How to install Windows 8 Server Developer Preview (step by step)

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Windows 8 also features a server side operating system known as Windows 8 Server.

Windows 8 Server is downloadable if you have subscribed to an MSDN account.

In this article, we take you step by step through installation of the Windows 8 Server Developer Preview.

Step 1: Get Windows 8 Server using MSDN subsciption

You have to download the setup file to begin installation. You require a Windows Live account with an active MSDN subscription at msdn.microsoft.com.

Login using your username and password and access the downloads section in the subscriptions panel on the right.

You will need a product key to activate the developer version that will also be provided to you. Click on Windows 8 Server Developer Preview downloads and you will see the following page.



A built in transfer manager will take control as soon you start downloading. Depending on your bandwidth, this will take a while.

Step 2: Determine installation media

You end up downloading the ISO file that can be mounted on a CD or DVD or a USB depending on your preference. Use an image mounting tool such as Daemon Tools to create a bootable DVD.

Booting from USB

The ISO file needs to be loaded on the DVD first. Once the ISO file becomes accessible on the DVD, type the commands listed below while the USB is still connected to the computer.

diskpart.exe

DISKPART> list disk

Select the USB device from the list and substitute the disk number below
when necessary

DISKPART> select disk 1
DISKPART> clean
DISKPART> create partition primary
DISKPART> select partition 1
DISKPART> active
DISKPART> format fs=fat32
DISKPART> assign
DISKPART> exit
X:
cd boot
bootsect /nt60 Y:

xcopy X:\*.* /s/e/f Y:\

where X:\ is your mounted image or physical DVD and Y:\ is your USB device

Step 3: Begin installation

  ■ Based on the media you have chosen in the previous step, either plug the USB in the USB slot or insert disc into the DVD drive and boot your computer


Regional Settings

  ■ Configure your regional settings by setting your Language, Time and currency format and Keyboard or Input method. Press Next to proceed.


Install now

  ■ If you want to install a fresh copy, do not click on Repair your computer, select Install Now option to proceed with normal installation.


Choose version

  ■ The next screen brings three options in front of you namely :

  ■ Choose one of the installations and click on Next to proceed. One thing to be noted is that Windows 8 Server is fully based on x64 architecture and hence x86 is not supported.

1. Windows Server Developer Preview (Full Installation)

2. Windows Server Developer Preview (Server Core Installation)

3. Windows Server Developer Preview (Features On Demand)


License Agreement

  ■ Please ensure that you read the license terms before proceeding with installation further. Click on I accept the license terms option and Next to proceed.


Type of install

  ■ There are two options presented to you at this stage- upgrade and custom installation. If you want to retain files and folders on your primary partition, select upgrade option. If you are installing a fresh copy of Windows 8 Server, choose custom option.


Select partition

  ■ The next screen displays the various partitions present on your system. You can change the partitions by selecting Drive options at the bottom right from where you will be allowed to create and delete partitions. Remember, deleting a partition will erase all data on that partition and this operation cannot be undone. So, determine the partition where you would like to install Windows 8 Server and click on Next to proceed. It is a general practice to install operating systems on C: drive.


Installing Windows

  ■ This screen is similar to Windows 7 installation where the setup files are copied and then expanded to proceed with installation.


First Reboot

  ■ The system will restart itself in 10 seconds once the installation process is complete. You can trigger a manual restart at this point by clicking on Restart Now.

  ■ The Window Server Setup modifies registry files, gets the devices ready and prepares the user interface for loading after which it redirects you to the Logon screen.


Create user acct

Create an administrator account at this point with a username and password.

Ensure that the created password obliges to the password policy having 8 characters and a combination of lowercase and uppercase letters along with other characters.


Logon screen

  ■ The lock screen will be displayed where you press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to log on.


Enter password

  ■ Now the real logon screen is displayed where you enter the password that was created two steps ago.


Server Manager

  ■ The server manager launches itself to configure your Windows 8 Server and include the list of devices that will be connected or managed by this computer.


Dashboard

As y'all can see this installation is very similar to installing Windows 8 developer Preview, and the process should be as smooth and fast too.