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Net Config Server Gotcha
A common practice is to hide a server while you're configuring it, then make it available when it's ready for users to access. This process lets you configure and reboot the machine without worrying about users who might connect to and explore it before you complete the machine's configuration. However, this method has one problem, as the Microsoft article "How to Display Network Registry Parameters" (http://support
.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q102/
4/69.asp) warns: "When you run NET CONFIG SERVER (or NET CONFIG SRV), server related parameters that are normally autoconfigured each time you boot (for example, maxworkitems) are permanently set in the Registry to whatever values Windows NT is currently using."
Thus, if you later add memory or another processor to the server, the system won't automatically configure the new resources. The only way to avoid this problem is to manually add the AutoShareServer subkey with a REG_
DWORD value of 1 to the HKEY_
LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Current
ControlSet\Services\LanmanServerParameters Registry key and stop and restart the Server service. After you complete the server's configuration, delete this Registry key, then stop and restart the Server service. The machine will again be visible to users.
—Peter Stubbs
peter@stubbs-family.org
Creating a New NT Installation
When creating a new Windows NT installation, I always use the following procedure. First, I install NT on a 511MB FAT partition mapped as drive C, then I apply the most recent service pack. Next, I use Disk Administrator to partition the rest of the hard disk as one NTFS partition. I rerun the NT Setup program and install NT to drive D. I set drive D as the default startup option in boot.ini, apply the most recent service pack to this installation, and install my applications to drive D.
This installation approach provides many benefits. First, NT requires the system partition to be within the first 7.8GB of the first partition, which is the partition that includes NT Loader (NTLDR) and boot.ini. My installation method places these files on the 511MB C drive, which I create first, so installing another OS on the system won't move these files beyond the first 7.8GB boundary.
Second, if I ever have problems with the main NT installation on the D drive, I might be able to fix the problem by booting to the C drive. In addition, if I have problems with the installation on the C drive, I can boot from a DOS disk to fix the problem because the C drive is a FAT partition.
Third, the first partition is smaller than 512MB, so the cluster size is only 8KB. This setup reduces wasted space.
Fourth, by partitioning and formatting the main working partition (i.e., the D drive) from within an NT installation (i.e., the C drive), I avoid two common NT installation problems. The maximum size of a FAT partition under NT is 4GB, and to create an NTFS partition, NT actually creates a FAT partition that it later converts to NTFS. So during an NT installation, you can create a maximum NTFS partition of only 4GB. In addition, when NT converts a partition from FAT to NTFS, the conversion fragments the Master File Table (MFT), which slows the system's performance. By creating the working partition from within an existing NT installation, I can create an NTFS partition that is larger than 4GB without being concerned about the conversion process fragmenting the MFT.
After I complete this installation process, I apply new service packs and updated drivers to both NT installations on my system. That way, I have a better chance of repairing one installation by using the alternative installation's files.
—Chris Taylor
ctaylor@nrcan.gc.ca
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