Server2003 R2 32-bit to 64-bit upgrade

[bbrbb]

I have several servers with OEM installations of Windows Server 2003 R2
Standard 32-bit that I would like to upgrade to 64-bit. According to the
license page this should be allowed:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserv.../overview.mspx

I'm using Windows Server 2003 R2 x64 OEM media I received with a more recent
server purchase. When I do a new install using this media I get an error when
I enter the product key from the original 32-bit installation: "The Product
Id you entered is not valid".

The license terms seem pretty clear that "a license for a platform-specific
version of Windows Server 2003 R2 permits you to use... the software for the
other platform."

Do I understand the license incorrectly or is there a way to get my 32-bit
product keys to work with the 64-bit installation? Thanks.

- Ben

[Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS]]

Hello bbrbb,

OEM media belongs to the hardware where it was bought with. You can not use
OEM license key on another hardware. Therefore you need additional licenses.

Also you can not upgrade a 32bit version OS to 64bit verison OS. This requires
always a complete reinstall.

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm


> I have several servers with OEM installations of Windows Server 2003
> R2 Standard 32-bit that I would like to upgrade to 64-bit. According
> to the license page this should be allowed:
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserv...nsingr2/overvi
> ew.mspx
>
> I'm using Windows Server 2003 R2 x64 OEM media I received with a more
> recent server purchase. When I do a new install using this media I get
> an error when I enter the product key from the original 32-bit
> installation: "The Product Id you entered is not valid".
>
> The license terms seem pretty clear that "a license for a
> platform-specific version of Windows Server 2003 R2 permits you to
> use... the software for the other platform."
>
> Do I understand the license incorrectly or is there a way to get my
> 32-bit product keys to work with the 64-bit installation? Thanks.
>
> - Ben
>

[bbrbb]

Hi Meinolf,

Thanks for you answer. Just to clarify, I am doing a new/clean install and I
am trying to use the same license key on the same piece of hardware that the
key originally came with. I am simply trying to install the 64-bit version of
the OS where previously we had the 32-bit version installed. I even checked
the license text in the shrinkwrap that came with the box and it says this
should be allowed. Here's what the license text says:

"14. USING SOFTWARE DESIGNED FOR OTHER PLATFORMS. A license for a
platform-specific version of standard edition (e.g., Windows Server 2003 R2
Standard Edition with Service Pack 2) permits you to use, in place of what
you have licensed, the standard edition software for the other platform under
that license... For example, under a license for Windows Server 2003 R2
Standard x64 Edition with Service Pack 2 you may run Windows Server 2003 R2
Standard Edition with Service Pack 2, designed for the 32-bit x86 platform."

That seems pretty clear to me. I'm simply doing the reverse of the example
they give.

Regards,

- Ben

"Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS]" wrote:

> Hello bbrbb,
>
> OEM media belongs to the hardware where it was bought with. You can not use
> OEM license key on another hardware. Therefore you need additional licenses.
>
> Also you can not upgrade a 32bit version OS to 64bit verison OS. This requires
> always a complete reinstall.
>
> Best regards
>
> Meinolf Weber
> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
> no rights.
> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
> ** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>
>
> > I have several servers with OEM installations of Windows Server 2003
> > R2 Standard 32-bit that I would like to upgrade to 64-bit. According
> > to the license page this should be allowed:
> > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserv...nsingr2/overvi
> > ew.mspx
> >
> > I'm using Windows Server 2003 R2 x64 OEM media I received with a more
> > recent server purchase. When I do a new install using this media I get
> > an error when I enter the product key from the original 32-bit
> > installation: "The Product Id you entered is not valid".
> >
> > The license terms seem pretty clear that "a license for a
> > platform-specific version of Windows Server 2003 R2 permits you to
> > use... the software for the other platform."
> >
> > Do I understand the license incorrectly or is there a way to get my
> > 32-bit product keys to work with the 64-bit installation? Thanks.
> >
> > - Ben
> >
>
>
>

[Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS]]

Hello bbrbb,

Thanks for clarification, "I'm using Windows Server 2003 R2 x64 OEM media
I received with a more recent server purchase". Think that can be the problem.
Talk to your reseller about to be sure the version also works on the older
hardware.

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm


> Hi Meinolf,
>
> Thanks for you answer. Just to clarify, I am doing a new/clean install
> and I am trying to use the same license key on the same piece of
> hardware that the key originally came with. I am simply trying to
> install the 64-bit version of the OS where previously we had the
> 32-bit version installed. I even checked the license text in the
> shrinkwrap that came with the box and it says this should be allowed.
> Here's what the license text says:
>
> "14. USING SOFTWARE DESIGNED FOR OTHER PLATFORMS. A license for a
> platform-specific version of standard edition (e.g., Windows Server
> 2003 R2 Standard Edition with Service Pack 2) permits you to use, in
> place of what you have licensed, the standard edition software for the
> other platform under that license... For example, under a license for
> Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard x64 Edition with Service Pack 2 you
> may run Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition with Service Pack 2,
> designed for the 32-bit x86 platform."
>
> That seems pretty clear to me. I'm simply doing the reverse of the
> example they give.
>
> Regards,
>
> - Ben
>
> "Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS]" wrote:
>
>> Hello bbrbb,
>>
>> OEM media belongs to the hardware where it was bought with. You can
>> not use OEM license key on another hardware. Therefore you need
>> additional licenses.
>>
>> Also you can not upgrade a 32bit version OS to 64bit verison OS. This
>> requires always a complete reinstall.
>>
>> Best regards
>>
>> Meinolf Weber
>> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
>> confers
>> no rights.
>> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
>> ** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>>> I have several servers with OEM installations of Windows Server 2003
>>> R2 Standard 32-bit that I would like to upgrade to 64-bit. According
>>> to the license page this should be allowed:
>>> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserv...censingr2/over
>>> vi ew.mspx
>>>
>>> I'm using Windows Server 2003 R2 x64 OEM media I received with a
>>> more recent server purchase. When I do a new install using this
>>> media I get an error when I enter the product key from the original
>>> 32-bit installation: "The Product Id you entered is not valid".
>>>
>>> The license terms seem pretty clear that "a license for a
>>> platform-specific version of Windows Server 2003 R2 permits you to
>>> use... the software for the other platform."
>>>
>>> Do I understand the license incorrectly or is there a way to get my
>>> 32-bit product keys to work with the 64-bit installation? Thanks.
>>>
>>> - Ben
>>>