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Do you know if i buy a retail 2003 cd whether it will work ?
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Do you know if i buy a retail 2003 cd whether it will work ?

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to rephrase the question:<br />
will a 2003 standard retail cd work as an upgrade ?
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to rephrase the question:
will a 2003 standard retail cd work as an upgrade ?

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You can't just buy a CD - you have to buy a license.<br />
<br />
Please note - we cannot help you violate licensing. &nbsp;Also note, the OEM key will not work with a retail CD and vice versa.
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You can't just buy a CD - you have to buy a license.

Please note - we cannot help you violate licensing.  Also note, the OEM key will not work with a retail CD and vice versa.

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Reporting back on how I resolved the issue:<br />
<br />
1. &nbsp;Obtained an Open license from Microsoft for 2008 with downgrade rights<br />
2. &nbsp;Downloaded the ISO image and burned cd and started the cd while running the existing expired version of Windows 2003<br />
3. &nbsp;Completed the upgrade and re-registered.<br />
<br />
Thanks for all the help.<br />
<br />

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Reporting back on how I resolved the issue:

1.  Obtained an Open license from Microsoft for 2008 with downgrade rights
2.  Downloaded the ISO image and burned cd and started the cd while running the existing expired version of Windows 2003
3.  Completed the upgrade and re-registered.

Thanks for all the help.



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Greetings:<br />
<br />
Dell Windows 2003 Standard Service Pack 2 machine crashed. &nbsp;Someone ordered a replacement HP server without OS and installed Windows 2003 with the CD that came with the Dell Unit. &nbsp;Today was the last day to activate (30th day). &nbsp;Activation is failing. &nbsp;Called Microsoft - they are asking to get a retail cd and reinstall from scratch (a lot of work!!)<br />
<br />
Does the system shut itself down on the 31st day?<br />
What are my options<br />
<br />
Thanks!!!<br />
<br />
Pat<br />

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Greetings:

Dell Windows 2003 Standard Service Pack 2 machine crashed.  Someone ordered a replacement HP server without OS and installed Windows 2003 with the CD that came with the Dell Unit.  Today was the last day to activate (30th day).  Activation is failing.  Called Microsoft - they are asking to get a retail cd and reinstall from scratch (a lot of work!!)

Does the system shut itself down on the 31st day?
What are my options

Thanks!!!

Pat


OEM Activation - Help!!!

Windows Server 2003 was based on Windows XP and was released in four editions: Web, Standard, Enterprise and Datacenter. It also had derivative versions for clusters, storage and Microsoft’s Small Business Server. Important upgrades included integrating Internet Information Services (IIS), improvements to Active Directory (AD) and Group Policy (GP), and the migration to Automated System Recovery (ASR).