Help: Trial Version Ended

[bondo]

I have a 2003 R2 on a -ready- production server. It is one of many other
legit servers.

I need to know what I can do to upgrade to the retail version. I read an
article/response to a similar question by Meinolf Weber. I have good backups
I hope for Exchange and other data.

I have a legit VLK and according to Mr. Meinolf, long story short, boot from
the disk and enter the key that I have. Will that erase the Exchange
settings? Will I lose the AD settings? Should I demote the machine? Should I
just go for it? There is no other option I have found besides a striaght up
reinstall.

A few more questions. Can I use any 2003 R2 disks? Do I need to call
Microsoft?

One way or another this needs to be done. Just looking to get the best
advice from the pros. Thanks in advance.

Bill

P.S. None of this was my doing. Just trying to save face. :0)

 

[bondo]

RE: Help: Trial Version Ended

Thanks for all the responses. I did it myself and it was easy. Thanks all you
MVPS for all your input. Didnt need any. Since I had none!!!! Thanks guys!
Incase someone else would to know my big success secret, post to this
question/comment. Do not ask the tartrs.

Bondo

"bondo" wrote:

> I have a 2003 R2 on a -ready- production server. It is one of many other
> legit servers.
>
> I need to know what I can do to upgrade to the retail version. I read an
> article/response to a similar question by Meinolf Weber. I have good backups
> I hope for Exchange and other data.
>
> I have a legit VLK and according to Mr. Meinolf, long story short, boot from
> the disk and enter the key that I have. Will that erase the Exchange
> settings? Will I lose the AD settings? Should I demote the machine? Should I
> just go for it? There is no other option I have found besides a striaght up
> reinstall.
>
> A few more questions. Can I use any 2003 R2 disks? Do I need to call
> Microsoft?
>
> One way or another this needs to be done. Just looking to get the best
> advice from the pros. Thanks in advance.
>
> Bill
>
> P.S. None of this was my doing. Just trying to save face. :0)
>

 

[jeffmo]

RE: Help: Trial Version Ended

I am in the same situation and would appreciate knowing your "secret" bondo.
Thanks in advance. I was just going to try an in place upgrade and enter the
license key at that point. I believe all AD info and security should be
preserved.

Thanks
Jeff

"bondo" wrote:

> Thanks for all the responses. I did it myself and it was easy. Thanks all you
> MVPS for all your input. Didnt need any. Since I had none!!!! Thanks guys!
> Incase someone else would to know my big success secret, post to this
> question/comment. Do not ask the tartrs.
>
> Bondo
>
> "bondo" wrote:
>
> > I have a 2003 R2 on a -ready- production server. It is one of many other
> > legit servers.
> >
> > I need to know what I can do to upgrade to the retail version. I read an
> > article/response to a similar question by Meinolf Weber. I have good backups
> > I hope for Exchange and other data.
> >
> > I have a legit VLK and according to Mr. Meinolf, long story short, boot from
> > the disk and enter the key that I have. Will that erase the Exchange
> > settings? Will I lose the AD settings? Should I demote the machine? Should I
> > just go for it? There is no other option I have found besides a striaght up
> > reinstall.
> >
> > A few more questions. Can I use any 2003 R2 disks? Do I need to call
> > Microsoft?
> >
> > One way or another this needs to be done. Just looking to get the best
> > advice from the pros. Thanks in advance.
> >
> > Bill
> >
> > P.S. None of this was my doing. Just trying to save face. :0)
> >

 

[bondo]

RE: Help: Trial Version Ended

Hey jeffmo,

Basically, I started the machine, logged in and then ran setup from the cd.
I turned shades of white not seen by ghosts. I really thought it would do a
clean install and I would lose all. But it went thru the "clean install" look
finally asking for a key. What was scary and added to my ghostly image was
the reboots. At one point it said it was waiting for AD to start and that was
a major relief. What in effect happened was a clean install that kept all my
settings!!!! Nothing lost except for the trial addition. It did take close to
two hours and I just let the machine do what it needed. If you goto a command
prompt and type winver, before and after, you will see that the "evaluation"
part is gone. Then its time for some budlight and telling everyone you are
the man. HAHA

Thats my big secret. I went for it not knowing what to expect and really
having no choice. Do the obvious backups, expect about 5 reboots and all
should be fine. I hope this has helped and please let me know how it turns
out.

Bondo



"jeffmo" wrote:

> I am in the same situation and would appreciate knowing your "secret" bondo.
> Thanks in advance. I was just going to try an in place upgrade and enter the
> license key at that point. I believe all AD info and security should be
> preserved.
>
> Thanks
> Jeff
>
> "bondo" wrote:
>
> > Thanks for all the responses. I did it myself and it was easy. Thanks all you
> > MVPS for all your input. Didnt need any. Since I had none!!!! Thanks guys!
> > Incase someone else would like to know my big success secret, post to this
> > question/comment. Do not ask the tarts.
> >
> > Bondo
> >
> > "bondo" wrote:
> >
> > > I have a 2003 R2 on a -ready- production server. It is one of many other
> > > legit servers.
> > >
> > > I need to know what I can do to upgrade to the retail version. I read an
> > > article/response to a similar question by Meinolf Weber. I have good backups
> > > I hope for Exchange and other data.
> > >
> > > I have a legit VLK and according to Mr. Meinolf, long story short, boot from
> > > the disk and enter the key that I have. Will that erase the Exchange
> > > settings? Will I lose the AD settings? Should I demote the machine? Should I
> > > just go for it? There is no other option I have found besides a striaght up
> > > reinstall.
> > >
> > > A few more questions. Can I use any 2003 R2 disks? Do I need to call
> > > Microsoft?
> > >
> > > One way or another this needs to be done. Just looking to get the best
> > > advice from the pros. Thanks in advance.
> > >
> > > Bill
> > >
> > > P.S. None of this was my doing. Just trying to save face. :0)
> > >