System requirements

Other requirements

Important information for x64-based operating systems

Before you install this preliminary release of Windows Server 2008 R2, follow the steps in this section to prepare for the installation.

• Disconnect UPS devices. If you have an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) connected to your destination computer, disconnect the serial cable before running Setup. Setup automatically attempts to detect devices that are connected to serial ports, and UPS equipment can cause issues with the detection process.
  
  
• Back up your servers. Your backup should include all data and configuration information that is necessary for the computer to function. It is important to perform a backup of configuration information for servers, especially those that provide network infrastructure, such as Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) servers. When you perform the backup, be sure to include the boot and system partitions and the system state data. Another way to back up configuration information is to create a backup set for Automated System Recovery.
  
  
• Disable your virus protection software. Virus protection software can interfere with installation. For example, it can make installation much slower by scanning every file that is copied locally to your computer.
  
  
• Run the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool. You should run this tool to test the RAM on your computer. To use the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool, follow the instructions in the Windows Memory Diagnostic Users Guide (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=50362).
  
  
• Provide mass storage drivers. If your manufacturer has supplied a separate driver file, save the file to a floppy disk, CD, DVD, or Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive in either the root directory of the media or in one of the following folders: amd64 for x64-based computers, i386 for 32-bit computers, or ia64 for Itanium-based computers. To provide the driver during Setup, on the disk selection page, click Load Driver (or press F6). You can browse to locate the driver or have Setup search the media.
  
  
• Be aware that Windows Firewall is on by default. Server applications that must receive unsolicited inbound connections will fail until you create inbound firewall rules to allow them. Check with your application vendor to determine which ports and protocols are necessary for the application to run correctly.
  
  For more information about Windows Firewall, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=84639.
  
  
• Prepare your Active Directory® environment with Windows Server 2008 R2 updates. Before you add a domain controller that is running Windows Server 2008 R2 to an Active Directory forest or upgrade an existing domain controller to Windows Server 2008 R2, run Adprep.exe from the Windows Server 2008 R2 media on your existing domain controllers to prepare your domain and forest.
  
  To do this, use the following procedures. If you are performing an unattended installation, perform this step before you install the operating system. Otherwise, you will need to do this after you run Setup and before you install Active Directory Domain Services.
  
  To prepare a forest
  
  
  1. Log on to the schema master as a member of the Enterprise Admins, Schema Admins, or Domain Admins group.
     
     
  2. Copy the contents of the \support\adprep folder (note the new location) from the Windows Server 2008 R2 installation DVD to the schema master role holder.
     
     
  3. Open a Command Prompt window, navigate to the Adprep folder, and run adprep /forestprep.
     
     
  4. If you plan to install a read-only domain controller (RODC), run adprep /rodcprep.
     
     
  5. Allow the operation to complete and the changes to replicate before performing the next procedure.
     
     
  To prepare a domain
  
  Perform this procedure for each domain where you want to install a domain controller that runs Windows Server 2008 R2.
  
  
  1. Log on to the infrastructure master as a member of the Domain Admins group.
     
     
  2. Copy the contents of the \support\adprep folder (note the new location) from the installation DVD to the infrastructure master role holder.
     
     
  3. Open a Command Prompt window, navigate to the Adprep folder, and run adprep /domainprep /gpprep.
     
     
  4. Allow the operation to complete and the changes to replicate.
     
     
  After completing these steps, you can add domain controllers that are running Windows Server 2008 R2 to the domains you have prepared.
  
  The adprep command extends the schema, updates default security descriptors of selected objects, and adds new directory objects as required by some applications. For more information about adprep, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=50439.
  
  

• If you attempt to install this release from a device that this release does not include drivers for, installation will fail with the error “Windows could not collect information for <operating system image> since the specified file [install.wim] does not exist.”
  
  To work around this, do any one of the following:
  
  
  • Install this release from a network.
    
    
  • Install this release from another bootable drive or storage controller that the release does include a driver for.
    
    
  • Configure the storage controller to use a driver that the release includes.
    
    
  • Add the driver for your existing device to a new Install.wim file and create a new installation image. Then install this release from there.
    
    
  • Boot the computer into one of the following operating systems, and start the installer for this release. Then, in the Install Windows pane of the setup wizard, click Load Driver and navigate to the correct driver for your device. Proceed with the remainder of the installation.
    
    
    • Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows XP with Service Pack 3
      
      
    • Windows Server 2003 R2
      
      
    • Windows Vista or Windows Vista with Service Pack 1
      
      
    • Windows Server 2008
      
      
• If the first component of the DNS name of your domain exceeds 15 characters, promotion of servers running Windows Server 2008 R2 to domain controllers will fail and computers running Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 will not be able to join the domain.
  
  Existing domain controllers will still function correctly and both client and server computers that are running other operating systems can still join the domain.
  
  There is no workaround at this time, other than to rename the domain with a name comprising fewer than 15 characters.
  
  

The table below shows which Windows operating systems can be upgraded to which editions of this release of Windows Server 2008 R2.

Note the following general guidelines for supported paths:

• In-place upgrades from 32-bit to 64-bit architectures are not supported. All editions of Windows Server 2008 R2 are 64-bit only.
  
  
• In-place upgrades from one language to another are not supported.
  
  
• In-place upgrades from one build type (fre to chk, for example) are not supported.
  
  
• If you do not see your current version in the left column, upgrade to this release of Windows Server 2008 R2 is not supported.
  
  

This document supports a preliminary release of a software product that may be changed substantially prior to final commercial release.

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