Re: Upgrading Windows 2003 SP1 to R2 - how to get R2 D2 :-)

Hi,

I think the best option is to contact your Regional Support Office regarding
Sofware Assurance for your Open Licence:
https://licensing.microsoft.com/eLic...3/Overview.asp
They can help with questions on administering Software Assurance Benefits.

Regards,
--Malu


--
Malu Menezes [MSFT]
------------------------------
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"sydneydude007" <> wrote in message
news:ee71434d-d096-4988-b262-...
>I am in the process of implementing DFS and need advise on an Windows
> 2003 R2 upgrade issue.
>
> We have a Windows 2003 Standard Server running on SP1 that was
> installed using an Open License CD (ie not OEM). This Open License has
> Software Assurance I was told.
>
> I would like to add the above server to my DFS R2 setup but I am
> unable to as it is not on running on R2. I am getting the error "The
> DFS Replication service is not installed" every time I add the server
> as part of a Replication Group.
> Note the DFS setup in my domain is working with three Windows 2003 R2
> (OEM) servers replicating data without problem.
>
> I am aware that I need to upgrade it to R2 but the R2 CD I have is OEM
> - so not useful.
> Based on this article (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?
> scid=kb;EN-US;912309) I 'cannot use volume license product key with
> media from the OEM channel'. Btw, my understanding is that the Open
> and Volume licenses in this article is interchangable.
>
> So how do I get the R2 CD that will allow me to use it on this 'Open
> Licensed' installation? Do I just buy the media and tell the vendor
> that I have software assurance or do I need to buy a new Windows 2003
> Server R2 Open license?
> Assuming I get the Open License R2 CD, is the process of upgrading
> this Win2k3 SP1 server to R2 the same as how I've done it on my Win2k3
> OEM server?
>
> I really appreciate any thoughts on this..
>
> Regards
> Sydneydude