Hi I am not sure if this the appropriate location for this question but anyway... I am trying to refresh an old evaluation server with a valid license. I perform the upgrade to the existing O/s with the CD1 of win2003R2. Part way through the install I get dialog box: "the file 'install.exe' on Windows 2003 disk 2 is needed". However, there is no "install.exe or "install.ex_" on the(win2003R2) CD 2. Now, I know from a bit research that this is a known issues with a work around of uninstalling .NET2. I just wondered if this was really the best approach as I have also .NET 3.51 on the server and various apps which makes uninstalling .NET 2.0 a bad move..... Daniel

Hi Dan, FYI, you cannot upgrade an evaluation copy to a Retail, OEM, or VL version. You need to migrate your data, which... unfortunately yes, means reinstallation. The evaluation copy of Windows may not even accept the legitimate license as a valid license. I believe they connect to different activation servers and have a different hashing code set for the licenses from evaluation to production-ready. Good luck on the migration. Best RegardsSteve Kline Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Server Administrator Microsoft Certified Product Specialist Microsoft Certified Network Product Specialist This posting is "as is" without warranties and confers no rights.

Hi Thanks for your reply . This is disappointing news... What if you were able to change the SKU via the registry. .. then would you be able.. I did attempt to Upgrade my win2003R2 but this is seems very painful. I get so far then up pops the message: "install.exe" missing on Windows 2003 CD2 which is linked to .NET 2. If you cancel the upgrade completes 'sucessfully' but when it tries to authenticate there is just a blank screen.

Hi, You might try a System Repair using a retail media of Windows Server 2003 R2. Below are the steps to do a System Repair for Windows XP. Repairing Windows Server 2003 R2 is similar. Note: Please back up your important files first. Please follow the steps below to repair the system. All system files will be reinstalled using this method. Please understand that some applications may need to be reinstalled to upgrade files to a later version. 1. Make sure you have set your CD-ROM as the first priority boot device. You may refer to your computer manual for information on how to do this. 2. Insert the Windows XP CD into your CD-ROM and reboot your computer. 3. When you see "Press any key to boot from CD…" on the screen, press a key to let your computer boot from the Windows XP CD. 4. When the computer boots from the CD-ROM, it will check your hardware and then prompt you the following options. a) To set up Windows XP now, press Enter. b) To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R. c) To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3. d) Please press Enter. (Note: please do not press R at this step) 5. Press the F8 key to agree the Licensing Agreement. 6. You will see your current Windows XP installation listed in a box and get the following options: a) To repair the selected Windows XP installation, press R. b) To continue installing a fresh copy of Windows XP without repairing, press Esc. c) Please press "R". 7. Then the setup program will repair Windows XP automatically. After repairing Windows XP, you may need to re-activate it. Tim Quan

I fixed this by doing the following: Downloaded SP2 extracted the contents of I386 burned it to a CD and I was in business. Marcus

I tried a different approach to what Marcus did, which also worked... First, I downloaded just the DotNet2SP2.exe, since all the threads were pointing to dotnet2. I extracted the .exe to a directory, and then renamed the setup.exe to install.exe which is what the R2 upgrade was asking for specifically. I then burnt the folder to an iso, and mounted it when the upgrade was asking for "the file 'installe.exe' on windows 2003 disk 2 is needed." The upgrade continued, and then promptly asked for the original windows 2003 cd to continue the installation. After it was finished, windows updates services, and bits were all working flawlessly. Download and install all updates, and you're finished. Mitchell

I tried a different approach to what Marcus did, which also worked... First, I downloaded just the DotNet2SP2.exe, since all the threads were pointing to dotnet2. I extracted the .exe to a directory, and then renamed the setup.exe to install.exe which is what the R2 upgrade was asking for specifically. I then burnt the folder to an iso, and mounted it when the upgrade was asking for "the file 'installe.exe' on windows 2003 disk 2 is needed." The upgrade continued, and then promptly asked for the original windows 2003 cd to continue the installation. After it was finished, windows updates services, and bits were all working flawlessly. Download and install all updates, and you're finished. Mitchell Hi Mitchell, thank you very much! :)

I tried a different approach to what Marcus did, which also worked... First, I downloaded just the DotNet2SP2.exe, since all the threads were pointing to dotnet2. I extracted the .exe to a directory, and then renamed the setup.exe to install.exe which is what the R2 upgrade was asking for specifically. I then burnt the folder to an iso, and mounted it when the upgrade was asking for "the file 'installe.exe' on windows 2003 disk 2 is needed." The upgrade continued, and then promptly asked for the original windows 2003 cd to continue the installation. After it was finished, windows updates services, and bits were all working flawlessly. Download and install all updates, and you're finished. Mitchell Just wanted to say this worked for me too. Good Idea Mitchell