Re: Failing SBS 2003 - restore / recover then migrate to SBS 2008?

I agree with Larry... if you can boot into safe mode, try to use one of
those utilities to recover the install key. Then may call Microsoft. They
may be able to sell/send you the SBS 2003 media if you have some kind of
paperwork from the OEM VAR.

How to replace Microsoft software or hardware, order service packs and
product upgrades, and replace product manuals
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/326246

See section titled:
---------------------------------
Media replacement for users of system builders' computers
If you purchased your software from a system builder who is no longer in
business, click the link for your region in the following list:
---------------------------------

If you go the SBS 2008 route, make sure the server hardware meets the
requirements for SBS: 64-bit and at leasr 4-8 GB RAM.

--
Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]
============================

"Lightningbit" <lightningbit$nospam$@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:98A5578E-12A3-4FBA-BED7-27DBA4C1AD8B@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi,

I've following situation :
- a SBS 2003, which keeps on booting with the "AD is rebuilding indices"
message, up to now, I was not able to get passed that error on site (I
will
still try as soon as I get the box in house)
- the former VAR who installed the server, did not add/stick the OEM
product
key sticker to the box, nor do we have the media
- I don't now yet if the backup (standard SBS backup to an external USB
drive) is reliable

but, if all fails, I guess it will need to be reinstalled from scratch

- there are about 10 users
- it is not a huge amount of filedata, if the backup is corrupt, I
probably
can recover the file data using a boot live CD
- not sure yet how to recover the exchange data from the server, if the
backup is corrupt (which files to copy to have the complete information
store, try to extract the data to pst files or so)
- the sharepoint data is less critical

the most important parts would be :
- the client has his files back
- the client has his mails back
- install the blackbarry service again to interact with exchange

now there are 2 options :

option 1 : buy a 2003 SBS license again + media:
a/ reinstall, try to restore backup (best case scenario)
b/ or reinstall from scratch, no restore, just try to recover the files
and
exchange information store from the server, and move it manually


option 2 : (which probably makes more sense if we need to spend money
anyway) : buy SBS 2008 standard,
a/ if the backup is solid, in my lab, setup a temp sbs 2003 using my eval
licenses, and start the official migration process
or
b/ install from scratch, try to recover the files and exchange information
store from the server/backup and move the data manually


ok, while I'm writing this, I've a feeling, the cleanest and most time
efficient approach, would be to start from scratch (with a 2008 SBS of
course) and manually restore/move the files (option 2b)

the only unknown for me at this moment (as I did not have to do any
recovery
until now) is how to recover exchange information without AD : is it
possible to extract the content of the mailboxes to PST ?


I appreciate any advice or thoughts

thanks

L.




.

Relevant Pages

  • RE: Backup Fails- Error C: is not a valid drive...
    ... Where media do you use for backup to, USB disk, tape, or network share? ... Please first install the following hotfix 817688: ... For SBS 2003 SP0: ... Microsoft CSS Online Newsgroup Support ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)
  • Re: SBS 2003 Std Restore
    ... This would make a good SBS team blog entry. ... which should tell us which SP level the server was at prior to the backup. ... this doesn't tell us if Windows 2003 SP2 has been installed. ... necessary to install the other components of SBS SP1, ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)
  • RE: Failing SBS 2003 - restore / recover then migrate to SBS 2008?
    ... If you will install new SBS, you can easily move users file for example to ... To move exchange data, the easiest is to connect via Outlook and export ... can recover the file data using a boot live CD ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)
  • Re: Windows 2003 SBS install into Windows 2000 existing domain
    ... added attributes required by Windows 2003. ... We just thought it would be good to have a mirror as a backup, ... What do you mean about the desktops and the SBS wizards? ... and dcpromo to DC1 and before install of Windows 2003 SBS? ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)
  • Re: daily work to maintain SBS 2000s stable running
    ... backup ran correctly. ... Check for new updates and security patches - Windows server, ... SBS 2000, BackupExec, Trend CSM suite, GFI Mail Essentials, APC ... install / uninstall trial software. ...
    (microsoft.public.backoffice.smallbiz2000)
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