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NewnanIT
1,110 pts.
 Where should we store a copy of the Windows Server 2003 R2 installation files?
Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 Installation, Windows Server 2003, Installation
Should we store a copy of the Windows Server 2003 R2 installation files on our server? Is this good practice?
ASKED: Apr 14, 2011  7:15 PM GMT
UPDATED: April 18, 2011  7:21:11 AM GMT
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Koohiisan
4,975 pts.
 
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 Approved Answer - Chosen by MelanieYarbrough
As a matter of course, one of the techs here started copying the i386 folder from the installation disc to the PC hard drive on every PC he set up. I didn't stop him, because I saw it to be useful when we later needed to add a feature that wasn't installed in the initial setup (useful=we didn't have to go pull the disc from our storage).

Should you copy it? That's up to you. It may only come in handy if you tend to come back later to install things again and again. If you do all of your initial setup all at one time, then you may never really need to have these files stored locally.

Then again, I haven't tested using a local set of installation files in 2003 R2, but I find it unlikely that it has diverged too far from what I've known.
ANSWERED:  Apr 14, 2011  9:59 PM (GMT)  by Koohiisan   4,975 pts.
 
Other Answers:
As a matter of course, one of the techs here started copying the i386 folder from the installation disc to the PC hard drive on every PC he set up. I didn't stop him, because I saw it to be useful when we later needed to add a feature that wasn't installed in the initial setup (useful=we didn't have to go pull the disc from our storage).

Should you copy it? That's up to you. It may only come in handy if you tend to come back later to install things again and again. If you do all of your initial setup all at one time, then you may never really need to have these files stored locally.

Then again, I haven't tested using a local set of installation files in 2003 R2, but I find it unlikely that it has diverged too far from what I've known.
Last Wiki Answer Submitted:  Apr 14, 2011  9:59 PM (GMT)  by  Koohiisan   4,975 pts.
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If you need to install features later it can come in handy. For Windows 2008 and higher this isn’t needed, as the installer will do that for you.

Mrdenny
 63,630 pts.
 

I copied both Windows 2k3 and Win XP i386 folders into a shared and ran it when it needed extra files files when needed..

Jinteik
 12,100 pts.
 

[...] 8. Koohiisan, Mrdenny, and Jinteik provided some insight into whether or not copies of Windows Server 2003 R2 installation files should be copied. [...]

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