32bit to 64 bit with current server 2003 disks? 1

[jsheflin]

hi,

i have a dell poweredge 2900 with 32 bit server 2003 standard

can i wipe and install 64 bit server 2003 standard with my current disks/licenses?

or would i be required to buy something more/different?\

thanks

 

[jkupski]

With a 2900, I think every CPU that shipped in that chassis was x64, so from a hardware perspective you're fine. You're fine from a license perspective as well.

However, the media set is either x86 or x64, not both... so you will need new media. The problem is that you need OEM media to match your OEM license (at least, I assume your license is OEM) otherwise your product key won't work. You can try Dell, but they have not often been willing to ship media kits for OSes in my experience.

You might need to investigate, shall we say, "questionable" means of acquiring your media, but be aware that this comes with its own set of problems...

 

[jsheflin]

thank you

regarding the questionable means, besides the moral and legal implications, what set of problems do you mean?

 

[jkupski]

For example: imagine I am a nefarious person who wants to compromise some systems. I could attack known vulnerabilities, or I could doctor some install media and put it out there for people to download with my root kit or whatever already built in.

Checksumming helps with this, but it's been proven possible to create collisions in MD5, so...

 

[jsheflin]

understood

thanks for the heads up

know anybody that wants to trade 64 bit disks for 32s?