Upgrade Trial Version of Server 2003 R2 to Retail Version

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I have a server running the 180 day trial of server 2003 R3 standard edition.
I have puirchased a retail copy of the same thing and now wish to install
it. What is the process to do this without wiping out my existing server? Is
there a way to just add the activation code? I tried just install disk #2
but this did not do anything. I only have 9 days left so any help would be
greatly appreciated.

Hello Paul at TireSoft Paul at,


- Insert the CD in your server, and reboot the server
- Once you get te "press any key to boot from CD... " do so
- When you are prompted to press F6 to add drivers, do so if you need to...
and proceed to the next step
- Once you are up to the install/repair (with recovery console) chose to
install then proceed to the next step
- Press F8 to acknowledge the license, then the installer will search for an
already installed version of Windows and should discover your current 2K3
server.
- Choose to repair this installation and the upgrade will proceed.
- Once it pops you the screen to select the keyboard, language and regional
settings, ajust it to you needs...
- It should then ask for your License number, which you can enter here (make
sure it's your new valid license) and continue installation.
- Installation will complete and reboot your server.
- Log in with your user account you should be back
- you will have 60 days to activate your windows, and you will need to re-apply
all windows update because the machine is more or less new


Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.

> I have a server running the 180 day trial of server 2003 R3 standard
> edition.
> I have puirchased a retail copy of the same thing and now wish to
> install
> it. What is the process to do this without wiping out my existing
> server? Is
> there a way to just add the activation code? I tried just install
> disk #2 but this did not do anything. I only have 9 days left so any
> help would be greatly appreciated.
>

Meinolf,

Thanks for the response. Do I boot from disk #1 or can I boot from Disk #2
since I already have SP2 installed?

"Meinolf Weber" wrote:

> Hello Paul at TireSoft Paul at,
>
>
> - Insert the CD in your server, and reboot the server
> - Once you get te "press any key to boot from CD... " do so
> - When you are prompted to press F6 to add drivers, do so if you need to...
> and proceed to the next step
> - Once you are up to the install/repair (with recovery console) chose to
> install then proceed to the next step
> - Press F8 to acknowledge the license, then the installer will search for an
> already installed version of Windows and should discover your current 2K3
> server.
> - Choose to repair this installation and the upgrade will proceed.
> - Once it pops you the screen to select the keyboard, language and regional
> settings, ajust it to you needs...
> - It should then ask for your License number, which you can enter here (make
> sure it's your new valid license) and continue installation.
> - Installation will complete and reboot your server.
> - Log in with your user account you should be back
> - you will have 60 days to activate your windows, and you will need to re-apply
> all windows update because the machine is more or less new
>
>
> Best regards
>
> Meinolf Weber
> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
> no rights.
>
> > I have a server running the 180 day trial of server 2003 R3 standard
> > edition.
> > I have puirchased a retail copy of the same thing and now wish to
> > install
> > it. What is the process to do this without wiping out my existing
> > server? Is
> > there a way to just add the activation code? I tried just install
> > disk #2 but this did not do anything. I only have 9 days left so any
> > help would be greatly appreciated.
> >
>
>
>

Hello Paul,

You have to start with disk 1, because disk 2 only has the r2 feature packs
not server 2003 itself.

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.

> Meinolf,
>
> Thanks for the response. Do I boot from disk #1 or can I boot from
> Disk #2 since I already have SP2 installed?
>
> "Meinolf Weber" wrote:
>
>> Hello Paul at TireSoft Paul at,
>>
>> - Insert the CD in your server, and reboot the server
>> - Once you get te "press any key to boot from CD... " do so
>> - When you are prompted to press F6 to add drivers, do so if you need
>> to...
>> and proceed to the next step
>> - Once you are up to the install/repair (with recovery console) chose
>> to
>> install then proceed to the next step
>> - Press F8 to acknowledge the license, then the installer will search
>> for an
>> already installed version of Windows and should discover your current
>> 2K3
>> server.
>> - Choose to repair this installation and the upgrade will proceed.
>> - Once it pops you the screen to select the keyboard, language and
>> regional
>> settings, ajust it to you needs...
>> - It should then ask for your License number, which you can enter
>> here (make
>> sure it's your new valid license) and continue installation.
>> - Installation will complete and reboot your server.
>> - Log in with your user account you should be back
>> - you will have 60 days to activate your windows, and you will need
>> to re-apply
>> all windows update because the machine is more or less new
>> Best regards
>>
>> Meinolf Weber
>> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
>> confers
>> no rights.
>>> I have a server running the 180 day trial of server 2003 R3 standard
>>> edition.
>>> I have puirchased a retail copy of the same thing and now wish to
>>> install
>>> it. What is the process to do this without wiping out my existing
>>> server? Is
>>> there a way to just add the activation code? I tried just install
>>> disk #2 but this did not do anything. I only have 9 days left so any
>>> help would be greatly appreciated.

Meinolf,

Just thought that I would let you know that I followed your instructions and
did indeed update to the retail version, but in the process lost all of my
IIS services and web sites. I will now need to spend the next two days
trying to get everything running again.

I can not beleive that MS made such a simple process so troubling. Why could
I have not just input some type of activation code to upgrade from the trial
version to the retail version?? Instead thay make me go through 1.5 hours of
installing something that was already installed and in the process wipe out a
perfectly good web site!


"Meinolf Weber" wrote:

> Hello Paul,
>
> You have to start with disk 1, because disk 2 only has the r2 feature packs
> not server 2003 itself.
>
> Best regards
>
> Meinolf Weber
> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
> no rights.
>
> > Meinolf,
> >
> > Thanks for the response. Do I boot from disk #1 or can I boot from
> > Disk #2 since I already have SP2 installed?
> >
> > "Meinolf Weber" wrote:
> >
> >> Hello Paul at TireSoft Paul at,
> >>
> >> - Insert the CD in your server, and reboot the server
> >> - Once you get te "press any key to boot from CD... " do so
> >> - When you are prompted to press F6 to add drivers, do so if you need
> >> to...
> >> and proceed to the next step
> >> - Once you are up to the install/repair (with recovery console) chose
> >> to
> >> install then proceed to the next step
> >> - Press F8 to acknowledge the license, then the installer will search
> >> for an
> >> already installed version of Windows and should discover your current
> >> 2K3
> >> server.
> >> - Choose to repair this installation and the upgrade will proceed.
> >> - Once it pops you the screen to select the keyboard, language and
> >> regional
> >> settings, ajust it to you needs...
> >> - It should then ask for your License number, which you can enter
> >> here (make
> >> sure it's your new valid license) and continue installation.
> >> - Installation will complete and reboot your server.
> >> - Log in with your user account you should be back
> >> - you will have 60 days to activate your windows, and you will need
> >> to re-apply
> >> all windows update because the machine is more or less new
> >> Best regards
> >>
> >> Meinolf Weber
> >> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
> >> confers
> >> no rights.
> >>> I have a server running the 180 day trial of server 2003 R3 standard
> >>> edition.
> >>> I have puirchased a retail copy of the same thing and now wish to
> >>> install
> >>> it. What is the process to do this without wiping out my existing
> >>> server? Is
> >>> there a way to just add the activation code? I tried just install
> >>> disk #2 but this did not do anything. I only have 9 days left so any
> >>> help would be greatly appreciated.
>
>
>

Hello Paul,

Sorry, but i did it 3 times on this way and never lost any configuration
or data. So you didn't make any kind of backup or image before you start
working? That's also an important part before doing any kind of major changes.

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.

> Meinolf,
>
> Just thought that I would let you know that I followed your
> instructions and did indeed update to the retail version, but in the
> process lost all of my IIS services and web sites. I will now need to
> spend the next two days trying to get everything running again.
>
> I can not beleive that MS made such a simple process so troubling. Why
> could I have not just input some type of activation code to upgrade
> from the trial version to the retail version?? Instead thay make me go
> through 1.5 hours of installing something that was already installed
> and in the process wipe out a perfectly good web site!
>
> "Meinolf Weber" wrote:
>
>> Hello Paul,
>>
>> You have to start with disk 1, because disk 2 only has the r2 feature
>> packs not server 2003 itself.
>>
>> Best regards
>>
>> Meinolf Weber
>> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
>> confers
>> no rights.
>>> Meinolf,
>>>
>>> Thanks for the response. Do I boot from disk #1 or can I boot from
>>> Disk #2 since I already have SP2 installed?
>>>
>>> "Meinolf Weber" wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hello Paul at TireSoft Paul at,
>>>>
>>>> - Insert the CD in your server, and reboot the server
>>>> - Once you get te "press any key to boot from CD... " do so
>>>> - When you are prompted to press F6 to add drivers, do so if you
>>>> need
>>>> to...
>>>> and proceed to the next step
>>>> - Once you are up to the install/repair (with recovery console)
>>>> chose
>>>> to
>>>> install then proceed to the next step
>>>> - Press F8 to acknowledge the license, then the installer will
>>>> search
>>>> for an
>>>> already installed version of Windows and should discover your
>>>> current
>>>> 2K3
>>>> server.
>>>> - Choose to repair this installation and the upgrade will proceed.
>>>> - Once it pops you the screen to select the keyboard, language and
>>>> regional
>>>> settings, ajust it to you needs...
>>>> - It should then ask for your License number, which you can enter
>>>> here (make
>>>> sure it's your new valid license) and continue installation.
>>>> - Installation will complete and reboot your server.
>>>> - Log in with your user account you should be back
>>>> - you will have 60 days to activate your windows, and you will need
>>>> to re-apply
>>>> all windows update because the machine is more or less new
>>>> Best regards
>>>> Meinolf Weber
>>>> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties,
>>>> and
>>>> confers
>>>> no rights.
>>>>> I have a server running the 180 day trial of server 2003 R3
>>>>> standard
>>>>> edition.
>>>>> I have puirchased a retail copy of the same thing and now wish to
>>>>> install
>>>>> it. What is the process to do this without wiping out my existing
>>>>> server? Is
>>>>> there a way to just add the activation code? I tried just install
>>>>> disk #2 but this did not do anything. I only have 9 days left so
>>>>> any
>>>>> help would be greatly appreciated.

Meinolf,

Hey I really appreicated all your help! Yes I do have a back-up and have
loaded it back, but MS changed something on me with all the updates.

You are the only one that provided me any answers on getting the retail
version installed, MS did not have a clue. My beef is with them, something so
simple should not have created all the problems I am having??

"Meinolf Weber" wrote:

> Hello Paul,
>
> Sorry, but i did it 3 times on this way and never lost any configuration
> or data. So you didn't make any kind of backup or image before you start
> working? That's also an important part before doing any kind of major changes.
>
> Best regards
>
> Meinolf Weber
> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
> no rights.
>
> > Meinolf,
> >
> > Just thought that I would let you know that I followed your
> > instructions and did indeed update to the retail version, but in the
> > process lost all of my IIS services and web sites. I will now need to
> > spend the next two days trying to get everything running again.
> >
> > I can not beleive that MS made such a simple process so troubling. Why
> > could I have not just input some type of activation code to upgrade
> > from the trial version to the retail version?? Instead thay make me go
> > through 1.5 hours of installing something that was already installed
> > and in the process wipe out a perfectly good web site!
> >
> > "Meinolf Weber" wrote:
> >
> >> Hello Paul,
> >>
> >> You have to start with disk 1, because disk 2 only has the r2 feature
> >> packs not server 2003 itself.
> >>
> >> Best regards
> >>
> >> Meinolf Weber
> >> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
> >> confers
> >> no rights.
> >>> Meinolf,
> >>>
> >>> Thanks for the response. Do I boot from disk #1 or can I boot from
> >>> Disk #2 since I already have SP2 installed?
> >>>
> >>> "Meinolf Weber" wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> Hello Paul at TireSoft Paul at,
> >>>>
> >>>> - Insert the CD in your server, and reboot the server
> >>>> - Once you get te "press any key to boot from CD... " do so
> >>>> - When you are prompted to press F6 to add drivers, do so if you
> >>>> need
> >>>> to...
> >>>> and proceed to the next step
> >>>> - Once you are up to the install/repair (with recovery console)
> >>>> chose
> >>>> to
> >>>> install then proceed to the next step
> >>>> - Press F8 to acknowledge the license, then the installer will
> >>>> search
> >>>> for an
> >>>> already installed version of Windows and should discover your
> >>>> current
> >>>> 2K3
> >>>> server.
> >>>> - Choose to repair this installation and the upgrade will proceed.
> >>>> - Once it pops you the screen to select the keyboard, language and
> >>>> regional
> >>>> settings, ajust it to you needs...
> >>>> - It should then ask for your License number, which you can enter
> >>>> here (make
> >>>> sure it's your new valid license) and continue installation.
> >>>> - Installation will complete and reboot your server.
> >>>> - Log in with your user account you should be back
> >>>> - you will have 60 days to activate your windows, and you will need
> >>>> to re-apply
> >>>> all windows update because the machine is more or less new
> >>>> Best regards
> >>>> Meinolf Weber
> >>>> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties,
> >>>> and
> >>>> confers
> >>>> no rights.
> >>>>> I have a server running the 180 day trial of server 2003 R3
> >>>>> standard
> >>>>> edition.
> >>>>> I have puirchased a retail copy of the same thing and now wish to
> >>>>> install
> >>>>> it. What is the process to do this without wiping out my existing
> >>>>> server? Is
> >>>>> there a way to just add the activation code? I tried just install
> >>>>> disk #2 but this did not do anything. I only have 9 days left so
> >>>>> any
> >>>>> help would be greatly appreciated.
>
>
>

Hello Paul,

Sometimes it would be nice if things would be easier, thought the same before
my first change. Nice to hear that you have a backup.

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.

> Meinolf,
>
> Hey I really appreicated all your help! Yes I do have a back-up and
> have loaded it back, but MS changed something on me with all the
> updates.
>
> You are the only one that provided me any answers on getting the
> retail version installed, MS did not have a clue. My beef is with
> them, something so simple should not have created all the problems I
> am having??
>
> "Meinolf Weber" wrote:
>
>> Hello Paul,
>>
>> Sorry, but i did it 3 times on this way and never lost any
>> configuration or data. So you didn't make any kind of backup or image
>> before you start working? That's also an important part before doing
>> any kind of major changes.
>>
>> Best regards
>>
>> Meinolf Weber
>> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
>> confers
>> no rights.
>>> Meinolf,
>>>
>>> Just thought that I would let you know that I followed your
>>> instructions and did indeed update to the retail version, but in the
>>> process lost all of my IIS services and web sites. I will now need
>>> to spend the next two days trying to get everything running again.
>>>
>>> I can not beleive that MS made such a simple process so troubling.
>>> Why could I have not just input some type of activation code to
>>> upgrade from the trial version to the retail version?? Instead thay
>>> make me go through 1.5 hours of installing something that was
>>> already installed and in the process wipe out a perfectly good web
>>> site!
>>>
>>> "Meinolf Weber" wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hello Paul,
>>>>
>>>> You have to start with disk 1, because disk 2 only has the r2
>>>> feature packs not server 2003 itself.
>>>>
>>>> Best regards
>>>>
>>>> Meinolf Weber
>>>> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties,
>>>> and
>>>> confers
>>>> no rights.
>>>>> Meinolf,
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks for the response. Do I boot from disk #1 or can I boot
>>>>> from Disk #2 since I already have SP2 installed?
>>>>>
>>>>> "Meinolf Weber" wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hello Paul at TireSoft Paul at,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> - Insert the CD in your server, and reboot the server
>>>>>> - Once you get te "press any key to boot from CD... " do so
>>>>>> - When you are prompted to press F6 to add drivers, do so if you
>>>>>> need
>>>>>> to...
>>>>>> and proceed to the next step
>>>>>> - Once you are up to the install/repair (with recovery console)
>>>>>> chose
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> install then proceed to the next step
>>>>>> - Press F8 to acknowledge the license, then the installer will
>>>>>> search
>>>>>> for an
>>>>>> already installed version of Windows and should discover your
>>>>>> current
>>>>>> 2K3
>>>>>> server.
>>>>>> - Choose to repair this installation and the upgrade will
>>>>>> proceed.
>>>>>> - Once it pops you the screen to select the keyboard, language
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> regional
>>>>>> settings, ajust it to you needs...
>>>>>> - It should then ask for your License number, which you can enter
>>>>>> here (make
>>>>>> sure it's your new valid license) and continue installation.
>>>>>> - Installation will complete and reboot your server.
>>>>>> - Log in with your user account you should be back
>>>>>> - you will have 60 days to activate your windows, and you will
>>>>>> need
>>>>>> to re-apply
>>>>>> all windows update because the machine is more or less new
>>>>>> Best regards
>>>>>> Meinolf Weber
>>>>>> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties,
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> confers
>>>>>> no rights.
>>>>>>> I have a server running the 180 day trial of server 2003 R3
>>>>>>> standard
>>>>>>> edition.
>>>>>>> I have puirchased a retail copy of the same thing and now wish
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> install
>>>>>>> it. What is the process to do this without wiping out my
>>>>>>> existing
>>>>>>> server? Is
>>>>>>> there a way to just add the activation code? I tried just
>>>>>>> install
>>>>>>> disk #2 but this did not do anything. I only have 9 days left so
>>>>>>> any
>>>>>>> help would be greatly appreciated.

[adamlinekmlody]

hello, this message is directly to "Paul at TireSoft"

Paul you post "I only have 9 days left " the question is:

where can I finde number of days that live me to end (180) trial ?
how can I find it?

any help would be
greatly appreciated.