Some “cousin” of a client of ours decided it would be a good idea to download a torrent of Enterprise 2003 R2 and install it on their office computer.
It expired and now their office computer is restarting every hour!
If anyone has a 2003 server enterprise R2 key that I can borrow (I WILL NOT ACTIVATE IT, and WILL DESTROY IT AFTERWARDS!) to get the computer thinking it is a real copy.
We have sold them a 2003 server Standard Edition copy, and I am in the process of coming up with a plan to save their data. In the meantime, I really need this server to stop rebooting!
its not as easy as that unfortunately. They paid another company to install some medical software, and I am trying to find a way to not have them charged 8 more hours to have that reinstalled.
In the meantime, I just need the server to stop rebooting.
I plan on reinstalling with Standard, which they have a valid key for. Sadly, I cannot go backwards from Enterprise to Standard.
im not trying to fix it with a key, I’m trying to buy some time. If I put a legit key in, it should stop rebooting every 2 hours.
I have to contact the software vendor, reformat the computer later after doing a full backup. I cannot get a backup because two hours isn’t long enough.
Seriously tho, who’s bright idea was it to install a downloaded version of software on a business server? If they have a need for the Enterprise version, they should have the money to pay for it. If they wanna be cheap, use a cheaper version that meets their needs or pay for the extra support and get a linux tech to setup a server.
I pose the question to some businesses that you can get a illegal copy and deal with problems later that I will charge by the hour or you can pay the price now and get the software legit and install it.
It was one of those young “i know computers” people who think that because they know how to download a torrent or piece of software, they can save people money. When, we all know as IT people that those retard kids mess things up, do things incorrectly, and cost people money to fix it!
I am all about reformatting this server with a legit copy of 2003 Standard, as they do not even need Active Directory or even a domain! It is the software company and its proprietary installation procedures that will cost them money! A lot of money… almost $1500 again to reinstall their software.
But, they are not available until next week! :lol:
Oh god. I love those clients. I just had one I had to fix last weekend. Except the guy was 55, thought he knew everything about IT and modern computers and just fucked up everything in their office. He put Vista on all the computers, found out that the computers mostly didnt support the OS and the main software they used didnt install on Vista.
Its fun getting the call to bill out your own hours to fix everything.
What are they using the server for then? Is it even a domain controller (dhcp, file server, dns, wins[LOL])?
I like to piss off software vendors and configure the software myself if its simple. If its not in the contract that they must install it, I prefer to make the money instead of paying them.
Thank you for the very quick reply tho brent! 