I thought I'd start a new thread with a new title more fitting to my tasks.

I started this journey when I tried migrating my v3 to v5, and was unable to get around the tuner not finding the path to the migrated database.

After much reading and deliberating, I decided I would take everyone's advice (especially Bert's) and get a real server (I was using two Windows Home Servers). After slinking around eBay, I landed what I thought was sufficient - an IBM X3200 M3 with RAID1, 4GB, and SBS 2008 R2 (not premium). I am buying 4 more GB of identical memory (I was worried about mixing memory after I first learned about not mixing UDIMMS and RDIMMS). I was not going to expand the RAID for now, unless there are compelling reasons. When I first turned on the server, it went completely through the first install, up to naming the domain name and server names, with no way to abort. So now I am at the stage of trying the rest of the suggestions of Bert's suggested technet post on installing SBS 2008.

http://blogs.technet.com/b/sbs/archive/2...erver-2008.aspx

After I have the server finished, I will upgrade some client machines (some have Home versions of XP and Vista, and I think that's not compatible with AD?). Then I will install v4 on the server, migrate the data, tune, then upgrade to version 5.

Being new at this, I want to get everyone's opinion on what I am doing, especially those who have gone down this path before. Does what I plan sound correct? Pitfalls, gotchas, and caveats please.

Thanks.