We have a W2K3 Server Standard Edition production server that we need to perform a DR test on. I will be restoring an image of the server to a different piece of hardware. I know that the OS will see the hardware change and require Windows to be reactivated. My question is this: If I reactivate the OS on the test box so that we can complete testing will that effect the production server? Will it kill the activation or license on the production server? I spent almost 40 minutes on the phone with Microsoft and was transfer to 6 different people and no one could answer my question. I was finaly transfer to tech support who told me that they could not answer my question unless I was willing to pay for a support call even though we are an Action Pack Partner.

Hello ATSNJ,No it will not affect the activation status of the existing production server.That server is activated, once it's activated it doesn't contact the activation server until it's activation status is changed locally (hardware change takes it out of tolerance for example), it then would need to contact the activation server to be reactivated. Thanks, Darrell Gorter This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights

Hello,hopefully the server you are testing with the image is NOT a domain controller, as images are a NOT supported way of backup for DCs. It will result in a USN rollback:http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875495Best regards Meinolf Weber Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.