Hi everyone, I have been attempting to go through the proper channels in order to get a replacement CD for Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard. From a sealed, newly opened box from Microsoft the disk will not read in any CD/DVD drive. Physically the disk is fine, but on the underside there appears to be a series of black hairline fractures within the internal data area of the disk which I suspect is the issue. I have been exchanging several emails after an initial request for replacement via the Microsoft Media Replacement Program (sbcap@msdirectservices.com) yet they are unable to help me, and think im looking for Windows XP even though I supply my COA/Product key and even pictures of the product... Can anyone please direct me to the appropriate area to get replacement media for Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition. I would really appreciate any help. Thanks, Ryan

Hi everyone, I have been attempting to go through the proper channels in order to get a replacement CD for Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard. From a sealed, newly opened box from Microsoft the disk will not read in any CD/DVD drive. Physically the disk is fine, but on the underside there appears to be a series of black hairline fractures within the internal data area of the disk which I suspect is the issue. I have been exchanging several emails after an initial request for replacement via the Microsoft Media Replacement Program (sbcap@msdirectservices.com) yet they are unable to help me, and think im looking for Windows XP even though I supply my COA/Product key and even pictures of the product... Can anyone please direct me to the appropriate area to get replacement media for Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition. I would really appreciate any help. Thanks, Ryan Well... if technical is technical, "hairline fractures" count as a physical issue. Have you tried resurfacing this disk? Also, the data is not stored within the disk. The data on the disk is stored underneath the label side. Approximately 97-98% is just plastic, the other 2-3%(the label) is the data with a pretty picture on the other side. Which is why resurfacing techniques work. Inspect the CD behind a light. Data-side facing the light, look for pinholes and scratches on the data label from the 'bottom' side of the disc. When you do get a replacement, my suggestion is to immediately make an ISO copy of the media using something like Alcohol 120% or other preferred product to do so. That way you can burn a replacement when these things happen. Unfortunately, the only way you can re-obtain the media is to contact a Microsoft partner and order a media replacement. Based on the nature of the media, could vary on the cost because each media has a variance on licensing use. It could be Retail, Volume License, Open license, or Enterprise License... different install media for each version of Windows Server 2003 R2. Contact a partner, see if they can help you out. I would help with a copy but unfortunately the media itself may not work with your license. I hope this helps on your path to obtaining the media. Best Regards, Steve Kline Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Server Administrator Microsoft Certified Product Specialist Microsoft Certified Network Product Specialist Red Hat Certified System Administrator This posting is "as is" without warranties and confers no rights.

Thanks for the information. The "fractures" are under the clear plastic cover of the bottom of the disk so im not sure resurfacing would work. I certainly will be creating backups of my media, sad thing is in this case the CD doesnt work straight out of the box so thats no option haha. The product I have is labeled as "Windows Svr Std 2003 R1-4CPU 5Clt OEM Software" on the COA. I'll try Microsoft again but its really not looking good for me :( bye $$$. Cheers, Ryan

Hi Ryan, For CD replacement issues, please contact your local Microsoft Customer Service for detailed information. They are the best resource to troubleshoot this issue. http://www.microsoft.com/worldwide/ Tim Quan

Thanks for the information. The "fractures" are under the clear plastic cover of the bottom of the disk so im not sure resurfacing would work. I certainly will be creating backups of my media, sad thing is in this case the CD doesnt work straight out of the box so thats no option haha. The product I have is labeled as "Windows Svr Std 2003 R1-4CPU 5Clt OEM Software" on the COA. I'll try Microsoft again but its really not looking good for me :( bye $$$. Cheers, Ryan OEM software can be re-ordered from the vendor of the hardware that you purchased. Typically they only charge the cost of the shipping and the media itself. I know with Dell, it's usually about $10.99 for media replacements outside of warranty but I believe they ship discs with the flashy Microsoft Logo for Server 2003. It might cost extra for the manufacturing of the disc/cost to them to send you another copy. Contact your OEM Provider that you received the media from. That might have been why when you contacted them before you found no result. They don't ship OEM versions directly to customers. They only send OEM versions to manufacturers like HP, Dell, iStarUSA, IBM, or basically just any of the big-rig OEMs that manufacter servers in this case. The OEM can replace that media. Best Regards, Steve Kline Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Server Administrator Microsoft Certified Product Specialist Microsoft Certified Network Product Specialist Red Hat Certified System Administrator This posting is "as is" without warranties and confers no rights.

Steve Kline, your comments are true, but only "to a point." I have the exact same issue - we have bought 2 servers, with valid COAs, BUT "no longer supported" by Dell (as in, their comments "Windows Server 2003 is at end-of-life, so the only OEM media we can ship is Windows Server 2008 - you have contact Microsoft;" and Microsoft's initial comment was, "You have contact Dell.") So, the microsoft.com/worldwide thing is the only real option left. And please don't anyone ask 'why' we still want to use the 2003 R2 64-bit OEM and/or Retail software. Simply put, we help the "less-fortunate" folks; and COST is a HUGE issue! We have the 2 servers, which are legally licensed for W2k3 R2 (32 or 64 bit), and they need to be rebuilt - so, we are between a 'rock and a hard place.' I am trying the 800-360-7561 (MS Worldwide #), to see if they can ship the media for a media + shipping fee, since Dell has opted out, claiming they no longer can ship the media. This all really is very disconcerting - we basically need these servers as basic 'file servers,' so there's no need to put Windows Server 2008 on them and pay whatever upgrade, nor to use any our VLKs, since these already are legally licensed indiviually. Wouldn't it be nice if Microsoft and/or Dell provided a "simple, legal" way to put in your License info and download the versions to which you are entitled? And YES, we can do that for "Volume License" items, but these other servers are NON-volume-license, and we don't want to burn licenses on these, just to put more money in Microsoft and Dell's pockets; though we don't mind paying Media + Shipping costs. Back in the day, used to be that companies did not provide downloads due to 'bandwidth / media size,' but more and more, that is no longer an issue and so 'downloadable' media (like in the Volume Licensing world) would be idea. Argh! (sound of frustration). Thanks for any help, notes, pointers.

Update, Microsoft said I have "Full-package OEM version" and that I have to contact the manufacturer (Dell - who says they no longer ship this end-of-life product [even though THOUSANDS OF SERVERS STILL ARE RUNNING WINDOWS SERVER 2003!) So, again, even though I'm willing to pay for the media, so far there is no luck in getting a valid OEM-ish copy of the Windows Server 2003 R2 64-bit software (NON-volume license-based). This is NOT 'rocket surgery' (LOL) - there should be SOME WAY for us to use (and RE-install) the legally-licensed software, to which we are entitled. THIS is why people are "forced" to "work [around] the system," when the system fails to support what it, in essence, 'promised' to support. In short, it sounds like more rhetoric to FORCE people to "pay twice," and still I hear those rumblings that I read not long ago about "class action suit" against Microsoft and OEMs for failing to provide replacement media options in these types of cases - I did not follow the thread to see if it was pursued, but... it kind of makes you wonder, doesn't it? To be honest, I don't know of a way to GET a copy of the OEM software, besides Dell (in this case), since no media ever ships with the OEM boxes - they come pre-installed. So, if you don't "ghost" them (or otherwise image them), there's not much hope of recovery in these 'disaster-type' situations. Again, any help or pointers very much appreciated.

Update on the 'update.' Dell (4th call to them) said (their "official tech support comments") that, since 2003 Server is 'end-of-life,' our only option is to find a Microsoft Partner or some of our colleagues at other companies who still have an OEM copy of the software (Windows Sever 2003 R2 64-bit) and that it would be fine to go that route, and that it will isntall fine with our Full-Package OEM Product Keys. Anybody out there still have a copy of Dell's OEM Windows Server 2003 R2 64-bit media? Per both Dell and Microsoft, this is the ONLY way we will be able to get a copy of the now-deprecated OEM operating system media. There is nothing illegal nor unethical about wanting to run (or rebuild) an operating system that we already paid for. As always, thanks in advance for any info, pointers, or copies of the media - if you have any.

Searching here on the Microsoft Site for CD media is going to get you no where unfortunately. As an IT professional, I have a collection of media CD/DVD's that I've created overtime. What you can do is find a good torrent of the OS you are looking for, and then depending on the type of Product Key you have, you will need to potentially make some adjustments to the CD files before burning them. Different manufacturers of PC's have different predefined "code" in the installation media that allow the product keys that come with hardware to work. A quick google search of what I've mentioned will bring up numerous links. Hope this helps. Joe

Here. http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/22748-Create-Your-Own-MULTI-OEM-Windows-Server-2003-DVD

Nice link, Nerdy Joe, but do you have instructions on how to create a volume license edition?