Install SharePoint 2013 Public Beta on Windows Server 2012 RC – Part I – Installation of Windows Server 2012 RC

With the new version of SharePoint almost in Public Beta (I have hopes it will be this month) it is time to show you how you can install it on the new Release Candidate of Windows Server 2012.

Since the new version of SharePoint isn’t there yet this series of blog post will begin with installing Windows Server 2012 RC on a Virtual Machine. After this post the following post will follow:

• Part II – Installation of Active Directory and DNS Services on Windows Server 2012 RC
• Part III – Installation of SQL Server 2012 on Windows Server 2012 RC
• Part IV – Installation of the Prerequisites on Windows Server 2012 RC
• Part V – Installation of SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 RC
• Part VI – Configuring SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 RC

So let us begin with the installation of Windows Server 2012 RC. First off make sure you have a ISO available of Windows Server 2012 RC. If you don not have the image already download it from the Microsoft site:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/windows-server/2012-default.aspx

When you have downloaded the image you can create a new virtual machine and assign a appropriate amount of memory. I have created my VM with 6 GB of memory.

Attach the image file to the virtual machine and then boot it. It will automatically boot the installation wizard of Windows Server 2012 with the language selection screen.

With the right language selected click ‘Next’  to proceed to the next step. The next step is easiest step of the installation. You only have to press the button “Install now”.

When “Install now” is pressed the installation medium will load the actual setup files. In the mean time it will show you a dark blue screen with the waiting mouse cursor and the text “Setup is Starting”.

When all the files are loaded it is time to begin the actual setup of Windows. Basically the complete setup really look like the installation of Windows Server 2008 R2 so I think you can guess what is coming next.

Yep…. It is the Operating System selection screen. The only version available at the moment is the Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate Datacenter edition. You still have to take a good look because the installation disc also has the Server Core Installation. Choose the “ Server with a GUI” option and click next. Accept the license and again click next to go to the installation type screen.

Like the installation of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 you have the option to upgrade your current Operation System. Since this is a complete new installation we choose for “Custom: Install Windows Only (Advanced)”.

In the next screen you will be asked to select the disk you would like to use for your installation. Select the right disk and click on “Next” .

After you selected the disk Windows will start installing the files to the specified disk.

When the installation is done the server will reboot and starts preparing Windows. Just like the old version you then will be asked to give in your Administrator password.

When you click the “Finish” the setup will finalize. After the finalization you will see the new ctrl+alt+delete screen.

Press ctrl+alt+delete and login to the server the desktop will be loaded and you are ready to start installing new windows component with the new Server Manager.

Like described at the top of the post this is the first post in a series of 6 posts. In the next post I will show you how to install the Active Directory component and the DNS component on Windows Server 2012 RC.