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== Windows Server 2008 Activation ==
As mentioned previously it is not necessary to enter a key at this point in order to run Windows Server 2008. Failure to enter an activation key simply means that the operating system will run in ''trial mode'' which can only be extended for a total of 270 days. If you have an activation key , enter it here. Alternatively click on the ''Next'' button to proceed to the next stage of the installation. If an activation key was not entered a warning dialog will appear stating that it may be necessary to re-install Windows at a later date (i.e. when the trail ends) resulting in lost data. In practice it is possible to perform the activation before the trial ends without the need to re-install. If presented with this dialog click "No" to proceed.
If an activation key was not entered the next screen will ask that the required Windows Server 2008 Edition be selected. Select the desired edition, check the box to confirm the selection and click ''Next'' to proceed. If an activation key was entered the installer already knows which edition to install. Note that ''Core'' versions of each edition are available. The core installation is a minimal installation of the operating system with no GUI interface and only a subset of services available by default. This configuration is intended for ''headless'' servers and situations where the smallest possible attack surface is required.
Read and agree (assuming you do agree) to the license terms and proceed to the next screen where the options to upgrade or perform a clean installation are provided. If the installer was invoked by booting from the DVD, or the host operating system is not suitable for upgrade , only the clean installation option will be provided. Select this option to proceed.
== Disk and Partition Management ==
The next screen provides an interface for selecting and configuring disks and partitions for the installation. Initially, this screen displays a list of physical disk drives available on the system together with any pre-existing partitions on these those disks.
Clicking on the ''Drive options (advanced)'' option displays a number of options including the deletion, creation and formatting of partitions on the listed disk drives. In addition, the ''Load driver'' option allows any driver necessary to access a disk drive to be loaded into to system so that the device may be used as an installation destination. For the purposes of this installation, the entire disk drive will be used as the installation target. The following figure shows a single, unpartitioned disk drive with the ''Drive options'' displayed:
Click next to begin the installation process. A new screen will appear listing the progress of the installation and highlighting the fact that the system will reboot a number of times during the installation.
== Accessing the Command Prompt During during Installation ==
At any point during the setup process (except when the installation is actually being performed) ''Shift+F10'' may be pressed to gain access to the command-prompt. From within this command prompt window most of the standard Windows Server 2008 command-line tools are available allowing tasks to be performed that might otherwise not be possible from within the setup interface. A full list of available commands and respective descriptions can be found in the chapter entitled [[Windows Server 2008 Command-line Tools]].
