Re: re-installing Windows 2003 SBS

Hi David,

Dell advises not to run SATA and SCSI in PE 700 server at the same time.
Would be better to add an additional SCSI drive or two larger SCSI drives.

PE 700 Manual
http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...70.htm#1037554
--------------------------------------------------
"Up to four 1-inch SATA or SCSI hard drives".

NOTE: Installing SATA and SCSI hard drives in the same system is not
supported
---------------------------------------------------

I've got one of these PE700s at home and one at a client. They run well
with SBS 2003 Standard and SCSI (with a minimum of 1.5 GB of RAM, depending
on what 3rd party apps are installed). My client is running software Raid1
with two SCSI drives and it works well. They also have small 10 GB
partition also and I have to fight to keep enough free space on the C:
drive.

You're users will lose their desktop profiles since, from SBS's perspective,
you will be creating a new domain when you do the fresh install. Make sure
you know a 'local administrator' username and password on each workstation
before you reinstall the server. Otherwise, you won't be able to join the
workstations to the new domain.

Do a FULL backup using the SBS Backup Wizard prior to starting the reinstall
and document the current partitions sizes and the current Windows 2003
service pack level that is installed on the current server (in case you need
to retreat).

Thinking out loud here....

(I'm assuming you have the original SBS 2003 RTM CDs)

+ Install more RAM
+ Do FULL Backup of current server
+ Make sure you have all the original SBS disks and install keys (for SBS,
Outlook, etc.).
+ Know a local administrator username/password on each workstation and try
these out before proceeding
+ Back up or document any important desktop information for the profiles on
the workstations (Favorites, background pictures, shortcuts, etc.)
+ If using Folder Redirection for the users, redirect it back to their
desktops
+ Stop all Exchange services and set them to "manual" so that no more mail
is received on the current SBS server.
+ Log onto workstation(s) as each use, open Outlook and export ALL Exchange
data folders to a .pst for each user. Save to a USB drive.
+ Copy all 3rd party application databases/data to a USB drive
+ Copy all user folders to a USB drive
+ Document access permissions for all shared folders
+ Copy data in all shared folders to a USB drive
+ Document all Security and Distribution groups (other than the default
groups)
+ Prior to the new install, download the following to a USB drive:
--------------------------------------------
Windows 2003 SP2
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

Exchange 2003 SP2
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

Sharepoint 2003 SP3
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

Windows XP SP2 for Client Deployment
http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...93-X86-ENU.EXE

SBS 2003 SP1
http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...P1-X86-ENU.EXE
----------------------------------------------------

+ Install SBS 2003 from your CDs.
+ Stop after CD1 and create your partitions.
+ Then finish the installation of the SBS 2003 Components by clicking on
Continue Setup on the desktop.
+ Do not do any MS security or service pack updates
+ Run a scan with the SBS 2003 BPA to get a baseline on the health of your
installation
-----------------------------------------
SBS 2003 Best Practices Analyzer
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
-----------------------------------------

+ If there are no glaring errors or problems, proceed to upgrade to SBS
2003 SP1 using the following (multi-web page) document. Make sure the BIOS
has been upgraded on the server to handle Windows 2003 SP1/SP2. (In the
document, substitute Windows 2003 SP2 for SP1, Exchange 2003 SP2 for SP1,
Sharepoint Services 2003 SP3 for SP1)
------------------------------------------
How to install Service Pack 1 for SBS 2003
http://www.smallbizserver.net/Defaul...=68&PageID=555
------------------------------------------

+ Run a scan with the 2003 BPA again and fix any errors
+ Go to Windows Update, do a custom search and install the latest security
updates
+ Run a scan with the 2003 BPA again and fix any errors
+ Configure a FULL backup using the SBS 2003 Backup Wizard
+ Set up workstation (computer) accounts on the server
+ Set up user accounts on the server
+ Recreate Security and Distribution Groups (and their membership)
+ Run CEICW to configure SBS services, firewall and email
+ Configure password complexity
+ Set up Monitoring and Reporting
+ Do a FULL backup of your new (baseline) installation using the SBS Backup
Wizard before proceeding.
+ Join workstations to your new domain
+ Configure users
+ Open Outlook for each user and import the .pst you previously created
+ Copy Favorites to each user's profile on the workstations
+ Reinstall 3rd party apps/databases/data on the server
+ Reinstall an antivirus software on the server and recreate an exceptions
to folder/file scanning
+ Reinstall AV software on each workstation
+ Configure/test access to third party apps on server from the workstations
for each user
+ Configure Folder Redirection for users if desired
+ Do FULL daily backups of the server

I'm sure I've forgotten some things.

--
Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]
============================

"David-UK" <David-> wrote in message
newsavid-...
>
> Hi Cris,
>
> Thanks for reply. I will add more RAM as you advised. Sorry I forgot to
> mentionen that We had partitioned the hard drive. C and E. C drive was
> 12 GB as Microsoft recommended and that's the one run out of space. We
> had moved Exchange database into E drive. C drive had 3GB free space at
> the moment and E drive 20GB. Our users don't take much space.
>
> Main problem is we cannot update security patches etc and some
> functions are not working. Could you put us into right direction what do
> we need to consider before reinstalling please? I will not create a
> partition this time. Only 1 main drive (73GB SCSI 10000 rpm)and maybe
> another SATA drive.
>
> Thanks.
>
> David
>
>
> --
> David-UK
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