2008 R2 to 2003! YES 2003!

Hi All,

Serious problem here. Previous NM (Part Timer we are only a small/medium charity) kindly built us up a new network on one DL380 G4. It is currently running. AD, DNS, DHCP, File/Print (Both) WSUS, WDS (installed not working) and SCCM 07(Once again installed not working).

I assumed that the guy had licensed the server with in running 2008R2 Standard but NO!. I came in yesterday and had a nice little message on logon about 'This Copy of windows is not genuine' The guy installed a crack!

Now I have managed to secure a LICENSED version of server 2003 and a couple of machines which are 1x IBM ThinkCenter and 1x Home Brew Machine. which are ready to be added to the domain to take some of the load off the main server but how do I go about downgrading the servers and keeping all content in place such as GP Policies and AD users and computers. We have roughly 70 users but only 25 client machines so obviously not everybody can be logged on at once but still we have 50GB of profile space. I dont want to loose a thing in the downgrade.
SOME of the shares are run on a 500GB external drive such as staff shares and user shares etc. but some such as the SysAdmin share (Mine and my 1 other part time tech) are on one of 6 36Gb drives on the server. Please guys. a little help(or a lot) would be so helpful during this process. I have preformed upgrades before but never a downgrade... I am slightly worried to say the least.


Thanks in advance

Josh

Depending on domain and forest functional levels you cant

same as above. When 2008 was added did the domain and forest functional levels get changed to 2008. if they did you can't go back.

I agree as above, if this has happened then you can't, but the functional levels could still be at 2003, even with a 2008 R2 server.

Either way you're going to have to wipe the server and start again. You could argue the charity would suffer more charges in years to come, as 2003 will eventually be unsupported. The cheaper and quicker option is to buy a new activation key.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard - EDU/Charity Volume License seems first purchase has 5 unit minimum so would have to buy some other licences as well.

Ben

Presumably he didn't buy cals either so you will need 25 of those @ £5.97 for a total of £237.66 to be properly licensed.

Ben

Do you know he definitely used a crack or loader? There's a chance it could simply be a blacklisted product key or that the 180 day trial had expired. If you buy the appropriate license(s) for 2008 R2, all you would need to do is the following to make Windows genuine again (from an elevated command prompt).

Remove existing product key

Code:

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slmgr.vbs -upk

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Install new product key

Code:

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slmgr.vbs -ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

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Activate

Code:

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slmgr.vbs -ato

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Thanks for all the replies guys. I aint sure what the domain functionality level is so I will check.

Unfortunately the domain is at 2008 functionality level so no 2003 the easy(er) way. Looks like I am going to have to build a second domain along side of this one and create user profiles and set group policies and install printers and change scripts and backup/restore data and whatever knows what else :( any tips on time saving techniques would be greatly appreciated.
P.S. Thanks for the support guys

Yeah spend £250 and just licence what they have legally.

Ben

Would be great if we just had a spare £250. We are only a charity and as much as I would love to do this. we have to put all big spends(£100 or over) through a committee. After £4000 just a couple of months ago on a new suite of PC's and to upgrade to GBE I don't think they will be too willing. I suppose I should of check licenses etc. when I started. My bad :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jdoldridge

Would be great if we just had a spare £250. We are only a charity and as much as I would love to do this. we have to put all big spends(£100 or over) through a committee. After £4000 just a couple of months ago on a new suite of PC's and to upgrade to GBE I don't think they will be too willing. I suppose I should of check licenses etc. when I started. My bad :(

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I would pitch it against the amount of time that you would expend making a new 2003 network - you may find that if you take into account how much it would cost to setup that network compared to the cost of lics for your current network that sticking with what you have and paying for the lics would work out cheaper.

I know its hard to convince people that time really is money but at least its an option.

That would be my reasoning through in the fact that it's up to date etc... If the system is working as is then it makes sense.

Ben

Additionally do you have 2003 cals for your clients allready? If not then the cost difference is the £80 odd quid for the server licence.

Ben

Very good point.

Quote:

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I Know its hard to convince people that time really is money but at least its an option.

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You haven't met the committee that will be n equally greater task in itself haha