Fresh Win2000 Install Questions

[Bill]

I'm doing a fresh, brand new install of Windows 2000 Pro on a clean 100G hard drive. HD
was formatted on the target computer. I'll have two drives, C: for Win2K & programs, D:
for data. (WinXP is too bloated for this situation)

I'm new to Win2K, so I'd like some comments on my process:

1) I'll do the install with C: and D: on FAT32 then convert to NTFS after the OS install
and all patches. Good?
2) Any recommendations for swap file settings?
3) Are there any installation gotchas with regards to permissions, users, security,
stability, etc. that I should be aware of before this install?

Thanks,

Bill.

 

[Bob I]

Why fight the FAT32?

 

[John John]

In-line.

I'm doing a fresh, brand new install of Windows 2000 Pro on a clean
100G hard drive. HD was formatted on the target computer. I'll have
two drives, C: for Win2K & programs, D: for data. (WinXP is too
bloated for this situation)

I'm new to Win2K, so I'd like some comments on my process:

1) I'll do the install with C: and D: on FAT32 then convert to NTFS
after the OS install and all patches. Good?

No. Format the drive NTFS from the start. There is no need to have the
drive FAT32 to install Windows 2000. You will be offered to format the
drive when you use the Windows 2000 CD, format it NTFS. Converting will
leave the drive in a less than optimal state, the MFT will be in the
middle of the disk instead of at the beginning where it belongs, and if
you don't do it the right way the cluster size might be 512 bytes
instead of the more optimal 4K. So, never mind FAT32 and format NTFS
before you install the operating system.

2) Any recommendations for swap file settings?

Windows will assign a minimum and maximum pagefile setting depending on
the amount of RAM that is installed on the computer. After Windows is
installed defragment the boot volume and set the pagefile so that the
minimum value is the same as the maximum value, that will prevent the
page file from becoming fragmented, pagefile fragmentation can have a
significant hit on performance. Also, after you set the pagefile run
pagedefrag on the system to make sure that important operating system
files are not fragmented:
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/PageDefrag.html

3) Are there any installation gotchas with regards to permissions,
users, security, stability, etc. that I should be aware of before
this install?

Yes, DON'T connect to the internet unless you have a properly configured
firewall installed! If you don't have a firewall you might be infected
by a worm or virus before you can blink twice. Also, if you create
multiple partitions with the Windows 2000 setup program, exit setup
after you create the partitions and start the setup again, that will
avoid drive letter assignment surprises, like having Windows end up on
drive "D" or other. Disable UPnP and the Windows Messenger service,
these are unnecessary security risks.

John

 

[Bill]

Thank You, see my comments in-line:

In-line.


No. Format the drive NTFS from the start. There is no need to have the
drive FAT32 to install Windows 2000. You will be offered to format the
drive when you use the Windows 2000 CD, format it NTFS. Converting will
leave the drive in a less than optimal state, the MFT will be in the
middle of the disk instead of at the beginning where it belongs, and if
you don't do it the right way the cluster size might be 512 bytes
instead of the more optimal 4K. So, never mind FAT32 and format NTFS
before you install the operating system.

I'll do that! What about my data drive D:, do I need to let Win2K format it as NTFS
after the install?

Windows will assign a minimum and maximum pagefile setting depending on
the amount of RAM that is installed on the computer. After Windows is
installed defragment the boot volume and set the pagefile so that the
minimum value is the same as the maximum value, that will prevent the
page file from becoming fragmented, pagefile fragmentation can have a
significant hit on performance. Also, after you set the pagefile run
pagedefrag on the system to make sure that important operating system
files are not fragmented:
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/PageDefrag.html

Go it. I trust Sysinternals, so thanks for the link.

Yes, DON'T connect to the internet unless you have a properly configured
firewall installed! If you don't have a firewall you might be infected
by a worm or virus before you can blink twice.

My plan is to download Win2K SP4 from another computer, put it on a Flash drive, and
then install from there. Ditto for IE6 (full download) adn my drivers. After installing
Office XP and my applications, the last thing I'll install before connecting to the
internet is Outpost Firewall.

Also, if you create
multiple partitions with the Windows 2000 setup program, exit setup
after you create the partitions and start the setup again, that will
avoid drive letter assignment surprises, like having Windows end up on
drive "D" or other. Disable UPnP and the Windows Messenger service,
these are unnecessary security risks.

John

D: will be created at the initial formatting.

Thanks, John!!!

Bill.

 

[John John]

In-line again:

Thank You, see my comments in-line:

...



I'll do that! What about my data drive D:, do I need to let Win2K format it as NTFS
after the install?

You can create/delete partitions and format them NTFS with the Windows
Disk Management tool after Windows 2000 is installed, you can do that
directly from within Windows 2000. Or you can do it when you run the
Windows 2000 setup program, its up to you, just remember to exit the
setup program if you create more than one partition to avoid confusing
Windows with the system partition letter assignment. When you say
"drives" are you talking about two physical hard drives or one hard
drive containing more than one partition? The drive letters for your
cd/dvd drives will be enumerated before the partitions if you do it
after Windows is installed, you can change that after but it might be
simpler to partition the drive(s) as you want them before you install.

Go it. I trust Sysinternals, so thanks for the link.




My plan is to download Win2K SP4 from another computer, put it on a Flash drive, and
then install from there. Ditto for IE6 (full download) adn my drivers. After installing
Office XP and my applications, the last thing I'll install before connecting to the
internet is Outpost Firewall.

Good idea. Regarding the installation of the service pack and other
drivers and fixes:

The first driver(s) that you should install after Windows is installed
is the chipset driver, if one is available for your chipset. Then you
should install other motherboard drivers if needed. Then install the
drivers for your other devices followed by the service pack and IE6.
There will be lots of additional fixes to get from Microsoft update
center, SP4 is a few years old! If you want you can also download the
Update Rollup Package beforehand and install it after SP4, it will
reduce the number of updates to download later. See here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/evaluation/news/bulletins/rollup.mspx
Also, if you go to the Windows Update site and are offered driver
updates for your devices kindly refuse them and go the the websites of
your device manufacturers for your driver updates, the device drivers
offered by Microsoft are notorious for causing problems.

D: will be created at the initial formatting.

Are you installing this on IDE or on SATA drive? If SATA or non IDE you
will need the drive controller drivers on a diskette and have the
Windows 2000 setup program load them at the beginning of the setup
routine (F6 - Mass Device Drivers) for your installation to succeed.

Thanks, John!!!

You're welcome. Oh yes, I almost forgot, when you install the operating
system make sure that no external devices are connected to the computer,
no printers, no removable USB drives or flash/pen drives, etc. The only
external devices that should be connected is the monitor, keyboard and
the mouse. Good luck.

John

 

[JCO]

I actually like 3-partitions minimum.
C = OS (and related patches)
D = Applications (Office 2003, virus stuff, ... so forth)
E = Data

This just lets the partitions stay smaller incase you want to burn an images
to a DVD for later restoration.
As far as Fat32 vs NTFS? I'm a FAT 32 person myself but I won't go into
plus and minus because I would loose. What I agree with is the fact that
you don't have to do any conversions. The OS will give you the option to
format the drive. Choose it from the start and stick with it. Don't do it
one way then convert it.

 

[George Hester]

inline

I'm doing a fresh, brand new install of Windows 2000 Pro on a clean 100G hard drive. HD
was formatted on the target computer. I'll have two drives, C: for Win2K & programs, D:
for data. (WinXP is too bloated for this situation)

I'm new to Win2K, so I'd like some comments on my process:

1) I'll do the install with C: and D: on FAT32 then convert to NTFS after the OS install
and all patches. Good?

Why? Not necessary. Does not have any benefit.

2) Any recommendations for swap file settings?

Leave it alone.

3) Are there any installation gotchas with regards to permissions, users, security,
stability, etc. that I should be aware of before this install?

No none. Just bewarre of Security patches. Any and all of them.

 

[Dave Patrick]

There's no advantage to apps on a separate partition. If the OS blows up
then the application registrations are also gone.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
|I actually like 3-partitions minimum.
| C = OS (and related patches)
| D = Applications (Office 2003, virus stuff, ... so forth)
| E = Data
<snip>

 

[Dave Patrick]

Follow the other recommendations. Don't make the "windows" partition too
small. (15 or 20 gB) I'll also add;

Be sure to apply SP4 and these two below to your new install before
connecting to any network. Internet included. (sasser, msblast)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/6/A/E6A04295-D2A8-40D0-A0C5-241BFECD095E/W2KSP4_EN.EXE
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx

Then

Rollup 1 for Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...CF-8850-4531-B52B-BF28B324C662&displaylang=en

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| I'm doing a fresh, brand new install of Windows 2000 Pro on a clean 100G
hard drive. HD
| was formatted on the target computer. I'll have two drives, C: for Win2K &
programs, D:
| for data. (WinXP is too bloated for this situation)
|
| I'm new to Win2K, so I'd like some comments on my process:
|
| 1) I'll do the install with C: and D: on FAT32 then convert to NTFS after
the OS install
| and all patches. Good?
| 2) Any recommendations for swap file settings?
| 3) Are there any installation gotchas with regards to permissions, users,
security,
| stability, etc. that I should be aware of before this install?
|
| Thanks,
|
| Bill.
|
|

 

[Bill]

When you say
"drives" are you talking about two physical hard drives or one hard
drive containing more than one partition? The drive letters for your
cd/dvd drives will be enumerated before the partitions if you do it
after Windows is installed, you can change that after but it might be
simpler to partition the drive(s) as you want them before you install.

It's a laptop - so it's one physical drive unit.

I was going to partition the drive into two FAT32 volumes, C: and D:, before installing
Win2K. I'll let Win2K convert to NTFS during install. Is this good?

:

The first driver(s) that you should install after Windows is installed
is the chipset driver, if one is available for your chipset. Then you
should install other motherboard drivers if needed. Then install the
drivers for your other devices followed by the service pack and IE6.

I did some research on this. I noted how the antivirus benchmarking labs did clean
installs before installing an anti-virus program to test:
1. Install Windows from CD
2. Install drivers, in this order: motherboard (chipset), audio, LAN adapter, USB, video
3. Install service packs
4. Windows Update

(I tried a clean install of Win98SE a few years ago. I did #1, then #3, then #2.
Stability sucked)

Are you installing this on IDE or on SATA drive? If SATA or non IDE you
will need the drive controller drivers on a diskette and have the
Windows 2000 setup program load them at the beginning of the setup
routine (F6 - Mass Device Drivers) for your installation to succeed.
IDE


You're welcome. Oh yes, I almost forgot, when you install the operating
system make sure that no external devices are connected to the computer,
no printers, no removable USB drives or flash/pen drives, etc. The only
external devices that should be connected is the monitor, keyboard and
the mouse. Good luck.

Got it. On this laptop, I'll even be using the built-in mouse during the install (no
external mouse).

THANKS!!!

Bill.

 

[Bill]

Downloaded all of that!

Also, is there a full install of IE6sp1 available somewhere?

On this page:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...CB-5E5D-48F5-B02B-20B602228DE6&displaylang=en

it only downloads the small setup program. I'd like the full 77M install program.

I think that the setup program has an option to download the full install - but I'm
downloading on a Windows98SE computer & I'm not completely certain that what it will
download for me will be Win2K compatible.

(presently waiting for my boxed Win2K to arrive in the mail so I can get started...)

Thanks,

Bill.

 

[John John]

It's a laptop - so it's one physical drive unit.

I was going to partition the drive into two FAT32 volumes, C: and D:, before installing
Win2K. I'll let Win2K convert to NTFS during install. Is this good?

The file system (FAT32/NTFS) is only done when you format, the
partitioning doesn't establish that. You can partition and format the
partitions with the Windows 2000 CD, use it and format NTFS the first
time you format.

:



I did some research on this. I noted how the antivirus benchmarking labs did clean
installs before installing an anti-virus program to test:
1. Install Windows from CD
2. Install drivers, in this order: motherboard (chipset), audio, LAN adapter, USB, video
3. Install service packs
4. Windows Update

That sounds like a good plan. Visit the website of the laptop
manufacturer for drivers and additional information that might be
specific to the laptop. Laptops might have proprietary hardware that
need special drivers. Do a search for Windows 2000 drivers for your
model on the manufacturer's site.

(I tried a clean install of Win98SE a few years ago. I did #1, then #3, then #2.
Stability sucked)





Got it. On this laptop, I'll even be using the built-in mouse during the install (no
external mouse).

THANKS!!!

You're welcome, good luck.

John

 

[Bill]

The file system (FAT32/NTFS) is only done when you format, the
partitioning doesn't establish that. You can partition and format the
partitions with the Windows 2000 CD, use it and format NTFS the first
time you format.

So, just boot from the Win2K CD with a raw, unformatted hard drive?

 

[JCO]

I disagree!
Like I said, if the Apps are separate from the OS, the partition sizes can
for each can be much smaller. Then the Images (from Ghost or TrueImage) can
be much smaller. I don't like the idea of splitting an image into two small
ones therefore, if the partitions are smaller to start with... Your better
off.

Any way, I base this purely on the fact that it makes the imaging process
easier. Many folks don't have a clue on creating Images. But if you do, my
way saves some headaches.

 

[John John]

...



So, just boot from the Win2K CD with a raw, unformatted hard drive?

Yes, the Windows 2000 setup program run when you boot with the CD will
allow you to partition and format raw drives, no need to do it with DOS
or Windows 9x disks.

I see you posted on another group stating that you intend to multi-boot
with Windows 98, is this the same laptop as we are talking here? Now
the plot thickens and some of what we have discussed will not longer
apply. For starters Windows 98 cannot read and use or be installed on
NTFS so you will have to revise your plan. Why do you want to use
Windows 98? Also, how old is the laptop and what are the specs on it?

John

 

[Bill]

I've researched this fairly well - it's already clear that there is zero advantage to
having the apps separate from the OS.

FIRST of all, if you lose the apps partition, you need to restore the OS partition
anyway, partly because you need all the associated registry entries that may have been
lost or corrupted. The OS partition & registry also could have been corrupted when you
booted & couldn't find the apps.

SECOND, it takes longer to image the two partitions, than imaging just one large
partition.

THIRD, it's better to set disk partitions for performance rather than backup. It's
smarter to do backups when the computer is unattended anyway, like when you're out of
the house?

Look, if you need your computer so intensely, that even the time it takes for a backup
is intolerable, then you may want to examine the priorities in your life...!

Bill.



"JCO" opined...

I disagree!
Like I said, if the Apps are separate from the OS, the partition sizes can
for each can be much smaller. Then the Images (from Ghost or TrueImage) can
be much smaller. I don't like the idea of splitting an image into two small
ones therefore, if the partitions are smaller to start with... Your better
off.

Any way, I base this purely on the fact that it makes the imaging process
easier. Many folks don't have a clue on creating Images. But if you do, my
way saves some headaches.

There's no advantage to apps on a separate partition. If the OS blows up
then the application registrations are also gone.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
|I actually like 3-partitions minimum.
| C = OS (and related patches)
| D = Applications (Office 2003, virus stuff, ... so forth)
| E = Data
<snip>

 

[Bill]

..
:

I see you posted on another group stating that you intend to multi-boot
with Windows 98, is this the same laptop as we are talking here? Now
the plot thickens and some of what we have discussed will not longer
apply. For starters Windows 98 cannot read and use or be installed on
NTFS

Yep, I know.

so you will have to revise your plan. Why do you want to use
Windows 98? Also, how old is the laptop and what are the specs on it?

I *MIGHT* have to have a Win98SE FAT32 partition if I can't transfer all my programs
over to Win2K. V-COM SystemCommander will let me multi-boot Win98SE even if C: is NTFS.

 

[Dave Patrick]

Here you go.

http://www.petri.co.il/download_the_full_ie_package.htm

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Downloaded all of that!
|
| Also, is there a full install of IE6sp1 available somewhere?
|
| On this page:
|
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...CB-5E5D-48F5-B02B-20B602228DE6&displaylang=en
|
| it only downloads the small setup program. I'd like the full 77M install
program.
|
| I think that the setup program has an option to download the full
install - but I'm
| downloading on a Windows98SE computer & I'm not completely certain that
what it will
| download for me will be Win2K compatible.
|
| (presently waiting for my boxed Win2K to arrive in the mail so I can get
started...)
|
| Thanks,
|
| Bill.
|
|
|
| | > Follow the other recommendations. Don't make the "windows" partition too
| > small. (15 or 20 gB) I'll also add;
| >
| > Be sure to apply SP4 and these two below to your new install before
| > connecting to any network. Internet included. (sasser, msblast)
| >
|
http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/6/A/E6A04295-D2A8-40D0-A0C5-241BFECD095E/W2KSP4_EN.EXE
| > http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
| > http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx
| >
| > Then
| >
| > Rollup 1 for Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
| >
|
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...CF-8850-4531-B52B-BF28B324C662&displaylang=en
| >
| > --
| >
| > Regards,
| >
| > Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
| > Microsoft Certified Professional
| > Microsoft MVP [Windows]
| > http://www.microsoft.com/protect
| >
| > "Bill" wrote:
| > | I'm doing a fresh, brand new install of Windows 2000 Pro on a clean
100G
| > hard drive. HD
| > | was formatted on the target computer. I'll have two drives, C: for
Win2K &
| > programs, D:
| > | for data. (WinXP is too bloated for this situation)
| > |
| > | I'm new to Win2K, so I'd like some comments on my process:
| > |
| > | 1) I'll do the install with C: and D: on FAT32 then convert to NTFS
after
| > the OS install
| > | and all patches. Good?
| > | 2) Any recommendations for swap file settings?
| > | 3) Are there any installation gotchas with regards to permissions,
users,
| > security,
| > | stability, etc. that I should be aware of before this install?
| > |
| > | Thanks,
| > |
| > | Bill.
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|

 

[JCO]

You will also want to make sure that Windows 98 is installed first then W2K
second (of course using a different install folder).

 

[John John]

Using a third party boot manager and with Windows 2000 on an NTFS
partition that Windows 98 can't see Bill should be able to install
Windows 98 later if he has to.

John