Windows Server 2003

[shmokes]

Have any of you had a chance to look at Windows Server 2003?  I got a free copy of it from my school and I'm thinking of putting it on my computer in place of Windows XP Professional.  As far as I can tell (after about five minutes of playing, mind you) it has all the features of Windows XP Pro and then some, with an incredibly fast boot time.

Can you think of any reason not to put this on my machine in place of XP Pro?  Keep in mind that I will be running Mame and modern PC games on this machine.

I know it's brand new and not many of you will have had a chance to see it, but any info is appreciated.

[DaveMMR]

I don't known about 2003 Server, but Windows 2000 Server would have been the last thing I'd put on the computer if it was being used for gaming.

But since you have a copy maybe it may not hurt to test it out.  If you have a spare harddrive lying around or you can make a new partition, give it a shot.

[tiggertoo]

Here's a quote from MS:
Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition, takes the best of Windows 2000 Server technology and makes it easier to deploy, manage, and use. The result is a highly productive operating system that is more secure, reliable, highly available, and scalable.
If it is truly based on Win 2000 technology, I say definitely not!! Win 2000 is good for business, as is 2003, but for games, forget it. Besides, this is server software. The operation of this software is similar to the desktop, but with alot more things the inexperienced user can break. Also servers are built for security, and games like an insecure environment to run in. Any game forum that I've read in which a person was running win 2000 has had nothing but problems

Stick with XP, it works.

[Wienerdog]

I run games on Windows 2000 without problems.  

Server 2003 is optimized for non-desktop applications, such as enterprise level software (Exchange, SQL Server, Biztalk, etc).  Load it on your computer if you want to try it out and learn a little.  Just be ready to reload XP to run your games later.  

You could always dual boot your system, but I think you were trying to do this to make your game system better, not to try out the software.

[eightbit]

Windows 2003 is an excellent "SERVER" operating system. It is not a desktop system and certainly is not optimized for gaming. It has many of the enhancements that XP has.

Another thing you might want to look at would be is this free copy a MS free copy meaning that its probably a 180 day trial. I find it hard to believe that your school gave you a $1200 peice of software that is unless its something they installed at school that your planning to install at home. If thats the case then shame on you...   I'm not sure in the retail version of server if they implemented the registration process like they did with Windows XP, if they did then you probably wouldn't want to install it in 2 places.

We get all of our MS licensing through a select agreement which means they don't phone home to register but recently they started requireing a serial number that is unique to our company to activate them.

[shmokes]

It's a full version and legal.  There was even a special license agreement form I had to sign to get it.  It's just one of those crazy things that schools get sometimes, like I just ordered full retail versions of Windows XP Pro, Visio and Project for $5.15 each, and Visual Studio.net for $11.00.  I'm hoping they don't say, "Not for Resale" or something on them cos I'm a hardware guy and Visual Studio is going to Ebay if possilbe

[Bomber]

If you install any MS operating system before the 2nd or 3rd service pack you are a much braver man than me.

I would personally stick with what you've got unless it is giving you problems. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

"The day Microsoft make a product that doesn't suck is the day they start selling vacuum cleaners" (Not my quote - I read it somewhere).

[eightbit]

If you install any MS operating system before the 2nd or 3rd service pack you are a much braver man than me.

I would personally stick with what you've got unless it is giving you problems. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

"The day Microsoft make a product that doesn't suck is the day they start selling vacuum cleaners" (Not my quote - I read it somewhere).

So your not running XP yet? You should, its far more powerfull and stable than win2k. Each release of Windows has been better than the last, just think of Win2k3 as the next service pack.

[Bomber]

So your not running XP yet?

Yes and no. I dual boot. Mainly so I could play around with XP and see what new features it offered. My job needs me to know how all the OS's work. But 99% of the time I find myself booting into Win2K.

[eightbit]

So your not running XP yet?

Yes and no. I dual boot. Mainly so I could play around with XP and see what new features it offered. My job needs me to know how all the OS's work. But 99% of the time I find myself booting into Win2K.

Just switch, you'll never regret it, dual booting gets old after a while and if your not using xp as the primary your never going to learn how to use it or appreciate the advances its made.

[lostboy]

Windows 2003 Server is a great platform, but I wouldn't recomend it for general use.

It's not optimised for general use by default, least of all gaming.

But it is possible to basicly convert it from a server platform into a workstation.

Follow the steps in this guide if you are determined to use it.

http://www.msfn.org/win2k3/index.htm

[Wienerdog]

Each release of Windows has been better than the last, just think of Win2k3 as the next service pack.

Lol, that is the second time I hear that line in the last week.  The reply from someone on Fatwallet:
"Really, Windows ME was better than 98?"

The original quote was quickly amended to exclude ME.

[Setabs]

hey shmokes,
  Good to see someone taking advantage of the msdnaa,  I wouldn't go with 2003 for a permanent solution.  I would use it to test out mame and other front-ends.

You won't have luck selling them on e-bay if your school has the msdnaa liscense.  The EULA only supports the software while you are in school.  After that you probably have to re-register and pay microsoft to update the software.

 Try to download the resoure library on the msdnaa web site.  Its only 1.6 GB And if your your lucky enough to have a speedy 56K connection its ETA for DL is only 185 hrs.  

[eightbit]

Each release of Windows has been better than the last, just think of Win2k3 as the next service pack.

Lol, that is the second time I hear that line in the last week.  The reply from someone on Fatwallet:
"Really, Windows ME was better than 98?"

The original quote was quickly amended to exclude ME.

Yeah I forget about that one, ME was a mistake. Though on the server side it major release was a significant improvement. Win2k server has been good to us and win2k3 is showing a lot of promise, though I have to admit we only have a handfull of them deployed in production so far.

[SirPoonga]

I'm hoping they don't say, "Not for Resale" or something on them cos I'm a hardware guy and Visual Studio is going to Ebay if possilbe

You will be out of luck.  How come you think you can get it at that price then

I got Visual Studio 6 through school for $25.  Student/Educational purposes only which is usually the deal.  You can't make something with it and try to sell what you made.  I've got no problem with that

[shmokes]

For all I know this will say something like that (Student or Educational Purposes), but I will, at least, not get acedemic versions of the programs.  They are full retail copies, so there should be no differences unless those differences are only printed on the disc and other material that comes with it.