Preparing to Install SQL Server 2000

Before installing Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2000, consider the following:

Be sure the computer meets the system requirements for Microsoft SQL Server 2000. For more information, see Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2000.
Back up your current installation of Microsoft SQL Server if installing SQL Server 2000 on the same computer.
If installing a failover cluster, disable NetBIOS on all private network cards before running SQL Server Setup. For more information, see Before Installing Failover Clustering.
Review all SQL Server installation options and be prepared to make the appropriate selections when running Setup. For more information about editions and components, see SQL Server 2000: Editions and Components.
If you plan to install SQL Server to a location other than the default file locations, see File Paths for SQL Server 2000.
If using an operating system with Regional settings other than English (United States), or if customizing character set or sort order settings, review topics on collation settings. For more information, see Collation Options for International Support.

Before running Setup:

Create one or more domain user accounts if installing SQL Server 2000 on a computer running Microsoft Windows NT® or Microsoft Windows® 2000, and you want SQL Server 2000 to communicate with other clients and servers. For more information, see Creating Security Accounts.
Log on to the operating system under a user account that has local administrative permissions, or assign the appropriate permissions to the domain user account.
Shut down all services dependent on SQL Server. This includes any service using ODBC, such as Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS).
Shut down Microsoft Windows NT Event Viewer and registry viewers (Regedit.exe or Regedt32.exe).