Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition Activation Issue

[ADAMWebDesign]

First of all, I should explain that I'm primarily a web designer by nature. However, I do have a working knowledge of IIS 5 via my own web server, and since a client asked for a favour in trying to figure out their Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, I figured I'd try to do them a favour.

So here's the situation: last year, my client bought a dual server win Windows 2003 Server, Enterprise Edition installed on it. However, the supplier they bought it from never bothered to activate it, claiming it was only a trial version installed (which I guess is possible) and that they needed to activate it themselves.

After fighting with the supplier, my client obtained 3 CDs shipped directly from Microsoft to them. The problem is that the 3 CDs in question are for Standard Edition, not Enterprise Edition.

Somewhere along the way, my client also received either an authorization or activation number. I wasn't sure which it was, so I tried logging into the server with the admin login/password and running the Activation Wizard.

And therein began my problem. When I tried this, I got sent right back to "Press CTRL-ALT-DEL to begin". No error message popped up on the screen, no nothing. It wasn't until I rebooted the machine in Safe Mode (which, by the way, consisted of me physically powercycling the computer since the "Shutdown" option was greyed out...but that may or may not be related to all of this) that I was able to get into the Event Viewer and found this under the Applications log:

A problem is preventing Windows from accurately checking the license for this computer. Error Code: 0x80004005

So, upon hunting for information on microsoft.com, I discovered this page:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306081

The solution is for XP, but the files are the same ones on my Standard Edition CD.

So my questions are as follows:

1. Can I use the same Standard Edition CD files to attempt to activate Enterprise Edition (with the possibility existing that the activation/authorization information is incorrect and for Standard Edition, but I'll deal with that when I get there)?

2. Are the activation files tied into other DLLs/EXEs/system files that could possibly cause damage?

Thanks all for your help. And please be gentle and remember that I'm not a server tech by nature (quite frankly, maintaining them pisses me off sometimes.)

[Disk_Contented]

This needs moving.

Standard edition cannot activate the Enterprise Edition. The key is invalid.
You need the full licence or use the CDs to reinstall from scratch.

Sounds like the original was the 180 day trial or something. You can still purchase a licence for Enterprise, but it stands at $3999!

Note that the version you have has two licencing possibilities:
$999 For up to 5 Users/Devices.
$1999 For up to 10 Users/Devices.

You need to check what your CD licence allows you.

[ADAMWebDesign]

I guess I didn't explain this very clearly (my bad...this makes very little sense to me, so please bear with me. This is a rat's nest.)

The authorization number was supplied independently of the CDs, after I made the discovery that the server had Enterprise Edition installed and my client had to call the supplier (AGAIN!) and after a conversation which I wasn't privy to, was given the information. So the possibility still exists that the authorization number is an Enterprise Edition authorization number. The way this supplier has dealt with my client, just about anything is possible. But I can deal with that.

What I'm more concerned with is finishing the install quickly, ideally with the existing Standard Edition CDs (just to copy the activation files from, not to fix anything else...I'll deal with that after.)

Also, the CDs themselves are media only, with no licence. My client is a not-for-profit educational organization, so they get those educational licenses sold separately to them from the supplier. (Personally, I think the whole concept is just screwed...if MS were smart, they'd sell the licenses directly to the consumer and avoid all this middleman BS.)

So I hope this clears up this bizarre situation a little more, and hopefully enough so that my question will get answered. Mind you, at this point, I'm just about ready to chuck the server through a window.

[Disk_Contented]

Though the activation files may be similar, it isn't that easy, and a description of how to do it is presumably against the policy of this board.

If you get no chance to activate, I would say that particular installation is finished. You would need a "fix" in order to do anything.

A file that Windows Product Activation requires is manually modified.

Who knows?
You did say however, that this was described as a trial by the supplier. It probably was and the trial period (180 days) is up.

Unless you know where to get this fixed the only thing you can do is start from scratch with the disks you have.
I doubt the key obtained will be for the Enterprise.

What I would do is download the Enterprise trial software and run "sfc.exe /scannow".
This will hopefully sort the login problem out and possibly give you the 180 days too.
If it works you can try the key. If not, It's the standard edition.
The trial is here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserv...l/default.mspx

[ADAMWebDesign]

Thanks for your help, dude. It's pretty well what I figured.

But before I give up on that, I'm gonna try contacting the supplier directly myself and explain the situation. I've never actually configured a server myself (just maintained them) and I have 0 interest in learning how, although I could probably figure it out.

[lucky_chouhan]

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