Windows 2003 default installation directory

[xxzx]

Hi all - hope someone can give me a little guidance. :confused:

I have a Win2003 server through ServerBeach that I want to install some software onto. Unfortunately though, it seems that the guys at ServerBeach have upgraded my server from Win2000 so it has an installation directory of c:\WINNT but my software will not install without an installation directory of c:\Windows.

Whilst I agree that the software I am trying to install should be able to handle this as I do not believe it is uncommon, that is not going to happen any time soon, so I am left with a couple of options:

Pay ServerBeach their fee to reinstall the OS using the default Windows installation directory
Install a second version of the OS myself

As I understand it there is no way to just rename the directory, or anything simple like that. I don't really want to pay out any more cash than I have to, and don't really want to trash what I have on the system already. Although I'm sure I could get my hands on a Win2003 cd, I don't have one immediately to hand.

Can anyone suggest any other options? :shrug: If not, does anyone know if ServerBeach has the Win2003 cd on an accessable share?

thanks
xxzx

[DXD]

Hi all - hope someone can give me a little guidance. :confused:

I have a Win2003 server through ServerBeach that I want to install some software onto. Unfortunately though, it seems that the guys at ServerBeach have upgraded my server from Win2000 so it has an installation directory of c:\WINNT but my software will not install without an installation directory of c:\Windows.

Whilst I agree that the software I am trying to install should be able to handle this as I do not believe it is uncommon, that is not going to happen any time soon, so I am left with a couple of options:

Pay ServerBeach their fee to reinstall the OS using the default Windows installation directory
Install a second version of the OS myself

As I understand it there is no way to just rename the directory, or anything simple like that. I don't really want to pay out any more cash than I have to, and don't really want to trash what I have on the system already. Although I'm sure I could get my hands on a Win2003 cd, I don't have one immediately to hand.

Can anyone suggest any other options? :shrug: If not, does anyone know if ServerBeach has the Win2003 cd on an accessable share?

thanks
xxzx


First off I'd be willing to bet money SB didn't upgrade your server from 2000 to 2003 unless you actually started with 2000 but even then I doubt that. They image all of the 2003 servers from the same images and all windows 2003 servers are installed in winnt.

I've never seen or heard of a software that only installed to c:\windows

As for changing the windows root directory I don't see how you would ever have that done. There is no way to rename it. There is not a share of the windows 2003 cd anywhere and even if there was there is no way for you to install an OS remotely you would have to actually be in front of the server.

I think your only option is to find a replacement for your software.

[xxzx]

Thanks for the response DXD.

OK, so the image that they are installing is from an upgrade. But, I don't understand why they would be using this rather than a default new install for an image. It is not the first time I have seen this, but the only other time a shortcut c:\windows->c:\WINNT did the trick.

Just to correct 1 minor point...the software does not install to c:\windows - it requires the OS to be installed there. The software only runs on Win2003, and not other OS's - so it presumes(wrongly) a default install.

[KyleMulligan]

What's the software and what's it do?

[xxzx]

Hi Kyle,

Its VPS software called Virtuozzo by sw-soft(makers of Plesk amongst other things). It does require access to the host OS files. I am sure I am not the only person looking at this software, but cannot think of any other workaround at the moment. Any ideas?

Simon

[KyleMulligan]

I figured as much.

This could be risky as I've never tried it on a system directory before, but I'd say your best shot is to graft C:\WINDOWS onto C:\WINNT using an NTFS junction. Really though, you were originally planning on having the techs do a manual reinstall to C:\WINDOWS anyway, so what have you got to lose if it ends up not working?

For more information on NTFS junctions, check out http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q205524

[DXD]

I don't think they use an upgrade image I'm just saying the image they have built has windows installed to winnt instead of windows. Why I'm not sure.

The other thing isn't Virtuozzo something for Plesk? Did you get Plesk for windows with your windows box from SB? IF so I believe they will install the Virtuozzo part for you. I think I remember seeing a thread about that before the forums got hacked.

[xxzx]

Hi Chris,

Virtuozzo is a separate product, but is only installable if %systemroot% is c:\windows so they could not have installed it, but if anyone happens to have any info from this previous thread I'd be very interested in it.

Simon

[DXD]

Your right my bad I was thinkin of Fantastico