I need help transition from Windows 7 to Windows Server 2003

[cheez]

Hi guyz,

I currently have Windows 7 HTPC system and I don't like it cause it's very flakey with my video playback software and the system appears to have a lot of junk (processes) running as services. Biggest problem is it doesn't support my graphics card well so the texts on display look like crap. There is a bug playing video files too.

With Server 2003 I will be back in business for cutting edge performance and compatibility.

I already have 2.1 GB worth data in my 3TB internal storage hard drive. I have one 100GB SSD. I also an USB external 3TB hard drive that is full. I'm currently on Windows 7. The problem is Server 2003 doesn't support hard drives anything 2TB and higher and will see my 3TB hard drive as a 750GB drive. The drive will be unusable and I could lose all data which is completely out of question.

Help me move from Windows 7 to Server 2003 and without losing my storage data. That's your homework. Gimme steps please tanks!


cheez

 

[seepy83]

The obvious solutions is to buy compatible hard drives and move your data to them.

But, honestly, you're trying to migrate to a 10 year old OS. Not a very good plan.


Edit: just realized you're the guy that, supposedly, spends 10's of thousands of dollars on cables. Not sure if I should take anything you say seriously.

 

[SecurityTheatre]

Hi guyz,

I currently have Windows 7 HTPC system and I don't like it cause it's very flakey with my video playback software and the system appears to have a lot of junk (processes) running as services. Biggest problem is it doesn't support my graphics card well so the texts on display look like crap. There is a bug playing video files too.

With Server 2003 I will be back in business for cutting edge performance and compatibility.

I already have 2.1 GB worth data in my 3TB internal storage hard drive. I have one 100GB SSD. I also an USB external 3TB hard drive that is full. I'm currently on Windows 7. The problem is Server 2003 doesn't support hard drives anything 2TB and higher and will see my 3TB hard drive as a 750GB drive. The drive will be unusable and I could lose all data which is completely out of question.

Help me move from Windows 7 to Server 2003 and without losing my storage data. That's your homework. Gimme steps please tanks!


cheez

Get Server 2008 (or better yet, keep Windows 7 and troubleshoot your video issue directly).

Server 2003 is older than Windows Vista and is not advisable as an "upgrade" to Windows 7.

Homework done.


But... to answer the question directly...

I think there are some third-party software out there that can convert an in-place MBR partition into a GPT partition without losing data, but I don't think Windows can do this natively.

I'm also not sure the ability of Windows Server 2003 to boot from a GPT partition (I think it might not work).

Theoretically, probably possible to arrange this setup. But why?

Edit: Server 2003 supports GPT partitions (beyond 2TB), but cannot boot from them.

You need an MBR partition (maybe on your SSD) to boot from, and then you can read the data partitions without issues, though the GPT support in Windows 2003 is somewhat more limited.

 

[cheez]

The obvious solutions is to buy compatible hard drives and move your data to them.

But, honestly, you're trying to migrate to a 10 year old OS. Not a very good plan.

Server 2003 is superior. It's both faster, simpler, and highly compatible, for my hardware.

Edit: just realized you're the guy that, supposedly, spends 10's of thousands of dollars on cables. Not sure if I should take anything you say seriously.

Everything I say on this forum is serious. Well, actually anything I say on world wide web is serious. People think I'm joking / trolling but I am not.

Get Server 2008 (or better yet, keep Windows 7 and troubleshoot your video issue directly).

Server 2003 is older than Windows Vista and is not advisable as an "upgrade" to Windows 7.

Homework done.


But... to answer the question directly...

I think there are some third-party software out there that can convert an in-place MBR partition into a GPT partition without losing data, but I don't think Windows can do this natively.

I'm also not sure the ability of Windows Server 2003 to boot from a GPT partition (I think it might not work).

Theoretically, probably possible to arrange this setup. But why?

Edit: Server 2003 supports GPT partitions (beyond 2TB), but cannot boot from them.

You need an MBR partition (maybe on your SSD) to boot from, and then you can read the data partitions without issues, though the GPT support in Windows 2003 is somewhat more limited.

Dude server 2008 is not a solution. I run into compatibility issues with it for my specific hardware. Server 2003 is best. Windows 2000 Pro is also good. Vista sucks.

What you say sounds a headache. Yes SSD is my OS drive. The 3TB internal drive is strictly for storage where I have thousands of video and audio files. I am trying to "delete" ones that I don't have to have... hoping to shrink the data down to 750GB but I think that's pushing it.

It's too bad Server 2003 doesn't know how to communicate with the large hard drives.

Don't forget that video issue is caused by Windows 7 as it's not communicating well with the display driver (compatibility issues).

I know the other alternative. Get an external USB hard drive enclosure. They cost about $30+. But I don't have money for that I'm broke as I spent all on power cables. :\ Can someone send me the enclosure if you are not using it? Server 2003 has no trouble with USB external hard drives that are 3TB.


I hate Windows 7.

cheez

 

[yinan]

There is no way Server 2003 is better than Win7. The driver model is Win7 is more stable. Fewer drivers are in the kernel, which leads to fewer BSODs. You have to actually TRY to make Win7 BSOD.

Win7 is 64bit, while Serer 2003 is 32.

I think you would be better spent by buying a $20 video card than downgrading to a Server OS that was not meant to be used as a HTPC.

For playback software just get XBMC and call it a day.

 

[cheez]

There is no way Server 2003 is better than Win7. The driver model is Win7 is more stable. Fewer drivers are in the kernel, which leads to fewer BSODs. You have to actually TRY to make Win7 BSOD.

I'm not talking about BSOD's... And I don't have this issue with Server 2003 with my configuration.

Win7 is 64bit, while Serer 2003 is 32.

Windows 7 is also 32bit. Most of the Windows OS we use at work is 32bit. Very few have 64bit version installed... Takes time for the real world to get caught up.

I think you would be better spent by buying a $20 video card than downgrading to a Server OS that was not meant to be used as a HTPC.

Nope it's not. The new video cards (unless you can find an old one) require newer version of directX components and run into compatibility issue with the rest of my hardware and software.

For playback software just get XBMC and call it a day.

Nope, my Elecard MPEG player is superior and works best with my setup.

I have very specific hardware / software configuration that I must keep. Windows 7 is not a solution. New video card is not a solution. The only viable and superior (and fastest and simplest) way to upgrade is to move back to Server 2003. Applications run ultra fast and stable I almost passed out due to speed.


I'm gonna have to somehow cut down my 2.1GB worth storage data to 750GB.... Oh man I'm gonna lose a lot of stuff. :\ And then upgrade to Server 2003 for wicked fast performance and superior display quality.


cheez

 

[Lorne]

Somehow I think Cheez missed the part where 2K3 supports larger then 2TB drives for storage but not for boot.
You will also have to dump that SSD if you wish to run 2K3 or in a month you will think your OS is on a floppydrive being so slow.

But I do know what you mean as I have a bunch of propriatary printers that still use NT and Win98, They cannot be upgraded further.

 

[BlitzPuppet]

Yeah...I definitely wouldn't recommend WS2003.

 

[cheez]

Somehow I think Cheez missed the part where 2K3 supports larger then 2TB drives for storage but not for boot.

Nope incorrect. Server 2003 doesn't see as 3TB drive as a storage drive. I had used Server 2003 on this machine for 7 years or so in the past. You put any 3TB internal hard drive in it it will recognize the drive but you won't be able to use full size. It will only see as 750GB. In some case, it is reported that some users may get upto 2TB. In my case, nope, 750GB.

You will also have to dump that SSD if you wish to run 2K3 or in a month you will think your OS is on a floppydrive being so slow.

Nope incorrect. SSD works fine on Server 2003. I have gone that configuration before many times. It was never slow. The problem was that it ran too fast I couldn't keep up the pace with the Server 2003. The damn thing is flying, and this is with no exaggeration, realistically speaking, for real world apps.

But I do know what you mean as I have a bunch of propriatary printers that still use NT and Win98, They cannot be upgraded further.

Yep, two things: compatibility and lightning fast speed = Server 2003 for my setup.

Yeah...I definitely wouldn't recommend WS2003.

Yeah... I definitely recommend Server 2003 for my hardware and driver versions. I wasn't asking for which OS to go with, I gave you guys an assignment to assist what's good way to transition from Win7 to Server 2003 as an upgrade as I have a lot of data in the storage.


EDIT: Oh wait.... one thing I will run into is that Server 2003 isn't supported by many Blu-ray playback software for movies. I will be getting the drive soon or later, but I fear I will run into issues as some out there won't support Server 2003.


cheez

 

[glugglug]

EDIT: Oh wait.... one thing I will run into is that Server 2003 isn't supported by many Blu-ray playback software for movies. I will be getting the drive soon or later, but I fear I will run into issues as some out there won't support Server 2003.

You know Server 2003 is basically Windows XP, right? In fact, for the x64 version, it is exactly the same as XP -- they are actually the same ISO!

I'm pretty sure there is bluray software for Windows XP....

 

[Insert_Nickname]

I'm pretty sure there is bluray software for Windows XP....

There is. At least PowerDVD 13 still supports XP, but only with SP3. Server 2003 is unsupported, it is a server OS not client. You may run into another problem as bluray disc playback under XP is not supported with newer Intel HD Graphics driver. Just a heads-up...

Though why anyone would want to use a 10 year old server OS for HTPC is frankly beyond me. Stay with 7 (or 8(.1)), find a program that can play your files under 7. VLC or MPC are good choices, and can read almost anything between them. Upgrade your GFX card to something newer. If its unsupported by 7, you have an extremely old card that likely can't do HD video acceleration properly and likely doesn't have HDCP support (a requirement to play commercial blurays mind you).

Watching blurays on your PC is an expensive undertaking, you might be better of getting a standalone bluray player... :hmm:

 

[cheez]

There is. At least PowerDVD 13 still supports XP, but only with SP3. Server 2003 is unsupported, it is a server OS not client. You may run into another problem as bluray disc playback under XP is not supported with newer Intel HD Graphics driver. Just a heads-up...

Yep.... that's why I don't use newer video cards as that is "one of the issues" I run into.

find a program that can play your files under 7. VLC or MPC are good choices, and can read almost anything between them.

Well not really. MPC will play most files but it's not just about the compatibility or having ability to play... it's the video playback quality that becomes a matter. Elecard MPEG player, once you make it work it's a bomb. It has the best playback performance (solidness, rock-solid playback, no frame drop, no stuttering, and feels like the frames have doubled or tripled). MPC can't do that. It's crap compared to this. VLC is even worse, too much bugs and too many settings. And it gets flakey when you try to play in Windows 7. Works best in older OSes.

Upgrade your GFX card to something newer.

My video card stays.

If its unsupported by 7, you have an extremely old card that likely can't do HD video acceleration properly and likely doesn't have HDCP support (a requirement to play commercial blurays mind you).

Watching blurays on your PC is an expensive undertaking, you might be better of getting a standalone bluray player... :hmm:

My video card is almost 8 years old. It was the most expensive, top of the line. Yes it does great in hardware acceleration for HD video playback. That is one of the reasons why I keep this card and it is HDCP compliant. I used to play blu-ray movies and used to be the star when the blu-ray movies first introduced. All that was done with my old video card, cutting edge video quality. People still pass out when they look at the picture in BD playback. Trust me, the video card has no problem driving HD videos. It's more than powerful enough, and it supports 1:1 pixel mapping.

What I need is help on upgrading from Windows 7 to Server 2003, not video card help. Tanks!


cheez

 

[JoeBleed]

so, you ask for help about moving from win7 to 2k3 server due to hardware/driver issues.

What hardware are you using AND which pieces are giving you issues with drivers.

Forget about blu-ray movies on a server OS. You could try AnyDVD HD to decrypt the blu-rays, but i've never tried it on a server os. But then you'd have to use an open source video player which i'm sure you'll find inferior even though your MPEG card will be useless for this.

If your vidoe card is having driver issues with windows 7, it will not play blu-rays using any hardware support. It will all be software. Hope you have a damn good cpu. I can assure you, a core2duo 2.4 GHz cpu will not work for higher quality blu-rays in software only mode.

What other old software do you want to keep using that you can't in windows 7?

Will this thing ever see internet use or even have access to the internet? Because if you need old hardware and software for what you want to do, you're going to want to keep it off of the internet. Probably not watch blu-rays either.

Also, as said before, i don't know what you're doing wrong or if it's your chipset, win2k3 will see 3tb drives. My old 2k server will see my 3tb drive. I had to install the last supported intel disk software on it, but it sees and works with it. It's possible it is an issue with your chipset. But we can't be sure because you didn't give us any hardware information.

Yes, i like running old operating systems for fun.

edit: i just noticed the little talk about mpc. move on from mpc and try mpc-hc. the old mpc project seems to be dead last i looked.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

My video card is almost 8 years old. It was the most expensive, top of the line. Yes it does great in hardware acceleration for HD video playback. That is one of the reasons why I keep this card and it is HDCP compliant. I used to play blu-ray movies and used to be the star when the blu-ray movies first introduced. All that was done with my old video card, cutting edge video quality. People still pass out when they look at the picture in BD playback. Trust me, the video card has no problem driving HD videos. It's more than powerful enough, and it supports 1:1 pixel mapping.z

I really don't think you quite appreciate just how far technology has come those 8 years. Even a basic HD2500 likely has better output, and if you're seriously suggesting the ancient WMR7/9 renderer is superior to a properly configured EVR+madVR, then you're beyond my help...

Also, just how much quality do you want? With my setup, I can count the actors nose-hairs nose-hair. I can easily tell if the make-up department had a bad day.

Well, each to his own I guess.

 

[SimMike2]

Obvious answer, upgrade your hardware. Your install sounds buggy as hell.