Hi,
I'm running my ESX 3.5 during the 60 days trial mode, and during this period I need to test our main servers in VM mode. For this reason I donloaded VMWare Converter 3.0.2u1 and converted two Win2003 server. But at the en of the job I was unable to login onto the new VMs because windows "must be activated". Is there a way to perform the conversion by exactly cloning the two systems, without asking for activation ? This conversion is for test only, so I cannot dismiss the real server by now. What I would like to do is convert the real server comlletely, keeping the same names, IP, etc, then switch off the real servers, power on the VMs and see if all goes ok. So, I will not run the real and virtual machine at the same time, but I need to keep the real servers ready and activated.
Is there a solution for this issue ? Thanks and bye, Stefano
i bet your physical OS is an OEM license. If so, boot the vm with the OS disc, then run a repair on the os and enter a volume license key
Use the customization option to invoke Sysprep. This will allow you to enter in a different license.
If your original license was an OEM license, then you're stuck. You can't swap in a volume license key when the original installation used OEM media.
yes you can swap an oem license for a volume license. i have done it at least 10 times. once you get the oem server converted, boot the vm with the volume license cd, run a repair on the OS and change the key there. it has worked everytime for me
That's good to clarify that you mean going through a repair process. What I meant was when Windows requires a reactivation, you can't put in just any license key-- if it was originally an OEM license the dialog won't take a volume license. Doing a repair, or in an extreme case, a reinstall, can lead to some items potentially changing on the system, unlike a standard conversion using Converter.
Hi,
please can you explain me wich command to give once I enter the recovery console ? I didn't find any in the help list.
Thanks, Stefano
dont go to the recovery console.
just do it like a fresh install it will find the previous OS install and run a repair
Hi,
but if I perform a fresh install and choose the same partition/folder of the present win installation, the installer warns me that the present installation will be deleted, together with "My Document" folder. I tried to go on pressing the "L" key (accepting the deletion) and in fact I got a completely new VM, with the old OS destroyed, wich was not what I was looking for. Fortunately I had a shapshot. 
Maybe I'm missing something... please can you explain me step by step your procedure ? Thanks.
oh yeah u missing something
boot to the OS cd
welcolme to setup press enter
press f8 at license agreement
then at the next screen hit r and just let it do its thing to windows starts to load.
so thats all it is
Umhhh... that's the issue: after F8 (license agreement) I have no "hit R" choice, instead I have a screen where to choose which partition to install in. Then I select C: (where is the old Win2003) and in the nwxt screen I'm warned about another system installed being overwritten. I can only select Continue (C) or Cancel (ESC). If I go on, I'm propted how to format the C: partition ! I do NOT format it, then the last screen asks whether delete the content of C:\WINDOWS directory, or choose another dir. If I select Delete (L) I get the old installation destroyed. 
I'm using a Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition disk.
i do too use w23k ent
This document was generated from the following thread: Converter and Windows activation
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I called their 800 phone #, and they gave me a new confirmation ID, voila. faster than a repair installation.
