Vista - Installing your new Windows Home Server

It can be frustrating to get a shiny new technology gadget and then realize that it will be another couple of days until you can actually start using it due to confusion and long installation times. Happily, this is not the case with Windows Home Server – it is quite the opposite. Windows Home Server has an uncomplicated, self-explanatory installation process that will have you up and running with minimum time and effort.

According to a Cnet review, an advantage of Windows Home Server is the, “straightforward hardware and software setup.” The Windows Home Server team and our hardware partners have continued to make improvements to the installation and setup of the home server. Many consumers, including blogger Steve Smith, make it clear that there is no need for you to be computer savvy to set up and install Windows Home Server as it only takes 3 simple steps:

1. Plug it in
2. Turn it on
3. Install the software on your computer

The software will take you through a quick set-up wizard, and then the installation is complete! You can even follow along with a series of screen shots of the Windows Home Server installation process, or read a "How To" to make sure that you are on the right track.



*Screen shot of the Windows Home Server Connector during installation

You can see for yourself how impressed Windows Home Server owner, Steve Smith, was with his HP MediaSmart. His first reaction to his new Home Server after un-boxing it was, “Wow, this thing is small!”



*HP MediaSmart’s size compared to a Blackberry Pearl phone

In Steve's blog, he then goes on to describe how fast the installation was and ends by showing a final screen shot of the Windows Home Server console, only 40 minutes after opening the box! If you prefer videos, Ian Dixon walks through an HP MediaSmart Server installation here.

For those who are not intimidated by computer installations and would consider building their own home server, Norman Chan has produced a terrific article in October’s Maximum PC on this topic. This step-by-step guide will you take you through the process of building your own home server. Click here to check out the online version.

If you still on the fence about building your own home server or installing a preconfigured system, you can now feel confident that others have already successfully gone down the path.

To learn more about Windows Home Server, please visit our Web page at: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...r/default.mspx

-Nicole




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