MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-270): Installing ...

Lesson 3: Installing Windows XP Professional over the
Network
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You can install Windows XP Professional over the network. This lesson discusses the
similarities and differences between installing from a CD-ROM and installing over the
network. The major difference is the location of the source files needed for installation.
This lesson also lists the requirements for an over-the-network installation.
After this lesson, you will be able to
■ Prepare for a network installation
■ Install Windows XP Professional over a network
■ Modify the setup process using Winnt.exe
■ Modify the setup process using Winnt32.exe
Estimated lesson time: 10 minutes
How to Prepare for a Network Installation
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In a network installation, the Windows XP Professional installation files are located in
a shared location on a network file server, which is called a distribution server. From
the computer on which you want to install Windows XP Professional (the target computer),
you connect to the distribution server, and then run the Setup program.
Figure 2-7 shows the requirements for a network installation.
Distribution
server
Installation
files
Target computer
Requirements for a network installation:
· Distribution server
· FAT partition on the target computer
· Network client
Lesson 3 Installing Windows XP Professional over the Network
Figure 2-7 A network client contacts a distribution server for installation files.
Installing Windows XP Professional requires you to do the following:
1. Locate a distribution server. The distribution server contains the installation files
from the I386 folder on the Windows XP Professional CD-ROM. These files reside in
a common network location in a shared folder that allows computers on the network
to access the installation files. Contact a network administrator to obtain the
path to the installation files on the distribution server.