.

6. Setup is now updating the files.

7. Click Finish to continue.

Windows Server Post Setup

Before completing the Windows Server installation, we need to install the latest updates available.

1. If an internet connection is available, click Update this server to begin updating your server. Next click Configure automatic updating for this server.

2. Click Finish and click Yes in the confirmation dialog.

3. Your Windows Server 2003 is now available.