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Upgrade 120day Eval to Retail? RRS feed

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    I just received the 120day eval and before I install I want to be sure that I will be able to upgrade my installation to a retail copy?  Can anyone confirm that?

     

    The last thing I need is to find out this can't be done.  I am planning to setup ~1TB of hard disks and they will likely be 2/3 full or more so it is going to be a long chore to move this data around as WHS formats the disk to it's liking.  I do not want to have to do that again in a few months once I decide I'm happy with WHS and buy a retail copy.

     

    Comments please...

    Tuesday, November 20, 2007 5:03 AM

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    George, you should be able to upgrade from the eval version to retail. You won't be able to simply replace the license key; you'll have to reinstall (there are timebombs in the OS).

    Where you could run into trouble is if you need to install additional storage drivers (say for a PCI SATA card, or AHCI drivers for your MB SATA ports). Some users have reported not getting a reinstallation option even if they supply drivers at the appropriate points in the process. There are workarounds, though.
    Tuesday, November 20, 2007 6:10 PM
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     Jeshimon wrote:
     MaNIaCv1 wrote:

    Isn't the 120 day eval code the same as the OEM/Retail code? If so, you can run for 30 days without entering a license key. Once you're happy, purchase an OEM/Retail copy and enter the key. No need to reinstall. 

    I do not know for certain this is not true, but I have seen a number of statements that make me think it is not.  I would not take the chance on it self-destructing myself.  By the time the 120 days was up I'd have more time invested in it than I would care to lose.

     

    The 120 eval edition uses different keys than the Retail/OEM edition.  You will need to do a Server Reinstallation whether you activated your eval copy or not.

    Tuesday, November 20, 2007 9:11 PM
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    Worst case:

    Imagine if you will you get 'my kinda' luck' and you upgrade fails at last bit due to a bad DVD or some other catastrophic failure like a power outage and you left with no alternative but a clean install.  Since it seems clear that you intend to pay to play the only reason I can visualize for waiting is a price drop.  My time is worth more than the price could possibly drop, unless they payed me. 

     

    Tuesday, November 20, 2007 7:12 AM
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    You should have no problems upgrading. when you do boot for the DVD and do a server reinstall, all your shares and folders will be fine. It will take you about a half hour or so to reconfigure settings, no big deal at all. I have now gone from RC1 to OEM and Eval to OEM with both comming out fine. You will have to uninstall reinstall the connector software after you upgrade. I found it best to use the connector software in the shared software folder on the server.

     

    Tuesday, November 20, 2007 7:32 AM
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     Jimi Two Feathers wrote:
    You should have no problems upgrading. when you do boot for the DVD and do a server reinstall, all your shares and folders will be fine. It will take you about a half hour or so to reconfigure settings, no big deal at all. I have now gone from RC1 to OEM and Eval to OEM with both comming out fine. You will have to uninstall reinstall the connector software after you upgrade. I found it best to use the connector software in the shared software folder on the server.

     

    The key word here is SHOULD.  I should not have had any problem upgrading my server software to OEM, but I did.  If had not had Mark Vayman's very capable assistance I'd probably still be fighting the problem that I started this thread for.

    http://forums.microsoft.com/WindowsHomeServer/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=2332851&SiteID=50

    The thread looks like I resolved the issue in just two days, but I spent a long time getting to understand it well enough to describe the problem in the thread.  

    Tuesday, November 20, 2007 7:58 AM
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    Jim,

    I read thu your link and i'm sorry you had a bad time upgradeing, and you did say you had the luck. I think yours was a rare case and still I think George will have an easy time of it.

    Tuesday, November 20, 2007 9:28 AM
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     Jimi Two Feathers wrote:
    You should have no problems upgrading. when you do boot for the DVD and do a server reinstall, all your shares and folders will be fine. It will take you about a half hour or so to reconfigure settings, no big deal at all. I have now gone from RC1 to OEM and Eval to OEM with both comming out fine. You will have to uninstall reinstall the connector software after you upgrade. I found it best to use the connector software in the shared software folder on the server.

     

     

    Hmm, I can't say that I am excited about your answer.  I am glad to hear it is possible but dissapointed to hear that there is no simple process to enter a new activation key without reinstalling.

     

    The reason I'm taking the eval route is that I am not yet 100% sold on whether WHS will be what I want, be as reliable as I need, etc etc.  So I wanted to try it for a bit first, you know, the whole idea behind an eval.  Anyway, hearing that moving to a purchased copy is not a simple process makes me rethink. 

     

    I'm now reconsidering this whole eval idea.  Perhaps I should stick with the WinServer2003 I have now.

     

    Thanks for the help though, Jimi Two Feathers.

    Tuesday, November 20, 2007 3:29 PM
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    Put your eval on an old junker from the closet and try the features for the eval period.  See if your expectations are met.  If you like what you see go for it.  Just don’t put your 750 GB on it until you've made a commitment.  I'm not saying I'm not happy with the product or I would not do it again; but to tell you that the transition trial to OEM cannot be a problem would be less than honest on my part.  I have 2003 available to me too; but I went with WHS because my wife 'gets it'.  I work in a related field and the last thing I want at home is things more complicated than they need to be.

    Tuesday, November 20, 2007 4:06 PM
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    George, you should be able to upgrade from the eval version to retail. You won't be able to simply replace the license key; you'll have to reinstall (there are timebombs in the OS).

    Where you could run into trouble is if you need to install additional storage drivers (say for a PCI SATA card, or AHCI drivers for your MB SATA ports). Some users have reported not getting a reinstallation option even if they supply drivers at the appropriate points in the process. There are workarounds, though.
    Tuesday, November 20, 2007 6:10 PM
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    Isn't the 120 day eval code the same as the OEM/Retail code? If so, you can run for 30 days without entering a license key. Once you're happy, purchase an OEM/Retail copy and enter the key. No need to reinstall. 

    Tuesday, November 20, 2007 6:43 PM
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     MaNIaCv1 wrote:

    Isn't the 120 day eval code the same as the OEM/Retail code? If so, you can run for 30 days without entering a license key. Once you're happy, purchase an OEM/Retail copy and enter the key. No need to reinstall. 

    I do not know for certain this is not true, but I have seen a number of statements that make me think it is not.  I would not take the chance on it self-destructing myself.  By the time the 120 days was up I'd have more time invested in it than I would care to lose.

    Tuesday, November 20, 2007 7:26 PM
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    Im sure I read in a previous thread a little while ago that the 120 day eval edition was timebomed and couldnt be extended.

     

    Andrew

     

    Tuesday, November 20, 2007 7:30 PM
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     Jeshimon wrote:
     MaNIaCv1 wrote:

    Isn't the 120 day eval code the same as the OEM/Retail code? If so, you can run for 30 days without entering a license key. Once you're happy, purchase an OEM/Retail copy and enter the key. No need to reinstall. 

    I do not know for certain this is not true, but I have seen a number of statements that make me think it is not.  I would not take the chance on it self-destructing myself.  By the time the 120 days was up I'd have more time invested in it than I would care to lose.

     

    The 120 eval edition uses different keys than the Retail/OEM edition.  You will need to do a Server Reinstallation whether you activated your eval copy or not.

    Tuesday, November 20, 2007 9:11 PM
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    But will the data be in place, or will it be lost?

    thanks

    Randy

     

     

    Saturday, November 24, 2007 7:53 PM
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    Randy,

    If you follow the instructions for the Server Re-Installation, all your data will still be there. However, you will need to re-add your Clients and any Add-Ins you may have addd.

     

    Colin

     

    Saturday, November 24, 2007 8:05 PM
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    So a reinstall of WHS will in fact recognize data already on the disks that were added to WHS in a previous install?

     

    How about if they were placed in new shares (not the standard shares)?

     

    What is the risk of doing this?  Have there been problems or is this a very safe thing to do?

     

    Saturday, November 24, 2007 9:04 PM
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     ColinWH wrote:

    Randy,

    If you follow the instructions for the Server Re-Installation, all your data will still be there. However, you will need to re-add your Clients and any Add-Ins you may have addd.

    Colin

    and given that EVERYTHING goes well.  My upgrade from RC 1 to OEM did not go perfectly.  I did not loose and priceless data, but I had some hard to solve problems afterward.  I understand that I'm in the minority, but if you read the forums here I'm far from being alone.  It's not all sunshine and roses.

    Saturday, November 24, 2007 9:04 PM
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     Curious George wrote:

    So a reinstall of WHS will in fact recognize data already on the disks that were added to WHS in a previous install?

    Yes, at least mine did.

     Curious George wrote:

    How about if they were placed in new shares (not the standard shares)?

    Those were fine too.

     Curious George wrote:

    What is the risk of doing this?  Have there been problems or is this a very safe thing to do?

    I chose to take the chance, I lost nothing other than time, no data other than backups.

    Saturday, November 24, 2007 10:02 PM
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    I found WHS to work fine for my family, 3 pc 2 laptops. I am using the 120 days evaluation, I would like to know, how and where to purchase the full license.

    Thanks.

     

    Sunday, November 25, 2007 12:03 AM
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     Jazo97 wrote:

     

    I found WHS to work fine for my family, 3 pc 2 laptops. I am using the 120 days evaluation, I would like to know, how and where to purchase the full license.

    Thanks.

     

    I got mine at:

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116395

    and paid more than it is now.

     

    • Proposed as answer by Jazo97 Saturday, September 11, 2010 8:23 PM
    Sunday, November 25, 2007 12:07 AM
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    Saturday, Feb 2nd - Newegg had WHS down to $159.98 with free shipping.

     

    Sunday, February 3, 2008 3:42 AM