Windows Home Server

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Bruce

Can Windows Home Server software be installed on a spare pc (Pentium 4),
and used as a home/web server, or do you have to buy the software and
hardware as a system? I've googled, and found different answers.

My home network runs Vista Home Premium, Windows Media Edition 2005,
Windows XP Home, and Windows 2000 Pro. I'm connected to the internet via
Comcast modem.
 
On Sat, 31 May 2008 19:35:08 -0500, Bruce <nospam@nospam.invalid>
wrote:

> Can Windows Home Server software be installed on a spare pc (Pentium 4),
> and used as a home/web server,



Yes. That's what I did here.


> or do you have to buy the software and
> hardware as a system?



No.


> I've googled, and found different answers.


> My home network runs Vista Home Premium, Windows Media Edition 2005,
> Windows XP Home, and Windows 2000 Pro. I'm connected to the internet via
> Comcast modem.


--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup
 
"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote in
news:uok5449gofbsgavp3tk3d93pm5ngjioa3t@4ax.com:

> On Sat, 31 May 2008 19:35:08 -0500, Bruce <nospam@nospam.invalid>
> wrote:
>
>> Can Windows Home Server software be installed on a spare pc (Pentium
>> 4), and used as a home/web server,

>
>
> Yes. That's what I did here.
>
>
>> or do you have to buy the software and
>> hardware as a system?

>
>
> No.
>
>
>> I've googled, and found different answers.

>
>> My home network runs Vista Home Premium, Windows Media Edition 2005,
>> Windows XP Home, and Windows 2000 Pro. I'm connected to the internet
>> via Comcast modem.

>


Now I'm really confused. I've got another MS-MVP saying that it can't be
done. See:

eQUn806wIHA.2384@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>
 
Bruce wrote:
> Can Windows Home Server software be installed on a spare pc
> (Pentium 4), and used as a home/web server, or do you have to buy
> the software and hardware as a system? I've googled, and found
> different answers.
>
> My home network runs Vista Home Premium, Windows Media Edition 2005,
> Windows XP Home, and Windows 2000 Pro. I'm connected to the
> internet via Comcast modem.


Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
> Yes. That's what I did here.
>
> No.


Bruce wrote:
> Now I'm really confused. I've got another MS-MVP saying that it
> can't be done. See:
>
> eQUn806wIHA.2384@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>


Actually - I don't see where anyone told you that...

In the other (multi-posted - that's not advised - if you feel your posts
*needs* to be in more than one group - please cross-post in the future -
better all around) posting you seem to be trying to refer to...

http://groups.google.com/group/micr...0/6c227ab2481d5799?lnk=st&q=#6c227ab2481d5799

I gave you the link to the Windows Home Server main page, their FAQs and
what they say about providing it as a stand-alone product. I then gave you
the email address and suggested subject line of said email where you could
ask your question directly - and get the definitive answer.

You can certainly buy it stand-alone:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116395

Even if Microsoft's FAQs do not elude to it, it is merely an OEM only
product - meaning you technically *should* have to buy it with a hardware
component.

Some other pages to help you with the nuances of the product...

Newsgroup specific to the product:
http://forums.microsoft.com/WindowsHomeServer/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID=1281&SiteID=50

Good blog for the product and some extras:
http://blogs.technet.com/homeserver/

An article that walks through the building of a new box around the product:
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2236187,00.asp
This page of the article starts the actual software/OS installation -
probably where you might start getting interested given your question...
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2236189,00.asp

Good Luck!

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
 
On Sun, 01 Jun 2008 12:21:28 -0500, Bruce <nospam@nospam.invalid>
wrote:

> "Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote in
> news:uok5449gofbsgavp3tk3d93pm5ngjioa3t@4ax.com:
>
> > On Sat, 31 May 2008 19:35:08 -0500, Bruce <nospam@nospam.invalid>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Can Windows Home Server software be installed on a spare pc (Pentium
> >> 4), and used as a home/web server,

> >
> >
> > Yes. That's what I did here.
> >
> >
> >> or do you have to buy the software and
> >> hardware as a system?

> >
> >
> > No.
> >
> >
> >> I've googled, and found different answers.

> >
> >> My home network runs Vista Home Premium, Windows Media Edition 2005,
> >> Windows XP Home, and Windows 2000 Pro. I'm connected to the internet
> >> via Comcast modem.

> >

>
> Now I'm really confused. I've got another MS-MVP saying that it can't be
> done. See:
>
> eQUn806wIHA.2384@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>



See what? That's not a link to anything I can see.

Who told you it can't be done, and where?

I assure you it can be done. I've done it and I know others who have
too.

You can buy the software here for example:
http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Win...2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1212347951&sr=8-2
or http://tinyurl.com/6l5mzs

and install it on almost any computer with a moderately slow processor
(800MHZ or so), 512MB of RAM, a DVD drive, and a wired (not wireless)
connection to your home network. The only thing you need substantial
amounts of is disk space.

You don't even need a monitor, keyboard, or mouse, except temporarily,
to install it initially.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup
 
Bruce wrote:
> Can Windows Home Server software be installed on a spare pc (Pentium
> 4), and used as a home/web server, or do you have to buy the software
> and hardware as a system? I've googled, and found different answers.
>
> My home network runs Vista Home Premium, Windows Media Edition 2005,
> Windows XP Home, and Windows 2000 Pro. I'm connected to the internet
> via Comcast modem.


Microsoft doesn't sell hardware (except for mice, keyboards, and brassiere
latches).
 
"Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in
news:OColrCBxIHA.4564@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:

> Bruce wrote:
>> Can Windows Home Server software be installed on a spare pc
>> (Pentium 4), and used as a home/web server, or do you have to buy
>> the software and hardware as a system? I've googled, and found
>> different answers.
>>
>> My home network runs Vista Home Premium, Windows Media Edition 2005,
>> Windows XP Home, and Windows 2000 Pro. I'm connected to the
>> internet via Comcast modem.

>
> Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
>> Yes. That's what I did here.
>>
>> No.

>
> Bruce wrote:
>> Now I'm really confused. I've got another MS-MVP saying that it
>> can't be done. See:
>>
>> eQUn806wIHA.2384@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>

>
> Actually - I don't see where anyone told you that...


I was refering to your reply to me in
microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin:

eQUn806wIHA.2384@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl

You implied it by sending me to the Microsoft Windows Home Server FAQ,
and quoting the FAQ, which states that only OEMs can get Windows Home
Server.

>
> In the other (multi-posted - that's not advised - if you feel your
> posts *needs* to be in more than one group - please cross-post in the
> future - better all around) posting you seem to be trying to refer
> to...
>


I originally posted only in microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin,
and later realized that traffic is much better in this group, so I posted
the same question here. I knew I'd get the obligatory "don't multi-
post" from someone. Bingo. But seriously, I prefer to cross-post, but
I've had replies telling me not to cross-post, and to multi-post instead.
Damned if I do, and damned if I don't. I give up on the cross-post vs.
multi-post debate. I've seen threads lasting for a week, over 100 posts
long, discussing this.

> http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admi
> n/browse_frm/thread/184682ef2e14de00/6c227ab2481d5799?lnk=st&q=#6c227ab
> 2481d5799


No. I wasn't refering to VanguardLH's post. I was refering to yours.
>
> I gave you the link to the Windows Home Server main page, their FAQs
> and what they say about providing it as a stand-alone product.


Yes, and I had been there before I posted anything.

I then
> gave you the email address and suggested subject line of said email
> where you could ask your question directly - and get the definitive
> answer.


Don't know why I'd got there when the answer was already in the FAQ.

>
> You can certainly buy it stand-alone:
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116395


Yes, I've seen it there, and at amazon.com.
>
> Even if Microsoft's FAQs do not elude to it, it is merely an OEM only
> product - meaning you technically *should* have to buy it with a
> hardware component.


Understood, and that's why I finally came to usenet to ask. "IF" it's an
OEM product, and "IF" Microsoft's FAQs state that you have to buy it
installed on hardward from an OEM, such as HP, then why in the world was
I reading tech articles and blogs stating the opposite? Reminds me of
Windows Media Center and how you could only get it on an OEM machine.
>
> Some other pages to help you with the nuances of the product...
>
> Newsgroup specific to the product:
> http://forums.microsoft.com/WindowsHomeServer/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID=12
> 81&SiteID=50
>
> Good blog for the product and some extras:
> http://blogs.technet.com/homeserver/
>
> An article that walks through the building of a new box around the
> product: http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2236187,00.asp
> This page of the article starts the actual software/OS installation -
> probably where you might start getting interested given your
> question... http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2236189,00.asp


Great links, that are now bookmarked. Thanks much.
>
> Good Luck!
>
 
Bruce wrote:
> Can Windows Home Server software be installed on a spare pc
> (Pentium 4), and used as a home/web server, or do you have to buy
> the software and hardware as a system? I've googled, and found
> different answers.
>
> My home network runs Vista Home Premium, Windows Media Edition
> 2005, Windows XP Home, and Windows 2000 Pro. I'm connected to the
> internet via Comcast modem.


Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
> Yes. That's what I did here.
>
> No.


Bruce wrote:
> Now I'm really confused. I've got another MS-MVP saying that it
> can't be done. See:
>
> eQUn806wIHA.2384@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>


Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Actually - I don't see where anyone told you that...


Bruce wrote:
> I was refering to your reply to me in
> microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin:
>
> eQUn806wIHA.2384@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl
>
> You implied it by sending me to the Microsoft Windows Home Server
> FAQ, and quoting the FAQ, which states that only OEMs can get
> Windows Home Server.


That "eQUn806wIHA.2384@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl" means nothing... The link I
gave shows the entire thread...

Implied, eh?

Not really - I told you to email for the answer. Just because the faqs say
one thing - the answer you get from the source may be another. I pointed
out what they said because I thought you would like to ask specifically
about that part.

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> In the other (multi-posted - that's not advised - if you feel your
> posts *needs* to be in more than one group - please cross-post in
> the future - better all around) posting you seem to be trying to
> refer to...


Bruce wrote:
> I originally posted only in
> microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin, and later realized that
> traffic is much better in this group, so I posted the same question
> here. I knew I'd get the obligatory "don't multi- post" from
> someone. Bingo. But seriously, I prefer to cross-post, but I've
> had replies telling me not to cross-post, and to multi-post
> instead. Damned if I do, and damned if I don't. I give up on the
> cross-post vs. multi-post debate. I've seen threads lasting for a
> week, over 100 posts long, discussing this.


Cross-posting is the one that is accepted by more people because it actually
does waste less bandwidth/space in the end. No one can argue that it does
not because that is the nature of the beast. Multi-posting does the same
job - just by wasting more space and making it more difficult to see
multiple responders.

As for getting the 'tag' for it - at least I gave it to you and then gave
you the answer.

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> http://groups.google.com/group/micr...0/6c227ab2481d5799?lnk=st&q=#6c227ab2481d5799


Bruce wrote:
> No. I wasn't refering to VanguardLH's post. I was refering to
> yours.


Scroll up and down. Just because it shows VanguardLH's post there doesn't
mean you couldn't use your mouse and scroll up/down to see it in its
entirety. It can bee seen in a tree or message only view. I gave the link
to the thread so others might be able to understand what it is you were
trying to point to. Your "eQUn806wIHA.2384@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl" means
nothing to most people.

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> I gave you the link to the Windows Home Server main page, their
> FAQs and what they say about providing it as a stand-alone product.


Bruce wrote:
> Yes, and I had been there before I posted anything.


Shenan Stanley wrote:
> I then gave you the email address and suggested subject line of
> said email where you could ask your question directly - and get the
> definitive answer.


Bruce wrote:
> Don't know why I'd got there when the answer was already in the FAQ.


But you asked anyway?

So it would make sense that if you are unsure about something to do with a
specific product - utilizing the methods for contacting the makers of said
product and ask the question would give you the most definitive answer
available... Right?

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> You can certainly buy it stand-alone:
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116395


Bruce wrote:
> Yes, I've seen it there, and at amazon.com.


Okay - so you knew it was available from large/reliable/straight-and-narrow
vendors...?

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Even if Microsoft's FAQs do not elude to it, it is merely an OEM
> only product - meaning you technically *should* have to buy it
> with a hardware component.



Bruce wrote:
> Understood, and that's why I finally came to usenet to ask. "IF"
> it's an OEM product, and "IF" Microsoft's FAQs state that you have
> to buy it installed on hardward from an OEM, such as HP, then why
> in the world was I reading tech articles and blogs stating the
> opposite? Reminds me of Windows Media Center and how you could
> only get it on an OEM machine.


Where did Microsoft say you _HAD_ to buy it on hardware from an OEM? They
said "The best way to do this is to deliver Windows Home Server on
integrated hardware/software solutions through OEMs and system builders that
are tested and meet system requirements."

"The Best Way..."

OEMs can decide pretty much how they wish to sell it to you. -)

Windows XP Media Center is the same way. OEM only. You have to purchase it
through the OEM vendors. You cannot go to the retail store and get it.

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Some other pages to help you with the nuances of the product...
>
> Newsgroup specific to the product:
> http://forums.microsoft.com/WindowsHomeServer/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID=12
> 81&SiteID=50
>
> Good blog for the product and some extras:
> http://blogs.technet.com/homeserver/
>
> An article that walks through the building of a new box around the
> product: http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2236187,00.asp
> This page of the article starts the actual software/OS
> installation - probably where you might start getting interested
> given your question...
> http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2236189,00.asp


Bruce wrote:
> Great links, that are now bookmarked. Thanks much.


In the end - you have to consider if NewEgg and Amazon and other large
vendors could afford to chance selling something they are not authorized to
sell. If it is being sold by several legitimate dealers - usually it is a
good bet everything is on the up-and-up. -)

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
 
On Sat, 31 May 2008 19:35:08 -0500, Bruce <nospam@nospam.invalid>
wrote:

>Can Windows Home Server software be installed on a spare pc (Pentium 4),
>and used as a home/web server, or do you have to buy the software and
>hardware as a system? I've googled, and found different answers.
>
>My home network runs Vista Home Premium, Windows Media Edition 2005,
>Windows XP Home, and Windows 2000 Pro. I'm connected to the internet via
>Comcast modem.


Why ask HERE? Do you see SERVER in this group's title? NO

Ask elsewhere
 
On Jun 1, 1:03 pm, Bruce <nos...@nospam.invalid> wrote:
> "Shenan Stanley" <newshel...@gmail.com> wrote innews:OColrCBxIHA.4564@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:



> > I gave you the link to the Windows Home Server main page, their FAQs
> > and what they say about providing it as a stand-alone product.

>
> Yes, and I had been there before I posted anything.
>
> I then
>
> > gave you the email address and suggested subject line of said email
> > where you could ask your question directly - and get the definitive
> > answer.

>
> Don't know why I'd got there when the answer was already in the FAQ.


Exactly. Don't waste your time trying to verify what you already
know. Just get the software, and build your own.
 
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