Installing Windows Server 2012 VHD and Metal –Hands On Lab (HOL)–Clyde Johnson


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Boston Area Windows Server User Group (BAWSUG) www.WindowsBoston.org

Post Content Created by Clyde Johnson of Boston Area Windows Server User Group!  Thanks Clyde

Lab 1 – Installing Windows Server 2012 to Bare Metal

Installing Windows Server 2012

a.      Insert Windows Server 2012 DVD and boot your computer from the DVD.

b.      On the Windows Setup dialog box, Click Next.

 

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a.      Click the Install now Button

 

Note: the “Repair your computer” link

 

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a.      On a TechNet Datacenter DVD… Here is where you would put in your key.  The Evaluation CD doesn’t seem to have it.

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a.       The Evaluation CD also has more options than TechNet DVD does.  Make sure you choose “Windows Server 2012 Datacenter (Server with a GUI).  I’ll show you how to remove it later.

 

 

NOTE: DEFAULTS TO “Server core Installation”

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a.      READ the license terms.

b.      Click on “I accept the license terms”

c.      Click on the next button.

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a.       Choose Custom: Install Windows only (Advanced)

 

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a.      Choose a spot to put your OS.

b.    Click Next  Unless installing into VHD

CAUTION PLEASE

 

IF you want to install into a VHD follow this shortcut or See Below Lab 1a – Installing Windows Server 2012 to a VHD

You can CREATE a VHD to install (instead of installing on metal)

 

SHIFT-F10               {to open a command prompt window }

Find installation drive (dir c:, dir d:, dir e:, etc)   

Create Folder if you like (eg. md BootVHD) {use full path in Create vdisk below}

 

Diskpart                    { to open the Disk Partition Utility }

Create vdisk file=e:BootDemo.vhd type=expandable maximum=40000

Attach vdisk

Exit

Then Refresh on the Windows Setup Screen

To see a video: http://aka.ms/Boot2VHD

 

Note 1: Feel free to change the name and path of the .VHD file in the create vdisk statement above.

 

Note 2:  if using dual boot from an older version of windows (Windows 7) this procedure will upgrade your boot loader to Windows Server 2012 so the boot menu will be Windows 2012 instead of Windows 7.  Also, the Windows 2012 will be the default.  You can change the default later using the msconfig utility.

 

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Setup Disk for Boot2VHD

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Please wait Windows Setup will installing the files on the disk. (It will take few minutes depending upon system performance) – You can grab a tea/coffee meanwhile

 

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After completion system will be restarted automatically.

Please wait while Windows is getting devices ready…It will take few minutes…

 

After a restart. You will see a DUAL Boot option. Choose Windows Server 2012 & Press ENTER

 

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Please wait while Windows Server 2012 loads for the first time

 

On the Settings page, please enter an Administrator account Password and click Finish.

 

Wait while Windows is finalizing your settings… It will take few minutes…

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Press Ctr+Alt+Delete to sign in. Enter your Administrator account password.

 

 

You are now logged on to Windows Server 2012 Datacenter with Full GUI. And it will launch Server Manager.

 

 

Lab 1a – Installing Windows Server 2012 to a VHD

Installing Windows 2012 to a VHD

Boot from the DVD

a.      Insert Windows Server 2012 DVD and boot your computer from the DVD.

b.      On the Windows Setup dialog box, Click Next.

c.      Click the Install now Button

d.      Select Windows Server 2012 Datacenter Evaluation (Server with a GUI) x64 & Click Next

e.      Accept the Licensing terms & click Next

f.       Click on Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)

!!IMPORTANT!! – BE CAREFULL DOING THIS STEP. Do not modify/delete System Reserved Partition.

 

a.      On your keyboard press SHIFT+F10 key combination to invoke Command Prompt CMD.

NOTE: At this step we will create a 50 GB Dynamically Expanding VHD on C: or D:

Make sure that the physical partition has the ENTIRE free space available because dynamically expanding VHD gets mounted & occupies full space during VHD Boot.


 

Note: In the next screen D: is actually your original C: Windows Partition (Windows 8, Windows 7 or 2008 R2) When you are running Windows 8/7/2008 R2, you cannot view hidden System Reserved partition. But in this case the C: is assigned to that System Reserved partition & subsequent partitions will be allocated the drive letter in the same series. 

Creating a 50 GB VHD using diskpart

Type the Bold Information at the command prompt, pressing enter after each line.

D:

Diskpart

Create vdisk file=”d:win2012.vhd” Maximum=51200 Type=expandable 

Attach vdisk

Exit 

 

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a.      Close the command prompt

b.      Click on Refresh to see the new 50 GB drive with unallocated space.

c.      Highlight this new “drive” and Click Next

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Please wait Windows Setup will installing the files on the disk. (It will take few minutes depending upon system performance) – You can grab a tea/coffee meanwhile

 

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After completion system will be restarted automatically.

Please wait while Windows is getting devices ready…It will take few minutes…

 

After a restart. You will see a DUAL Boot option. Choose Windows Server 2012 & Press ENTER

 

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Please wait while Windows Server 2012 loads for the first time

 

On the Settings page, please enter an Administrator account Password and click Finish.

 

Wait while Windows is finalizing your settings… It will take few minutes…

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Press Ctr+Alt+Delete to sign in. Enter your Administrator account password.

 

 

You are now logged on to Windows Server 2012 Datacenter with Full GUI. And it will launch Server Manager.

 

 

Instructions cribbed from

Use MSCONFIG to Move or delete Entries