Install SharePoint Server 2010 on Windows 8: Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re looking to install SharePoint Server 2010 on Windows 8, then you’ve come to the right place. This step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get SharePoint up and running on your Windows 8 machine. SharePoint Server 2010 is a powerful platform for collaboration, document management, and business intelligence, and it’s essential for organizations that need to manage a large amount of data and content.

Before you begin the installation process, you need to verify that your system meets the requirements for running SharePoint Server 2010. It’s also important to ensure that you have the necessary software and tools installed on your system.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything from downloading and installing SharePoint prerequisites, to running the setup wizard and configuring the farm settings. By following these steps, you’ll have a fully functional SharePoint Server 2010 environment up and running on your Windows 8 machine in no time.

So, if you’re ready to take the plunge and get started with SharePoint, let’s dive into the installation process and get your system up and running. You won’t regret it!

Verify System Requirements

Before proceeding with the installation process, it is important to ensure that your system meets the necessary requirements. The hardware and software requirements for SharePoint Server 2010 are specific, and failing to meet them can lead to installation errors and other issues.

To verify that your system meets the requirements, start by checking the operating system and service pack versions. SharePoint Server 2010 requires a 64-bit version of Windows Server 2008 or later, and Windows 8 meets this requirement. Ensure that all necessary service packs are installed, and that the system has the required amount of RAM and disk space.

In addition to hardware and software requirements, SharePoint Server 2010 also requires specific software components to be installed on the system. These include the .NET Framework, Windows PowerShell, and other components. Ensure that these components are installed and up to date before proceeding.

It is also important to verify that the necessary permissions are in place. The installation account must have local administrator permissions on the system, and SQL Server database permissions must also be configured appropriately. Failure to set up the necessary permissions can cause the installation process to fail.

Finally, it is recommended that you run the pre-upgrade checker to ensure that the system is ready for the SharePoint Server 2010 installation. The pre-upgrade checker will identify any issues that may cause the installation process to fail, allowing you to address them before proceeding.

Check Operating System Compatibility

1. Windows 8 Professional Edition: SharePoint Server 2010 can only be installed on Windows 8 Professional Edition or higher. If you are using Windows 8 Home Edition, you will need to upgrade to the Professional Edition or a higher version.

2. 32-bit or 64-bit: Check whether your Windows 8 operating system is 32-bit or 64-bit. If you are using a 64-bit version of Windows 8, you can install the 64-bit version of SharePoint Server 2010. If you are using a 32-bit version of Windows 8, you will need to install the 32-bit version of SharePoint Server 2010.

3. Processor and RAM: Your computer must meet the minimum processor and RAM requirements for SharePoint Server 2010 to function properly. Check the product documentation for the exact requirements.

4. Compatibility Mode: If you are encountering compatibility issues while installing SharePoint Server 2010 on Windows 8, try running the installation program in compatibility mode for a previous version of Windows. To do this, right-click on the installation program and select “Properties” and then “Compatibility”.

Before proceeding with the installation of SharePoint Server 2010 on Windows 8, it is important to ensure that your operating system is compatible with the software. Checking your operating system compatibility is the first step towards a successful installation process. By verifying your operating system compatibility and taking the necessary steps to meet the requirements, you can avoid potential issues and ensure that your installation of SharePoint Server 2010 is smooth and hassle-free.

Ensure Sufficient Disk Space and Memory

Before installing SharePoint Server 2010, ensure that your system has sufficient disk space and memory. This will prevent installation errors and ensure optimal performance. Minimum requirements for SharePoint Server 2010 include 80 GB of available hard disk space, 4 GB of RAM, and a 64-bit processor.

You should also consider the disk space requirements for additional components like the SQL Server database, the SharePoint database, and the log files. Additionally, temporarily disable antivirus software during installation to prevent conflicts with the SharePoint installation process.

If your system doesn’t meet the minimum requirements, consider upgrading or using a different system. Insufficient disk space or memory can cause performance issues and data loss. Also, ensure that the system meets the operating system compatibility requirements, discussed in the previous section.

Confirm Supported Software and Hardware Requirements

SharePoint Server 2010 requires specific software and hardware requirements. First, the operating system must be either Windows Server 2008 SP2 or Windows Server 2008 R2. Additionally, the server must have the following software: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2, Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1, and Windows PowerShell 2.0.

As for hardware requirements, the server must have a 64-bit processor and a minimum of 4 GB of RAM. However, Microsoft recommends at least 8 GB of RAM for better performance. The server should also have a minimum of 80 GB of free disk space, which should be divided into system, page file, and data partitions.

Confirming that the software and hardware requirements are met is crucial before attempting to install SharePoint Server 2010. Failure to meet these requirements could result in installation failure, system crashes, or poor performance.

Download SharePoint Server 2010

To install SharePoint Server 2010 on Windows 8, you first need to download the software from Microsoft’s website. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Go to the Microsoft Download Center.

Step 2: Search for “SharePoint Server 2010” in the search bar and click on the download link.

Step 3: Choose the language of your choice and click “Download”.

Step 4: Save the file to your local drive.

Step 5: Extract the contents of the downloaded file to a local folder on your computer.

Once you have downloaded and extracted the SharePoint Server 2010 files, you can proceed with the installation process.

Download SharePoint Server 2010 Installation Files

To download SharePoint Server 2010 installation files, you will need a valid product key. You can get the product key from your Microsoft volume licensing site or from a Microsoft representative. Once you have the product key, follow the steps below:

1. Go to the Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 download page on the Microsoft website.
2. Click the “Download” button to start the download process.
3. Select the language you want to use for the installation and click “Continue”.
4. Select the installation type that you want to use (32-bit or 64-bit) and click “Download”.

Once the download is complete, extract the files to a folder on your computer. This folder will be used during the installation process.

Install SharePoint Prerequisites

Step 1: Open the Server Manager on your Windows 8 computer.

Step 2: Click on the “Add Roles and Features” option from the Manage menu.

Step 3: Select the installation type and click “Next.”

Step 4: Choose the destination server and click “Next.”

Install Required Windows Server Roles and Features

• Open Server Manager: From the Start menu, click on the Server Manager icon.
• Select Add Roles and Features: On the Dashboard, click on the “Add Roles and Features” link.
• Click Next: Read the information provided on the Before You Begin page and click Next.
• Select the installation type: Select “Role-based or feature-based installation” and click Next.

You should now see a list of server roles available for installation. Select the following roles and features:

Once you have selected the required roles and features, click Next, and then click Install. The installation process may take some time, depending on the speed of your server.

Install Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Native Client

Before installing SharePoint Server 2010, make sure that you have installed the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Native Client. This client software is required to communicate with the SQL Server database.

To install the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Native Client, follow these steps:

• Download the appropriate version of the client software from the Microsoft website.
• Run the installation file and follow the instructions provided by the installation wizard.
• When prompted, select the appropriate installation options, such as the installation directory and the components to be installed.
• Once the installation is complete, verify that the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Native Client has been installed correctly.

By installing the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Native Client, you can ensure that SharePoint Server 2010 can communicate with the SQL Server database and perform its functions correctly.

Run SharePoint Setup Wizard

Step 1: Launch SharePoint Server 2010 installation
Run the SharePoint Server 2010 setup.exe file and select the ‘Install SharePoint Server’ option. The setup wizard will launch automatically.

Step 2: Enter your Product Key
Enter your 25-character product key and click ‘Continue’. This key is found on the product packaging or in the confirmation email you received from Microsoft.

Step 3: Accept the License Terms
Read and accept the license terms by selecting the checkbox and click ‘Continue’.

Step 4: Choose the installation type
Select the installation type, either ‘Server Farm’ or ‘Standalone’. In a Server Farm installation, you will be able to create multiple web applications and host them on multiple servers. In a Standalone installation, you can host only one web application on a single server.

Start SharePoint Server Installation

After installing all the necessary prerequisites, it’s time to start the SharePoint Server installation process. To begin, run the SharePoint Server setup file you downloaded in the previous step.

Next, select the “Install SharePoint Server” option on the initial screen of the SharePoint Server wizard. You will then be asked to accept the terms of the license agreement.

• Choose the installation type: You can choose between a “Complete” installation or a “Stand-alone” installation. The complete installation includes all SharePoint features, while the stand-alone installation only includes the most common features.
• Select the file location: Choose the location where you want to install the SharePoint files. It’s recommended to install them on a separate partition or drive from the operating system files.
• Enter the Farm Configuration Wizard: This wizard will guide you through the process of configuring your SharePoint farm. Follow the steps and enter the necessary information.
• Complete the installation: Once the configuration wizard is complete, you will need to run the SharePoint Products Configuration Wizard to configure the SharePoint services and web applications.

After the configuration wizard is complete, your SharePoint installation is ready to use.

Configure SharePoint Farm Settings

Configuration database: During installation, a configuration database is created to store configuration settings and other data for the SharePoint farm. This database must be created before you can use SharePoint. You will need to specify the name of the SQL Server instance and the database name for the configuration database during the configuration process.

Farm account: The SharePoint farm account is used to perform various tasks in the farm, such as creating and modifying site collections and managing service applications. It is recommended to use a separate account for this purpose, rather than using an account with administrator privileges on the SharePoint servers.

Service applications: Service applications are used to provide specific functionality in SharePoint, such as search, user profiles, and business data connectivity. You can configure which service applications are enabled and adjust their settings to meet your specific needs. You can also create custom service applications if necessary.

Specify SharePoint Farm Credentials

During the configuration of your SharePoint farm, you will need to specify credentials for the farm account and service accounts. The farm account is used to provision the SharePoint databases and perform other administrative tasks in the farm, while service accounts are used to run SharePoint services and application pools.

You should choose strong passwords for all accounts and make sure to keep them secure. It’s also important to assign appropriate permissions to each account. For example, the farm account should have access to the SQL Server instance where the SharePoint databases will be stored.

You can specify the credentials for these accounts during the SharePoint configuration wizard or through PowerShell scripts. Make sure to document the credentials and keep them in a secure location for future reference.

Choose SharePoint Services to Install

During SharePoint Server installation, you will be asked to choose which services to install. It’s important to choose the services that best suit your organization’s needs.

The available services include SharePoint Foundation, Search Service, User Profile Service, and Business Data Connectivity Service. These services can be installed on the same server or on separate servers depending on your requirements.

SharePoint Foundation is the core component of SharePoint Server that provides basic features such as document libraries, lists, and web parts. It is a prerequisite for all other SharePoint services.

Search Service enables users to search for content within SharePoint. It can be configured to crawl different content sources and provide search results with ranking based on relevance.

User Profile Service allows users to manage their profiles and personal information in SharePoint. It can also be used for social features such as My Sites and social tagging.

Configure SharePoint Central Administration

Once the SharePoint installation is complete, you’ll need to configure the Central Administration site, which is the main interface for managing your SharePoint farm.

To configure Central Administration, you’ll need to specify a port number and either a domain user account or a local user account for the farm administrator. This account is used to manage the farm and perform administrative tasks within Central Administration.

You can also specify the authentication method that Central Administration uses to connect to other SharePoint services. You can choose between NTLM and Kerberos authentication.

Frequently Asked Questions