Lost SBS install media

I'm trying to help a friend who has a really screwed-up situation with
his SBS server. Nothing has happened -- yet -- but I'm trying to get
him ready for disaster recovery. Disregard the data for a moment, I'm
concerned here about OS recovery.

He doesn't have or can't find his SBS install media. The box shipped
from Dell with SBS 2003 Standard, and there is an SBS 2003 Std license
sticker on it, as well as an Outlook 2003 license. However, Dell
doesn't have any more SBS 2003 CD sets, only SBS 2003 R2. Because his
box didn't ship with R2, they won't help. (Interestingly, someone seems
to have installed R2 at some point).

Microsoft probably won't provide replacement CDs because this was an OEM
purchase (I haven't actually asked).

If he buys a retail box of SBS 2003 R2 upgrade, I assume that will not
install (post hard drive crash) without evidence of SBS 2003 purchase.
Will his SBS 2003 license be sufficient evidence of that?

What are his options? Can he clone his hard drive using Ghost or
Acronis True Image or something similar? Will cloning apps work on a
mirrored drive? Does he just have to bite the bullet and buy a full
retail version of SBS (either 2003 R2 if he can find it or 2008)?
--
Lem

mctpioneerprogrammingcom
Fri May 09 12:38:12 PDT 2008

Can't answer the other ones for sure, but he can clone a mirrored drive just
fine, assuming the disk controller doesn't change to the point where it needs
a different driver. Ghost actually can't create dynamic volumes, so it will
just convert the partitions back to basic and when you boot the system back
up you can convert the new disk back to dynamic and recreate your mirror on
whatever new disk you want.

The only disadvantage I know of is that NTFS can only expand volumes created
on disks that were already dynamic at the time of the volume's creation. If
you ghost a dynamic partition to basic and then convert it back to dynamic,
you won't be able to do dynamic volume expansion while the system is hot.

"Lem" wrote:

> What are his options? Can he clone his hard drive using Ghost or
> Acronis True Image or something similar? Will cloning apps work on a
> mirrored drive? Does he just have to bite the bullet and buy a full
> retail version of SBS (either 2003 R2 if he can find it or 2008)?
> --
> Lem
>

Lem
Fri May 09 12:55:09 PDT 2008

Thanks. Restoring a cloned drive seems far simpler than re-installing
the OS. I just have never done it in a server context.


mct@pioneerprogramming.com wrote:
> Can't answer the other ones for sure, but he can clone a mirrored drive just
> fine, assuming the disk controller doesn't change to the point where it needs
> a different driver. Ghost actually can't create dynamic volumes, so it will
> just convert the partitions back to basic and when you boot the system back
> up you can convert the new disk back to dynamic and recreate your mirror on
> whatever new disk you want.
>
> The only disadvantage I know of is that NTFS can only expand volumes created
> on disks that were already dynamic at the time of the volume's creation. If
> you ghost a dynamic partition to basic and then convert it back to dynamic,
> you won't be able to do dynamic volume expansion while the system is hot.
>
> "Lem" wrote:
>
>> What are his options? Can he clone his hard drive using Ghost or
>> Acronis True Image or something similar? Will cloning apps work on a
>> mirrored drive? Does he just have to bite the bullet and buy a full
>> retail version of SBS (either 2003 R2 if he can find it or 2008)?
>> --
>> Lem
>>


--
Lem -- MS-MVP

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

Roveer
Fri May 09 13:05:43 PDT 2008

Close to crossing the line here, but I have heard from several sources
that SBS media can be found out on the nets on say, bit torrent.
Seeing that this guy is legit and knows his license numbers I'm
guessing he could use this media to recover from a disaster if
necessary. Or at least re-create himself a copy of his install media
so when the time comes he's got it.

kj
Fri May 09 13:18:34 PDT 2008

Lem wrote:
> I'm trying to help a friend who has a really screwed-up situation with
> his SBS server. Nothing has happened -- yet -- but I'm trying to get
> him ready for disaster recovery. Disregard the data for a moment, I'm
> concerned here about OS recovery.
>
> He doesn't have or can't find his SBS install media. The box shipped
> from Dell with SBS 2003 Standard, and there is an SBS 2003 Std license
> sticker on it, as well as an Outlook 2003 license. However, Dell
> doesn't have any more SBS 2003 CD sets, only SBS 2003 R2. Because his
> box didn't ship with R2, they won't help. (Interestingly, someone
> seems to have installed R2 at some point).
>
> Microsoft probably won't provide replacement CDs because this was an
> OEM purchase (I haven't actually asked).

See;
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246

..and follow the link for oem and system builders no longer in business. I
know Dell is still in business, but from the document the link points to;

This form is to be used by End Users to acquire replacement media in the
event that MicrosoftÒ software CD(s) originally purchased through a System
Builder is defective, damaged on receipt or during installation, or
misplaced. Additionally, an End User should only use this form when they
are not able to obtain replacement through the System Builder from whom they
originally purchased the software.


He will need the COA.

>
> If he buys a retail box of SBS 2003 R2 upgrade, I assume that will not
> install (post hard drive crash) without evidence of SBS 2003 purchase.
> Will his SBS 2003 license be sufficient evidence of that?
>
> What are his options? Can he clone his hard drive using Ghost or
> Acronis True Image or something similar? Will cloning apps work on a
> mirrored drive? Does he just have to bite the bullet and buy a full
> retail version of SBS (either 2003 R2 if he can find it or 2008)?

--
/kj

Lem
Fri May 09 13:49:27 PDT 2008

kj [SBS MVP] wrote:

>>
>> Microsoft probably won't provide replacement CDs because this was an
>> OEM purchase (I haven't actually asked).
>
> See;
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246
>
> ..and follow the link for oem and system builders no longer in business. I
> know Dell is still in business, but from the document the link points to;
>
> This form is to be used by End Users to acquire replacement media in the
> event that MicrosoftÒ software CD(s) originally purchased through a System
> Builder is defective, damaged on receipt or during installation, or
> misplaced. Additionally, an End User should only use this form when they
> are not able to obtain replacement through the System Builder from whom they
> originally purchased the software.
>
>
> He will need the COA.
>


Thanks, I missed that part.

--
Lem -- MS-MVP

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

kj
Fri May 09 13:52:43 PDT 2008

Lem wrote:
> kj [SBS MVP] wrote:
>
>>>
>>> Microsoft probably won't provide replacement CDs because this was an
>>> OEM purchase (I haven't actually asked).
>>
>> See;
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246
>>
>> ..and follow the link for oem and system builders no longer in
>> business. I know Dell is still in business, but from the document
>> the link points to; This form is to be used by End Users to acquire
>> replacement media in
>> the event that MicrosoftÒ software CD(s) originally purchased
>> through a System Builder is defective, damaged on receipt or during
>> installation, or misplaced. Additionally, an End User should only
>> use this form when they are not able to obtain replacement through
>> the System Builder from whom they originally purchased the software.
>>
>>
>> He will need the COA.
>>
>
>
> Thanks, I missed that part.

Its geared toward desktops, but you might get satisfaction. If you do,
please post back as this Q often arises.


--
/kj

Dave
Sat May 10 09:00:58 PDT 2008

I would not install media from an unknown source. Who knows what malware is
riding along with those illegal bits?


"Roveer" <roveer@erols.com> wrote in message
news:63d2ce68-3121-463c-8711-6803c8eff167@s50g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
> Close to crossing the line here, but I have heard from several sources
> that SBS media can be found out on the nets on say, bit torrent.
> Seeing that this guy is legit and knows his license numbers I'm
> guessing he could use this media to recover from a disaster if
> necessary. Or at least re-create himself a copy of his install media
> so when the time comes he's got it.
>