Anything Special About Installing NT 4 Server?

[Ayman Altounji]

Hi - I have installed Windows NT Server 4.0 on many computers in my career as an IT specialist. However, I will soon be attempting my first installation of this NOS on a Compaq computer - specifically a Compaq Prosignia 200 Server. I was wondering if there is anything special about installing NT 4 Server on this machine as opposed to the "other" brands that use standard hardware/BIOS/etc. I know that Compaq many times uses special partitions on the hard drive to store BIOS information and I am wondering if a special approach must be made in installing NT server with Compaqs. The standard approach basically being booting from the NT Server CD and creating/selecting the partition to install to, formating as FAT or NTFS, and then copying the files and configuring the server.

Thank you very much for any help you can offer. Sorry I am so helpless, but this is the email server and no email=angry people =)

Mayo Fottral

[Ayman Altounji]

There is nothing special about installing NT 4.0 on this machine. This machine uses the System Configuration Utility to configure the machine. If you have a Smartstart cd, you can perform a manual installation with it. This method is the one that has the less hassles.

If you don't have a Smartstart cd, you can install NT on the machine with or without the System Configuration Partition, but I would recommend creating it because it makes it easier to configure the machine when necessary.

You will want to download the System Configuration Utility, the System Erase Utility, and the Server Diagnostics image files from Compaq's web site. With these diskettes, you can create the System Configuration Partition. If you would like to order a Smartstart cd, you can order it from the following number: 1-800-573-1099.

[Ayman Altounji]

Thank you Arif for your most imformative response. I appreciate your help and am happy to report I have found the SmartStart CD for this machine. Thank you again for your information!

- Mayo