You are preparing to install Windows 2000 Server on a new computer by performing an over the network installation. Instead of starting Setup from a local CD, you want to boot and connect to a network share that holds the installation files. Which method should you use to start the Windows 2000 Server installation?

Introduction / Context:
Before technologies such as PXE boot became common, network based installations of Windows servers often started from a network boot disk. These disks contained network adapter drivers and software to connect to a file server share that hosted the installation files. This question assesses your understanding of how to initiate an over the network installation of Windows 2000 Server without booting directly from the CD in the new machine.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The operating system is Windows 2000 Server.
• You want to install it over the network, not from a local CD drive.
• The installation files are stored on a network share.
• The target computer needs a method to boot and access that network share.
• The machine may not yet have any operating system installed.

Concept / Approach:
To perform an over the network installation on a bare metal machine, the system must first boot using some medium that contains basic network drivers. A network installation startup disk serves this purpose. It loads a minimal DOS or similar environment plus network drivers, allowing the administrator to map a drive to the server share where the Windows 2000 installation files reside. Setup can then be launched from that mapped drive. Commands like winnt.exe or winnt32.exe are used after you already have an operating system running, which is not the case in a bare metal over the network scenario.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Create or obtain a network installation startup disk that includes network adapter drivers and TCP/IP or other required protocols.Step 2: Boot the new server from this startup disk.Step 3: Use the tools on the disk to connect to the file server, for example by mapping a network drive to the share that stores the Windows 2000 installation files.Step 4: From the mapped network drive, run the appropriate setup program, such as winnt.exe, to begin the Windows 2000 Server installation.Step 5: Follow the prompts of the network based setup process to complete the installation.
Verification / Alternative check:
You can confirm that the network based installation method is working by checking that the target machine boots into the network startup environment, successfully connects to the server share, and then launches the Windows 2000 setup program. If the installation runs entirely from files located on the network share without using local installation media, the chosen method is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A describes booting from a CD ROM, which is not an over the network installation. Option B and Option C involve running winnt.exe or winnt32.exe from within an existing operating system, which assumes that something is already installed on the target machine. The scenario here is about starting the installation over the network on a new computer, which requires a special network installation startup disk to provide network connectivity before Windows is installed.

Common Pitfalls:
Administrators may confuse different setup tools and assume that winnt32.exe can always be used, forgetting that it requires a running Windows environment. Others may not realize that a bare metal network installation needs a boot mechanism with network drivers. Modern environments may rely on PXE and WDS, but for Windows 2000 era systems, network boot disks were common. Understanding historical installation methods helps in maintaining or upgrading legacy systems.

Final Answer:
You should use a network installation startup disk to connect to the server share and start the Windows 2000 Server setup program.