I have a very old server running windows 2003 r2 with an OEM license. The server runs legacy software that control an old but very expensive machine , and i don't have the software to install it again from scratch.
I saw you can change the OEM license to a VL one and then do the P2V but i can't find any 2003 VL license to buy since it's very old (also my server language is Spanish , don't know if key needs to match that).
windows server 2003 r2 oem iso 53
I have no problem in buying an 2019 Volume License and let it sitting there just to be compliant but i can't manage to find a way to activate the current 2003 server when i change the hardware (from the physical server to another one which is a hyper-v).
To activate you can either use any old 2003 VL key that you can find or you can contact the VL support desk and tell them you are using your downgrade rights, have installed 2003 VL (don't mention OEM as it's not relevant) and need to activate.
Create your distribution share on a server by copying the contents of the Windows installation disc I386 folder. You can use the Setupmgr.exe program to create this share and the Unattended.txt file. You can find the Setupmgr.exe program on the Windows installation disc in the Support\Tools folder in the Deploy.cab file and the Unattend.doc file that contains information about Windows unattended Setup.
If the OEM-supplied drivers are not digitally signed, the mini-wizard postpones the installation of the device until an administrator logs on to the computer. This is referred to as client-side versus server-side installation that occurs during mini-wizard Setup.
The %SystemDrive% environment variable string is automatically inserted before each of the listed search paths.If one of the OEM-supplied drivers is for a network adapter device, the RIS server must have this file available when it restarts in text-mode Setup.
If you copy the additional network adapter or mass-storage drivers to the \i386 folder as described in Knowledge Base article 246184, stop and restart the BINL service on the RIS server. To stop and restart the BINL service, type the following commands at the command prompt, and then press ENTER after each command:
Riprep and Sysprep share much of the same functionality. Therefore, adding OEM Plug and Play drivers to computers that will be imaged involves steps that resemble those that are used for Sysprep. Before you run Riprep against the image computer to copy it to the RIS server, follow these steps:
Run the Riprep.exe program from the \RisServer \Reminst\Admin\I386 folder on the client computer to copy the image to the selected RIS server. Riprep looks in the Sysprep folder for a Sysprep.inf file, reads the OemPnPDriversPath= key, and then updates the following registry subkey:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DevicepathThen, Riprep copies the registry up to the server so that it can be used during the mini-Setup wizard.
If one of the OEM-supplied drivers is for the primary network adapter, the RIS server must also have this file available from a typical RIS flat image before the Riprep image is downloaded.If the image is already created and you want to add OEM-supplied Plug and Play drivers, we recommend that you use RIS to download the image to a computer, follow the steps listed in the previous "Riprep Images" section, and then Riprep the image back to the RIS server.
You may have to add new hardware devices to existing Windows-based computers that require OEM-supplied drivers. Although this process requires that you install the new device, you may want the OEM-supplied drivers to be distributed in a controlled manner or to be centrally located on one server. To do this, follow these steps:
Decide whether you want to copy the drivers locally or if you want to store them on a central distribution server. If you want to store the drivers locally on the computer's hard disk, you must have a procedure to copy the drivers to the computer. (For example, use logon scripts, Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) batch jobs, or other methods.)
After the distribution method is determined, obtain the path for the device drivers. If you want to copy them locally, the path may be C:\Drivers\network adapter. If you want them copied to a centrally located server, the path may be \\ServerName\Drivers \network adapter (where Drivers is a shared folder).
For example, if the drivers are copied locally to the root of the drive where the %WinDir% folder resides (Drivers\network adapter), the DevicePath final value must read:DevicePath: REG_EXPAND_SZ:%SystemRoot%\Inf;%SystemRoot%\Drivers\network adapterIf the drivers are kept on a centrally located server or distribution point, you have to add the UNC path to the OEM-supplied drivers. For example:
Create your distribution share on a server by copying the contents of the Windows installation CD-ROM I386 folder. You can use Setupmgr.exe to create this share and your Unattended.txt file. You can find Setupmgr.exe on the Windows or service pack CD-ROM in the Support\Tools folder in the Deploy.cab file and the deploy.chm and ref.chm Help files that contain information about Windows unattended Setup. You can also download the latest files from the Microsoft Web site.
Run the Riprep.exe program from the \\RisServer\Reminst\Admin\I386 folder on the client computer to copy the image to the selected RIS server. Riprep looks in the Sysprep folder for a Sysprep.inf file, reads the OemPnPDriversPath= key, and then updates the following registry subkey:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DevicepathThen, Riprep copies the registry up to the server so that it can be used during the mini-Setup wizard.
Decide whether you want to copy the drivers locally or if you want to store them on a central distribution server. If you want to store the drivers locally on the computer's hard disk, you must have a procedure to copy the drivers to the computer. For example, use logon scripts, Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) batch jobs, or other methods.
After the distribution method is determined, obtain the path for the device drivers. If you want to copy them locally, the path may be C:\Drivers\network adapter. If you want them copied to a centrally located server, the path may be \\ServerName\Drivers\network adapter. (Drivers are a shared folder.)
For example, if the drivers are copied locally to the root of the drive where the %WinDir% folder resides (Drivers\network adapter), the DevicePath final value must read as follows:DevicePath: REG_EXPAND_SZ:%SystemRoot%\Inf;%SystemRoot%\Drivers\network adapterIf the drivers are kept on a centrally located server or distribution point, you have to add the UNC path to the OEM-supplied drivers. For example:
I want to create a hyper-v terminal of windows server 2003 on the 2012 r2. I have a .iso file of windows server 2003 and I put it in the virtual dvd rom. But when I try to boot, the boot failed message appear. What is the reason? and can anyone install it properly? Thanks in advance.
I am planning to virtualize five (5) Windows servers using Vmware Converter Enterprise. I found out today that these servers are running an OEM build of Windows Server 2003 from IBM. When I did a test P2V today on a server running this same OEM build of Windows after starting the VM, a warning was displayed by Windows related to the need to re-activate Windows due to hardware changes, and that the server would fail to operate after three days unless the reactivation was done. I have done some research and found that basically there were two options to fix this issue with virtualizing OEM builds of Windows. The first being to add the following parameter to the .vmx file on the VM: "SMBIOS.reflectHost = TRUE" If that doesn't work the other option being to boot the vm using a volume license cd and doing a repair of Windows. This was a helpful post in regards to this issue: Has anybody else seen this before and know of a better solution?
Please note that the license type you have for your install of windows was designed to request a new license when hardware changed. Your VM was originally using the underlying hardware for where workstation was installed and is not using the underlying hardware of your ESX server. As a result windows wants you to reactivate your license. If we provide you with a method to avoid that, we are in fact assisting you in breaking that license agreement. 2ff7e9595c
Comments