Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server Edition setup can start from DOS, from Windows NT or WinFrame, by booting from the installation CD, or—if the computer cannot boot from CD—by booting from setup floppies. Setup begins in a character-based screen, copies initial files, and restarts before the graphical stage completes installation. These are documented historical procedures, not a guarantee that the operating system will run on a particular modern computer.
Choose how to start setup
The 1999 Windows NT Terminal Server installation guide documents four entry points. Use the one your computer and existing operating system support:
- From DOS: run
winnt.exe. - From Windows NT or WinFrame 1.x: run
winnt32.exe. - From CD: boot the computer from the Terminal Server CD-ROM.
- From setup floppies: boot from the included disks if the computer cannot boot from CD.
The guide locates the setup executables in the CD’s I386 directory for Intel x86 systems. It notes that the /B option was commonly used to avoid setup floppies; that is period guidance, not a recommendation tested for an unspecified machine.
What happens during installation
1. Setup detects hardware and prepares the target partition
Character-based setup detects hardware needed to run the graphical installer, including the keyboard, video adapter, CPU type, hard-drive adapter, and mouse. In this stage, select an existing target partition or create one.
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2. Setup copies files and restarts
After the initial files are copied, setup restarts the computer.
3. Graphical setup completes installation
After the restart, continue through the graphical setup stage to finish installing the operating system.
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Check hardware and documentation for your exact system
The general installation procedure does not establish a universal hardware compatibility list, driver set, or service-pack recommendation. Confirm that the target machine’s firmware, storage controller, display hardware, and other components are suitable before proceeding; do not assume that a current PC will support this operating system.
For specific examples, IBM published instructions for installing Terminal Server Edition with Citrix MetaFrame 1.8 on the Netfinity 7100 and 4000R. Those instructions apply to the named models and configuration, not to unrelated computers: IBM Netfinity installation documentation.
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Understand what Terminal Server Edition was
Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition was designed for thin-client use: applications run on the server while their interfaces are displayed remotely on client computers. Microsoft described it this way in its June 16, 1998 announcement. It is therefore a server-side operating system and remote-display platform, not simply a client Windows installation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Historical licensing context
Microsoft’s June 16, 1998 announcement said Terminal Server Edition would be priced like standard Windows NT Server 4.0 and described period per-desktop licensing involving a Windows NT Workstation 4.0 license and a Windows NT Server 4.0 File and Print CAL for each desktop. This is historical context only; that announcement does not establish current license rights, transferability, or resale status for surviving licenses.
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