Hi, This is probably an old question but I am at a quandry. We have a Proliant ML570 G4 with x86-64 bit architecture server running Windows 2003 standard (32bit) on it. I need to get this machine up to Windows Server Standard 2008 R2 with SP1. According to Vincent Hu, <abbr class="affil">Microsoft Contingent Staff</abbr><abbr class="affil">, Moderator, posted this back on December 14th, 2009, "</abbr>There is no way to upgrade a x86 Windows Server2003 to Windows Server 2008 R2. You need to build the server from scratch." What is meant by build the server from scratch? Does that mean wiping out the current OS and then installing the 2008 OS? or do we need to make some kind of hardware changes? Thank you.

You can’t perform an “in-place” upgrade. Cross-platform upgrade is not supported. You need to install a new instance of Widows 2008 R2 – Wipe and clean install. Santhosh Sivarajan | MCTS, MCSE (W2K3/W2K/NT4), MCSA (W2K3/W2K/MSG), CCNA, Network+ Houston, TX Blogs - http://blogs.sivarajan.com/ Articles - http://www.sivarajan.com/publications.html Twitter: @santhosh_sivara - http://twitter.com/santhosh_sivara This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties,and confers no rights.

You need to take backup of your existing data and application then you will have to format and install windows 2008 R2, becasue Cross-architecture in-place upgrades (for example, x86 to x64) are not supported http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd979563(WS.10).aspxhttp://www.virmansec.com/blogs/skhairuddin

Yes, what the moderator was referring to was the fact that you could not upgrade the OS in place. To install Windows 2008 R2 on a computer running 2003 x86, you would have to wipe the operating system and start with a fresh, clean install. Of course, you would want to back up any data that is important to you before this process begins. If the 2003 Server is a domain controller, you may consider setting up another DC running 2008 R2, replicate AD, move the FSMO roles, demote the 2003 x86 system, then rebuild the server as discussed. That way, you keep AD intact throughout this entire process. Visit: anITKB.com, an IT Knowledge Base.

Hello, Windows Server 2008 R2 is a 64 bit OS and you have a 32 bit OS. The problem is upgrading from a 32 bit OS to a 64 bit OS is not supported and you have to perform a clean install. Start by a backup of your documents and then install the 2008 R2 OS. After that, restore your documents from the backup you performed. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights. Microsoft Student Partner 2010 / 2011 Microsoft Certified Professional Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator: Security Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer: Security Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows 7, Configuring Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Enterprise Administrator

No to hardware changes. Yes to clean install the operating system. No way to go from 32 bit to 64 bit via upgrade process. Regards, Dave Patrick .... Microsoft Certified Professional Microsoft MVP [Windows]