Hi, I'm planning to install a W2k8 RC0 Failover cluster for my VMs in our domain. The system will host all our virtual machines and favorably the exchange 2007 mailboxes, too. At the moment, the only license key I can get is the rc0 evaluation key via the internet download page. I have learned that in Win2k3 it is not possible to switch between "normal" and volume license versions of the OS without a complete reinstall. How will this be handled between RC0 and final? Will there be an inplace upgrade for my scenario (Exchange 2007 and VL version as RTM target)? TIA Guenter

I'm not sure if the tech department or the legal department wrote this, but it makes me thing there is a chance... https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=D694D4CC-0681-41B5-B02E-012BE18F8B71&displaylang=en "This time-limited release of Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate will expire on April 7, 2008. After this time, you will need to uninstall the software or upgrade to a later release or a fully-licensed version of Windows Server 2008."

this guy is an MVP: here it says you CAN upgrade from rc0 to rtm: http://windowsmvp.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!80195647FE07388F!339.entry

Mike, thanks for the info. My particular problem is the Volume License stuff. I know that I cannot install a retail Windows 2003 and apply a Volume License, and I have not managed yet to "upgrade" a retail Win2003 to a Win2003 Volume License version. So basically what I'd like to make sure is that the Win2008RC0 can be upgraded to the volume license version of the product... Do you think your quoted source did include my favored transition? Yours Guenter

hmmm... not likley. if you find out more, let me know.

Hi, I'm the MVP mike Crowley was referring to in an earlier posting. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=9893F83E-C8A5-4475-B025-66C6B38B46E3&displaylang=en This link will land you a set of documents. Vista Business Vista Business N Vista Enterprise Windows Server 2008 Windows Server2008 Windows Server 2008 Web Server Windows Server 2008 Standard Windows Server2008 Enterprise Windows Server 2008 Itanium Windows Server 2008 Datacenter The above editions of Windows will allow you to change a retail license to a volume license without having to reinstall.