Member Avatar for rhamilton1967

I just recently bought a new laptop running Vista. I know very little about The Vista O.S. I have created a new primary partition, formatted it, and copied the i386 files to it. When I try to run the wnnt32.exe it will not run. I followed this exact same strategy with Windows XP pro and it worked great. Whats the problem and solution/ Anyone know?

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— useful points already from , and . The short, practical advice: do not rely on copying i386 and running winnt32 from inside Vista as a reliable way to put Server 2003 onto that machine. Booting the Server 2003 installer from its CD/ISO is the supported method, and if you continue with a native dual-boot you must plan for backups, drivers and boot repair.

A safe, step-by-step approach:

  • Image the entire disk to external media first (so you can restore the exact factory state). Do not depend only on the OEM recovery process; those recovery routines often expect a factory layout and will reimage the whole drive.
  • Make Vista recovery/repair media (or verify you have a working recovery DVD) so you can fix the Vista boot manager later.
  • If you proceed with bare-metal Server 2003, boot from the Server 2003 CD and install onto the new partition. Many newer laptops use AHCI/SATA modes that Server 2003 setup does not recognize — either switch the controller to IDE/Compatibility mode in BIOS or be prepared to supply the correct storage drivers during setup.
  • After Server 2003 installs, Vista’s boot files may need repair. Use the Vista repair media/WinRE to run startup repair or to rebuild the BCD so both systems are bootable.

Lower-risk alternative: run Server 2003 in a virtual machine (VirtualBox, VMware Player, Microsoft Virtual PC). A VM avoids partitioning, preserves the OEM recovery, and sidesteps driver and SATA-mode headaches. If you must install on hardware, get a full retail or slipstreamed Server 2003 SP2 disc (as implied, retail media is available) and collect network/storage drivers before you start.

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Member Avatar for Laser

The problem is 2003 is older than Vista. You should install 2003 first in this dual boot configuration.

Member Avatar for bobbyraw

instead of copying the files to the partition. you should use the cd to bot then install on the new partition you created.

Member Avatar for jbennet

yeah you cant install server 2003 over vista as its older

Member Avatar for rhamilton1967

The problem is 2003 is older than Vista. You should install 2003 first in this dual boot configuration.

That sounds like good advice. The problem I may have is that if I clear Vista from the PC and install Server 2003 first. I only have a recovery disk that I made when I purchased the new laptop. As you know they dont sell new Pc`s anymore with the OS on a disk. Wouldn`t me using the recovery disk erase the copy of Server at that point?

Contact me at if you want to discuss this in more detail.

Member Avatar for jbennet

As you know they dont sell new Pc`s anymore with the OS on a disk

they do, you just go to the wrong manufacturers

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