Installing Windows 2000 Server (as a domain controller)

The following little document describes installation of Windows 2000 Server as a domain controller. The ultimate goal of this exercise is to set up one isolated system as a brand new Windows 2000 domain controller.

• Backup old data if necessary. This installation procedure formats the destination partition on the hard disk. All data on this partition will be lost.
• Have the hardware ready.
• If the system is multiple-boot as in my case, it is probably a good idea to prepare partitions before the installation. For example, I had a 6GB E: partition available (with another OS). I NTFS-formatted it. I modified the boot.ini file to erase the entry for this OS. I made sure the system still boots okay using all other entries in boot.ini file. There is no need to check VGA mode boots because it readjusts desktop layout. Putting those displaced icons back onto a higher resolution screen is painful.
• Disconnect network cables from the production network (if connected). The point right now is installing a stand alone Windows 2000 domain controller for a brand new domain.
• Use Windows 2000 Server installation disk to start installation.
• Accept all defaults except when the installer asks whether you want to upgrade the hard disk to NTFS file system. Select "No" here. Installer copies a few files and then automatically restarts the system.
• Press ENTER on the Windows 2000 Server Setup blue screen to set up Windows 2000 now.
• Select the desired partition and proceed. If the pratition was not formatted previously format it now, otherwise proceed leaving it intact. I have chosen to format the partition here again and noticed that the formatting takes longer time than when performed from Windows NT 4.0 Disk Administrator.

• Interesting observation as we go along. After formatting I was presented with the following message:

  Windows 2000 Server Setup
  Setup has detected one or more older versions of Windows NT on this computer.
  These versions will not start unless they are upgraded to Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 4 or greater before you install Windows 2000.
  To continue, press C. To quit Setup, press F3.

  This is not entirely correct. At least it did not work this way in my special case... I had Windows NT 4.0 Workstation SP1 on a 300 MB C: partition, as well as Windows NT 4.0 Workstation 4.0 SP6 on a 6GB D: partition. Both operating systems were able to start fine after Windows 2000 installation.
   
  

• Accept default locale and keyboard layout on the "Regional Settings" dialog. Just click on Next on that screen.
• Provide a name and organization on the "Personalize Your Software" dialog.
• Select default licensing mode (5 concurrent connections per server).
• Provide computer name (I used frosty) and an Administrator password.
• Use default collection on the "Windows 2000 Components" dialog. There is no need to change anything at this point.
• Select date and time as desired.
• Use default "Typical Settings" on the "Networking Settings" dialog.
• Use default settings on the "Workgroup or Computer Domain" dialog. Notice that making this computer a member of a domain at this time will fail anyway. The system will present a "Network Configuration" dialog with the message "An invalid domain was specified. Would you like to proceed for now and try to join a domain later?". Select Yes if you got this far.
• Remove the CD when asked and click on the Finish button to restart the system.
• When the system restarts and presents the "Windows 2000 Configure Your Server" dialog select "This is the only server in my network" and click Next on that screen and on the following screen. This should get installation of Active Directory, DHCP, and DNS going.
• Type in a domain name (I used myresearch), and the Internet domain name (I used local). Then click Next on that screen and on the following screen. Insert the Windows 2000 Server CD when asked.
• When the system restarts again log on as Administrator and change display properties if necessary. Right-click anywhere on the free area of desktop, then select Properties - Settings and configure screen.
• Start Windows Explorer (Start - Programs - Accessories - Windows Explorer) and configure folder options. Use the Tools - Folder Options menu, navigate to View, select "Show hidden files and folders", uncheck "Hide file extensions for known file types", and "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)". Click on the Apply button, and then on the "Like Current Folder" button to make all folders behave like specified.
• Change the timeout line in C:\boot.ini file. The default is timeout=30. Change it to timeout=5. This makes the OS loader to wait for only 5 seconds instead of 30 before loading the default OS.
• Configure TCP/IP. Go to Start - Settings - Network and Dial-up Connections. Select Local Area Connection - Properties. Double-click on Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Change the IP address from 10.10.1.1 to 192.168.2.2, and subnet mask from 255.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.0.
• Install Windows 2000 Service Pack 1.
• Shutdown, restart, and make sure it boots okay.