Jen,

You have a basic misunderstanding of the issue at hand. First of all your server software is distinctly different from the client software that you run on the regular computers you use. The server acts as a central repository for storing data, running applications, email, managing user accounts and access, etc.

Windows SBS (Small Business server) 2003 is a special server OS that includes a multitude of applications including the Windows 2003 server, Exchange 2003, Sharepoint and many wizards and management applications for the server that improve the function and ease of use. You do not have to run of the added applications in SBS. (I would point out that the premium version of the SBS 2003 has a SQL server which you would NOT need to run the AC application.)

The currently supported Windows server OSes are Windows 2003 r2 and Windows 2008. Windows 2003 server will be around for a while, people are not going out in droves to upgrade to 2008. Now these are the server OSes.

The Windows Servers operate a service known as the Active Directory (AD). The Active Directory is an authentication system that allows clients to interface with the server and share resources. In the AD a user is created and that allows you to restrict and authorize resources. For example you may want to restrict access to your billing software or accounting folders. AD makes this "relatively" easy. That is the power of using a client-server set up - controlling and regulating access to computer resources. In a peer to peer set up you would have to set up the users, shared folder permissions, printer, etc on each computer instead of just the server. This make proper management of the network impossible in all but the smallest set ups. (There is considerable debate in the user community about the need to use client-server network to properly secure and use a medical office's IT resources. Many will argue that peer to peer is adequate and that using a server software is a waste of money.)

Now the clients that can log into the AD are Windows 2000 professional, Windows XP Profession (not Home) and Windows Vista Business, Enterprise, Ultimate (but not Home edition) are the OSes that can interface and log in to the Windows Server AD. Using these client OSes you can "attach" to the server, log in as a user and have the shared folders, printer, email, AC, etc accessible.

And so in answer to the original question of the thread what do I do with my office set up?

I would keep the Windows Server 2003 (but you my need to upgrade to SBS 2003 release 2 which you would have to pay for). From there you can either keep your Windows 2000 OS on the client machines (desktop) that can interface with the server. Alternatively you can upgrade them to Windows XP but that is not necessary. However a mixed client OS environment with Windows 2000, XP and/or Vista will create some headaches (but not insurmountable)

I am not sure why you feel that you have to keep the PM information and programs on a removable drive. Why not just place it on the server and access it from a shared folder?

Geoff

Here are some links that may help:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Server_2003#Windows_Small_Business_Server

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_XP