Change CD Key on Windows 2003 Server Installation

[Keith]

I installed a Windows 2003 Server R2 SP2 Enterprise edition from an MSDN
download on a server on a temporary basis for me to do work on. Now that we
are almost ready to hand over to the customer, we want to install a Windows
2003 Server R2 SP2 Enterprise Retail edition which we purchased for that
customer. We have not activated the Windows server yet - and want to do so
when the purchased edition's CD key is in place

How do I go about the process of changing the CD key. If I install on top of
my existing installation, can I do this in a way to preserve my existing
settings?

I know there is a key changer utility available from Microsoft but that is
only for Windows XP.

Keith

[Darrell Gorter[MSFT]]

Hello Keith,
Just go through the Activation Wizard and choose the Telephone option
button.
On the Telephone option page there is the option to change the product key.
If you have activated the machine, then the wizard does not present these
options, but since this machine is not activated, this should work for
changing from MSDN to Retail product keys.
This does not work for changing between most channels,( OEM to Retail or
Volume to Retail for example would not work) In most cases you can only
change the product keys to another key in the same channel. ( OEM to OEM
would work, Volume to Volume woth work)
However it does work for changing MSDN to Retail product keys.

Thanks,
Darrell Gorter[MSFT]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights
--------------------
| >Thread-Topic: Change CD Key on Windows 2003 Server Installation
| >thread-index: AcjVSaK61rO1dR/vT0uoesmrMDZVTw==
| >X-WBNR-Posting-Host: 207.46.192.207
| >From: =?Utf-8?B?S2VpdGg=?= <***@discussions.microsoft.com>
| >Subject: Change CD Key on Windows 2003 Server Installation
| >Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:56:01 -0700
| >Lines: 15
| >Message-ID: <484CA739-1961-426B-B4A5-***@microsoft.com>
| >MIME-Version: 1.0
| >Content-Type: text/plain;
| > charset="Utf-8"
| >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
| >X-Newsreader: Microsoft CDO for Windows 2000
| >Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message
| >Importance: normal
| >Priority: normal
| >X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.3790.2992
| >Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windows.server.setup
| >Path: TK2MSFTNGHUB02.phx.gbl
| >Xref: TK2MSFTNGHUB02.phx.gbl microsoft.public.windows.server.setup:4507
| >NNTP-Posting-Host: tk2msftibfm01.phx.gbl 10.40.244.149
| >X-Tomcat-NG: microsoft.public.windows.server.setup
| >
| >I installed a Windows 2003 Server R2 SP2 Enterprise edition from an MSDN
| >download on a server on a temporary basis for me to do work on. Now that
we
| >are almost ready to hand over to the customer, we want to install a
Windows
| >2003 Server R2 SP2 Enterprise Retail edition which we purchased for that
| >customer. We have not activated the Windows server yet - and want to do
so
| >when the purchased edition's CD key is in place
| >
| >How do I go about the process of changing the CD key. If I install on
top of
| >my existing installation, can I do this in a way to preserve my existing
| >settings?
| >
| >I know there is a key changer utility available from Microsoft but that
is
| >only for Windows XP.
| >
| >Keith
| >

[Keith]

Thanks Darrell,

The procedure you posted worked for me.

Keith

Post by Darrell Gorter[MSFT]
Hello Keith,
Just go through the Activation Wizard and choose the Telephone option
button.
On the Telephone option page there is the option to change the product key.
If you have activated the machine, then the wizard does not present these
options, but since this machine is not activated, this should work for
changing from MSDN to Retail product keys.
This does not work for changing between most channels,( OEM to Retail or
Volume to Retail for example would not work) In most cases you can only
change the product keys to another key in the same channel. ( OEM to OEM
would work, Volume to Volume woth work)
However it does work for changing MSDN to Retail product keys.
Thanks,
Darrell Gorter[MSFT]
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights
--------------------
| >Thread-Topic: Change CD Key on Windows 2003 Server Installation
| >thread-index: AcjVSaK61rO1dR/vT0uoesmrMDZVTw==
| >X-WBNR-Posting-Host: 207.46.192.207
| >Subject: Change CD Key on Windows 2003 Server Installation
| >Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:56:01 -0700
| >Lines: 15
| >MIME-Version: 1.0
| >Content-Type: text/plain;
| > charset="Utf-8"
| >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
| >X-Newsreader: Microsoft CDO for Windows 2000
| >Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message
| >Importance: normal
| >Priority: normal
| >X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.3790.2992
| >Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windows.server.setup
| >Path: TK2MSFTNGHUB02.phx.gbl
| >Xref: TK2MSFTNGHUB02.phx.gbl microsoft.public.windows.server.setup:4507
| >NNTP-Posting-Host: tk2msftibfm01.phx.gbl 10.40.244.149
| >X-Tomcat-NG: microsoft.public.windows.server.setup
| >
| >I installed a Windows 2003 Server R2 SP2 Enterprise edition from an MSDN
| >download on a server on a temporary basis for me to do work on. Now that
we
| >are almost ready to hand over to the customer, we want to install a
Windows
| >2003 Server R2 SP2 Enterprise Retail edition which we purchased for that
| >customer. We have not activated the Windows server yet - and want to do
so
| >when the purchased edition's CD key is in place
| >
| >How do I go about the process of changing the CD key. If I install on
top of
| >my existing installation, can I do this in a way to preserve my existing
| >settings?
| >
| >I know there is a key changer utility available from Microsoft but that
is
| >only for Windows XP.
| >
| >Keith
| >

[Fbeauche]

I've got a problem similar that Keith, but the activation wizard does not
accept my lisence key. I think we buyed a volume license key.

So my question is, is it possible to change the product key from an msn
installation to an VL licence ?

Thanks.

Francois Beauchemin.

Post by Keith
Thanks Darrell,
The procedure you posted worked for me.
Keith

Post by Darrell Gorter[MSFT]
Hello Keith,
Just go through the Activation Wizard and choose the Telephone option
button.
On the Telephone option page there is the option to change the product key.
If you have activated the machine, then the wizard does not present these
options, but since this machine is not activated, this should work for
changing from MSDN to Retail product keys.
This does not work for changing between most channels,( OEM to Retail or
Volume to Retail for example would not work) In most cases you can only
change the product keys to another key in the same channel. ( OEM to OEM
would work, Volume to Volume woth work)
However it does work for changing MSDN to Retail product keys.
Thanks,
Darrell Gorter[MSFT]
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights
--------------------
| >Thread-Topic: Change CD Key on Windows 2003 Server Installation
| >thread-index: AcjVSaK61rO1dR/vT0uoesmrMDZVTw==
| >X-WBNR-Posting-Host: 207.46.192.207
| >Subject: Change CD Key on Windows 2003 Server Installation
| >Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:56:01 -0700
| >Lines: 15
| >MIME-Version: 1.0
| >Content-Type: text/plain;
| > charset="Utf-8"
| >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
| >X-Newsreader: Microsoft CDO for Windows 2000
| >Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message
| >Importance: normal
| >Priority: normal
| >X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.3790.2992
| >Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windows.server.setup
| >Path: TK2MSFTNGHUB02.phx.gbl
| >Xref: TK2MSFTNGHUB02.phx.gbl microsoft.public.windows.server.setup:4507
| >NNTP-Posting-Host: tk2msftibfm01.phx.gbl 10.40.244.149
| >X-Tomcat-NG: microsoft.public.windows.server.setup
| >
| >I installed a Windows 2003 Server R2 SP2 Enterprise edition from an MSDN
| >download on a server on a temporary basis for me to do work on. Now that
we
| >are almost ready to hand over to the customer, we want to install a
Windows
| >2003 Server R2 SP2 Enterprise Retail edition which we purchased for that
| >customer. We have not activated the Windows server yet - and want to do
so
| >when the purchased edition's CD key is in place
| >
| >How do I go about the process of changing the CD key. If I install on
top of
| >my existing installation, can I do this in a way to preserve my existing
| >settings?
| >
| >I know there is a key changer utility available from Microsoft but that
is
| >only for Windows XP.
| >
| >Keith
| >