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jcjans

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Windows 7 OEM to Server 2008

I have an OEM desktop licensed for Windows 7 Home Edition.
I wish to install an unused Server 2008 R2 that has never been activated on this box. The hardware components are original except for added hard drives and RAM.

Activation of the Server 2008 fails despite having a legal key, and during a call to Microsoft I was informed that I had complete these steps:
1.  First reinstall the original OEM OS (Windows 7 Home)
2. Perform an upgrade installation with Server 2008
3. Then activate the product with the W2K8 license...

I had my doubts, but decided to try this, and of course this failed at step 2... "not a valid upgrade path..."

Any way around this - or am I stuck with Windows 7 on this machine?


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Rob Williams
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>>"unused Server 2008 R2 that has never been activated on this box"
But has it been activated on another box?
Also is the server 2008 R2 license an OEM license. It could be tied to other hardware.
The Windows 7 OEM license should not have any relevance other than it can only be installed on the original hardware.
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kevinhsieh
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jcjans

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No it has not been activated before, just downloaded it this summer via MS Partners Action Pack subscription, so its not OEM...
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>> You can't do an upgrade installation.
Well thats what I thought as well but ... I think I need to call MS again
Why do you need to call MS? You should be able to boot off the DVD and install onto the machine. You can do a dual boot or just wipe the whole machine and start fresh.
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I suspect Microsoft mis-understood and thought you were going from Win 7 OEM to Win 7 non-OEM.
OK, all comments stated here confirms what I was thinking. A clean installation is what I am attempting. Will try again over the weekend...
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I've requested that this question be closed as follows:

Accepted answer: 0 points for jcjans's comment http:/Q_27311405.html#36552684

for the following reason:

Seems MS misunderstood me on the original call.
I believe that the following comments state the solution and that points should be awarded as appropriate.

KevinHsieh #36547327
Neilsr #36547601
RobWill #36548423
Agreed
Starting auto-close process to implement the recommendations of the participating Expert(s).
 
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ASKER

My apologies - forgot to assign the points. I agree with the objections. Thanks to all for your answers!