Help: Trial Version Ended

[Guest 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)

[Guest 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)

>

[Guest 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)

> >

[Guest 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)

> > >