• Hardware Requirements
• Resource Information
• Startup troubleshooting – NT boot disk
• NT File Systems
• Service Packs

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/ntworkstation/eval/SysReqts/default.asp

• Microsoft
  • NT Workstation home page: http://www.microsoft.com/ntworkstation/
  • NT Server home page: http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/
  • Technet Program - http://www.microsoft.com/technet/

• Windows NT Magazine (now called Windows 2000 Magazine) – www.winntmag.com
• Listserv - http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/winnt-l.html
• Microsoft Authorized training classes - SymQuest

• Boot disk which you can use to boot off an NT partition installation.
• Useful if:

• To Create an NT Boot Disk:

• Choices: FAT or NTFS
• NT does NOT support FAT32 – without a 3^rd party patch.

NT FAT - enhanced version of DOS's FAT version; supports long filenames

• Advantages of NT FAT (vs. NTFS)

• Can be read by other operating systems that can't read NTFS - DOS, W9x, W3.x. (This is especially useful if the machine is set up for dual boot).
• Can be accessed via a DOS boot disk in times of operating system trouble.
• Efficient for partition sizes < 400 MB.

• Disadvantages of NT FAT (vs NTFS)

• No security measures
• Max partition size = 4 GB in NT (Reason: NT max cluster size = 64K; W9x max cluster size = 32 K

• Advantages (over FAT)

• Security - Security can be set for any user or group on any file and folder.
• Partition size maximums:

• Reduced fragmentation (according to MS, but still need to run a defragmenter)
• Increased recoverability – keeps track of more information to be able to recover better from disk problems.

• Disadvantages of NTFS (vs FAT)

• Can't be used on a floppy due to overhead involved in file system.
• Is only supported by NT (and Windows 2000)
• Not effective on small partitions (<400 mb)

Converting between FAT and NTFS

• Conversion can occur from FAT to NTFS, using NT tools, but not back again. (Third party tools exist to convert from NTFS to FAT).
• Use the CONVERT utility at the command prompt to perform conversion.

• Viewed in Windows NT Diagnostics
• Reflects the core kernel build number of the installed operating system.

• What are they: Minor updates to the operating system (usually of drivers, patches, bug fixes) between major releases.

• Service packs exist for most Microsoft products: operating systems (NT, W9x, 2000), Backoffice products (SMS, SNA, SQL, IIS…), Applications (Office97, 2000)

• Tips on using MS service packs:

• Service packs (SPs) should be installed after the main product is installed.

• Typically SPs need to be reinstalled after you make any changes to the system (such as adding new software or hardware).

• The order of installation is significant and can be challenging to keep track of particularly when working with multiple Microsoft products.

• You probably don't want to be the first on your block to install a new service pack as soon as it becomes available.

• Good idea to allow the SP installation to create an uninstall directory. In the event the SP creates more problems and you can uninstall it.

• Log when service packs were installed. If you restore a backup of the system from before the service pack was installed, you would need to reinstall the SP.

• Latest SP for Windows NT: SP 6a released November 99.
• Service packs are cumulative: the latest SP contains material from previous service packs.

• Minor patches to particular problems
• Released between service packs.
• Recommendation: Only install hot fixes which address specific problems you are having. Do not install hot fixes on general principle. Reason: full testing is not completed before a hot fix is released.

• Both service packs and hot fixes are available on Microsoft’s web site for free.
• Most available on TechNet CDs as the CDs are released.