upgrade to windows 2003 server

setup: small international school with w2k server, win 2 k workstations ans office 2002. Now in process of upgrading to windows 2003, xp with IE 7 and office 2003. SOme workstaions have been upgraded but not server.

2 issues
1. IE anti phising options box loads at logon.........can be stopped by a group policy in windows 2003?

2. i believe the windows 2k server is not a " genuine windows application" so to speak. The new windows 2003 server cd is a legitimate cd but will it allow an upgrade from the 2k os?

thanks

answer to question 1, yes in Group policy you can turn off the phising tool as i have done it.
As for question 2, can you not set up a test machine to see what happens. Im sure you can be to be on the safe side i would get 2k installed first then, see if 2003 will keep all the settings once upgraded. Thats what i would do to be on the safe side.

In place upgrades are always a pain. Make sure your box has compatible hardware. I've come across RAID controllers for instance that don't upgrade.

Also make sure you have plenty of spare capacity. TAKE A BACKUP
W2k3 does not do a 'genuine' check on upgrade so a full copy will work provided everything else is in order.

I agree with timbo343 though - If you can run on a test box - or better still in parallel it is better all round.

thank you both

i will upgrade the server to 2003 within the next few days.