Replacing Win2k Server with Professional

[JAMM]

Have installed Windows 2000 Server (SP 4 and any updates applied), in
addition to Win98 and FreeBSD (on their own partitions, got booted thru
System Commander boot manager).
Now I'd like to replace my Win2K Server with the Pro version (enough for my
home system). What's the best, faster and least prone to pitfalls way to go?
Can I simply boot from the Windows 2k Pro CD and install on top of the
Server version, provided anything will be lost? Is there any non-official
way to tweak the system in order to make it believe it's the Pro version?
I've seen in the Solomon and Russinovich's book that there are two registry
entries that keeps track of this.

Thanks in advance,

JAMM

 

[George Hester]

"Can I simply boot from the Windows 2k Pro CD and install on top of the
Server version, provided anything will be lost." - No

There is a way to convince Pro to think it is server. In Windows NT4. Not
sure about Windows 2000. To convince the Server it is Professional I doubt
it. What's the trouble with running the Server as a workstation?

 

[JAMM]

Greetings,

... What's the trouble with running the Server as a workstation?

None at all: I'm really pleased with it. But there is some stuff out there
that refuses to run on the Server version (e.g. Kerio Personal Firewall)
Anyway, thanks for your comments, George.

 

[George Hester]

Yes the newsest versions of Partition Magic will also balk if you try to
install them on the server. It would be nice to convince the server not to
send that information to these applications but I have yet to see anything
on it. That doesn't mean it's not possible it's just that the majority of
hacks I've seen of this nature go the other way.

 

[Leythos]

Greetings,


None at all: I'm really pleased with it. But there is some stuff out there
that refuses to run on the Server version (e.g. Kerio Personal Firewall)
Anyway, thanks for your comments, George.

Um, that's a very sad reason to not run it. If you OWN server and need a
firewall, just get one that runs on it. Most people that run server do
so for things other than just having a fancy workstation running server
so they can impress their friends.

If you are running server, get a firewall for your border device to the
internet, even a Router with NAT is a good starting point. Next, get a
copy of Symantec Corporate Edition AV software, then, if you really need
a firewall running on the server, don't scrimp, get a server quality
firewall.

If you are going to install 2000 Professional, just wipe the server and
install from scratch. If you set it up with two partitions, one for OS,
one for data/apps, you can wipe the OS partition any time you want
without erasing your data.

 

[JM]

quoting:

Greetings,


None at all: I'm really pleased with it. But there is some stuff out there
that refuses to run on the Server version (e.g. Kerio Personal Firewall)
Anyway, thanks for your comments, George.

If it's a server, I would hang onto the server os. But here's a solution,
Google for ntswitch.exe and also Tiny Personal Firewall, which works on
servers.

 

[JAMM]

If it's a server, I would hang onto the server os. But here's a solution,
Google for ntswitch.exe and also Tiny Personal Firewall, which works on
servers.

Wow! It DOES work. I managed to find out and download ntswitch.exe, ran the
app and rebooted... And here it comes: Win 2k Professional.
It's based on modifying two values in the registry, as I mentioned in my
first message. What I didn´t know is that you can´t alter these values so
straightforward, since there are two system threads monitoring them and
won't let you alter them (I guess
Microsoft wouldn't enjoy everyone tweaking this way). Ntswitch gets the work
done with an easy trick.

So many thanks, Jason and every one of you for your help,

Jesus A. Mora