I have a Dell server with licenses to use up to 5 virtual servers on the host. I installed the trial version of 2003 Enterprise R2 (the same OS as was installed on the host) to use as a domain controller before we settled on a final solution. It turns out we're going to keep the virtual server functionality, so it's been placed on me to upgrade it without major loss of functionality. It has another domain controller that acts as a backup if this primary controller goes down.

So, I have installed 2003 Enterprise R2 trial on this virtual machine. I later upgraded both the host and this virtual machine to SP2. Now, the 180-day trial is coming to an end (17 days right now) and I need to upgrade it to the full version so I don't lose the server. When I put the CD that came with my server in, I am told that the version I have installed is newer than the version I am trying to upgrade to and cannot proceed without doing a new installation. I believe this is due to the presence of SP2 on the system.

Basically, I need a way such that I can easily upgrade or replace this virtual machine with the fully licensed version without needing to go through the sticky process of rebuilding the server. I'd ideally like a way to run the CD and perform an upgrade, but that option is looking less and less likely.

Is there a way that I can make a slipstream CD from my original CD plus SP2 and use that to upgrade my virtual machine? Or would performing an in-place upgrade by booting from the CD and installing over the already-present OS do what I need? Or am I out of luck and need to just rebuild this server from scratch?

Thank you.

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Try activating it and when it asks for a key, input yours.

Good luck!

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Windows is already activated. I had to do this months ago after I first installed it. The problem I'm having is in upgrading the trial version to the full version.

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You can slipstream SP2 into an ISO image of your original CD and burn that image 
to a CD. Whether it upgrades from that newly created CD is a good question.
You can try to uninstall SP2 and then upgrade.
If it comes down to starting over, you can make a backup of the present install, 
re-install using your full Win2003 disk, and see if the backup restores all of your 
settings.

Good luck!  

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Well, I tried the slipstream install CD, and the installer won't give me the option upgrade install. And if I can uninstall SP2, I can't find the option that would allow me to perform that. I don't believe that I saved the uninstall information (I didn't think I would run into problems like this when I went to upgrade).

How do you mean to back up and restore? If there a function in the administrative tools? I know that the second domain controller is set up with replication links with the PDC, so as long as I set up the proper links after reinstallation, I should be set. Does anybody have any further ideas before I kill this install and start fresh? Thanks

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There should be a Backup utility under System Tools, but if there's not, any good 
third party backup software will work.
Use a USB drive or a spare internal hard drive and run a backup of the present O.S. 
during a time the server is not needed. Save it to one of the drives mentioned above.
When it comes time to start from scratch (hopefully soon after the backup was done), 
wipe the server out and do a fresh install. After Win2003 is done installing, use 
the backup.
It should set the server up as before without you having to it manually.

Good luck!

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Trials and full versions usually use different keys, I don't think there is a way to change to full license without re-installing windows. The good news is your AD database is on the second DC and can be replicated back when you promo it. If this is your first DC be sure to transfer your FSMO roles to the other DC before you nuke it. Also you need to take steps to decommission the DC before you nuke it, so that the computer name is removed from AD. Read this article http://windows.uwaterloo.ca/Server/Disaster/MS_docs/disaster.htm Good Luck

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