Server 2003 Web Edition - Reinstallation using OEM CoA

• Saturday, March 02, 2013 12:57 AM

   

   
  

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  Hi all,

  Really not sure if this is the correct board for this as Server 2003 is now so old, but I have an old MessageLabs appliance I wanted to re-purpose as a simple storage head for two other Apple Xserve RAID boxes. It has Server 2003 Web edition installed so it has a legit licence attached, the case has the CoA attached but as the vendor made significant changes to the installation of 2003 to cripple certain features that would have impacted it as an archiving appliance I'm unable to figure out how to re-enable file sharing (spent a day on it today, not managed to figure out how to get it working again), so I wanted to see about the feasibility of re-installation as this would also flush their junk off also.

  If I understand correctly, the vendor-installed 2003 Server install was done by OEM media and thus the sticker on the case can only be used to activate the OEM version. By examining the information on the box, the licence key was the same as the one on the sticker. OEM being system-builder media, I know I'm unable to get a hold of this (and if I could, not any more). I know there is also a possibility of the key not working with retail Server 2003 Web so I'm sure I can't use the media I have for other installations of Server 2003 I have here. I also cannot purchase a Technet subscription and use the media available this way as this breaks the Technet licensing conditions of eval-only (I intend on using for production), so to summarize what I'd like to know, is:

  - Could I call the Microsoft Product Activation number for Server 2003 and would they be able to give me a suitable Product ID to allow installation using retail media or provide some other fix to allow installation?

  MessageLabs was acquired by Symantec, and especially as this is an appliance I doubt they'll be interested in giving me recovery media, how I'd go about it if they could or even if they were allowed to as it's still OEM system-builder media.

  Any clues or would I now be required to purchase a Server 2012 license even though I have a CoA for Server 2003 Web Edition?

  btw: This is at home in a home environment, not work (yes, I have legit licences for 2003 at home for self-training and as part of learning how to manage said environment I have other PCs in the house connected to the domain). Also I left that workplace months ago, shows how much I need to ask questions!
  
  

  • Edited by L Ward Saturday, March 02, 2013 12:58 AM Spelling
  • Edited by L Ward Saturday, March 02, 2013 1:06 AM addendum on bottom
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