Windows 2003 driver help

[sco1984]

I have IBM Thinkpad R50e-1834-EQ1


I want to install Windows server 2003 standard edition on it.
I have a evaluation verion of it.

CUrrently i am using Windows XP Professional. I have all drivers for
Windows XP . I did not find drivers for Windows server 2003 at IBM's
web site.

Is it OK to use Windows XP drivers for Windows 2003? I am not sure.
I'll be able to access all featured like Fn key, then Battery maximizer guage and IBM Recovery tool ?


Regards,
Amey .

[hkhalil]

Hi sco1984,

I have 2003 running on an old PC and it ticks over fine. From what I have seen of it it's has much in common with XP under the surface. I have a few XP apps that installed and run on it OK. I'm not sure what that means for drivers, but some of them will have most certainly installed their own.

As far as putting it on a Thinkpad, you can try, I guess. The only thing that I would wonder about is Standby/Hibernation. I'm not suggesting that's something you would want to do with a server, but I'm not sure what the result of that would be if you did.

Let us know what happens, hkhalil

[stangri]

I've been running the Windows Server 2003 STD on my T40 for a few months now. Everything works great, I also love that unlike the XP SP2 there's no Microsoft Bluetooth driver in it, so I could easily install IBM-provided widcomm driver, but....

The intel-supplied setup routine for the WiFi drivers (2915abg card) doesn't work inder 2003. I could install drivers still, but the Fn-F5 doesn't recognize the card so it doesn't show up in the pop-up window.

Apart from that, at least for the T40 I had zero problems with drivers.

[sco1984]

I want to ask final question .

Does Windows 2003 STD edition will make my laptop slower ?
It'll take little long time to boot and to open applications compare to Windows XP Pro ? My above thikpad has 256 MB ( 333 MHz ) Ram . Original conf. I want to install soon. Pls comment so i'll take backup and'll format system drive. I am excited to install Win2k3 STD edition.


Thank you,
Amey Abhyankar.

[sco1984]

Hello peeps,
Finally i installed Windows server 2003 standard edition on my Thinkpad.
It took all drivers without giving me trouble. Just Wireless network adapter drivers can only be installed manually.
Windows 2003 Standard edition has "Hibernate" option. You can use
it by turning on from enabling from "Power options" . Rest is cool.
It's not slowing down my laptop at all.
Just make sure that "hardware accelaration" is full , otherwise
movies will not be played smoothly. You'l find blocks. It was a cool
experience running Windows server 2003 . I mean still i am using .
Ok then, Thanx for tips,

Regards,
Amey Abhyankar.

[stangri]

on my thinkpad I've actually expereinced greately shorter boot/shutdown times with the 2003 server vs XP.
it's all about tweaking 2003 tho.