How to Upgrade from a Beta Version

If you have implemented an early deployment of Windows® 2000, you may have evaluated Windows 2000 Beta 3, Windows 2000 Release Candidate 1 (RC1), 2 (RC2), or 3 (RC3). If you choose to upgrade to the final product, make sure you are running RC2 or RC3. Follow the steps below to upgrade to Windows 2000.

Before You Begin

1. Read the release notes.
   Read the release notes in the root directory of the Windows 2000 CD-ROM: the Read1st.txt file, as well as the Readme.doc, which has an "Application Notes" section with information about programs that need to be disabled or removed before running Setup.
2. Determine whether you need to do an upgrade or a new installation.
   In certain situations, even if you are currently running a beta version of Windows 2000, you may prefer to do a new installation (or "clean install"), rather than an upgrade to the final code. By installing the operating system from scratch, you place the operating system in a known state and avoid migrating any problems that may have existed in the previous configuration. However, a new installation requires reformatting your hard disk, so you must back up your data, install Windows 2000, reinstall your applications, and then reload your data from backup.
   
   If you determine that you can and want to do an upgrade, proceed with the remaining steps listed below.
   
   If you determine that you need to perform a new installation, please refer to the resources found in New Installations of Windows 2000.
3. Make sure you have Release Candidate 2 or later.
   To provide the highest quality for upgrading from pre-release versions to the final Windows 2000 product, Microsoft recommends first upgrading to RC2 or later. Final Windows 2000 code will not provide a one-step upgrade for Beta 3. Note the following:
   • Member servers and workstations running Beta 3 must be upgraded to RC2 first. They can then be upgraded to final code.
   • Member servers and workstations running RC1 or later can be upgraded to final code directly.
   • Domain controllers running Beta 3 must be upgraded first to RC1, and then to RC2. They can then be upgraded to final code.
   • Domain controllers running RC1 must be upgraded to RC2 first. They can then be upgraded to final code.
   • Domain controllers running RC2 or later can be upgraded directly to final code.

Start the Upgrade

To start an upgrade using the Windows 2000 CD-ROM:

1. Insert the CD-ROM in the drive, and wait for Setup to display a dialog box.
2. Follow the Setup instructions.

To start an upgrade using a network connection:

1. On a network server, share the installation files, either by inserting the CD-ROM and sharing the CD-ROM drive, or by copying the files from the I386 folder on the CD-ROM to a shared folder.
   
   On the computer on which you want to install Windows 2000, connect to the shared Setup files:
   
   
   • If you are sharing the CD-ROM drive, connect to the shared drive and change to the I386 folder.
   • If you are sharing a folder, connect to that folder.
2. Run Winnt32.exe.
3. Follow the Setup instructions.

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