Trial version upgrade to full

[ddorrell]

I have been using the trial version of Exchange 2000 server for about 3 months now, and have decided to upgrade to the full version. Apparently I originally downloaded the Enterprise Trial version, because when I try to upgrade, I get a message that I have to "INstall from the same version". Microsoft says there is no upgrade from that trial version to the Standard Full version, but I really don't want to remove all the mailboxes, remove the trial version, install the full standard version, and re-build the mailboxes.
Is there a better way to upgrade? Can I back up the mailboxes and then restore after I switch versions?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[robbyb]

I don't think that backing up and restoring would work. Exchange 2000 is very fussy about what it wil restore to. Back in the day, you could name a new 5.5 the same as the old 5.5 and that would be about it (domain accounts aside).

With Exchange 2000, a lot of info about this server is written into AD. It's not trivial.

Given that you are going to have to reinstall and create new mailboxes, if you haven't got too many users on this server, you could try exporting mailboxes up to PST's from Outlook. When everyone has new mailboxes on the new Exchange2000, users can import their mailbox back in from PST.

If this is not practical, then some time ago I wrote a doc based on an article I found in an 'Exchange Administrator' mag, let me know and I'll post it up. It is based around creating an Exchange Server in a child domain that will allow you to restore to, from an Exchange Server in the 'parent' domain. You may be able to adapt it for your use....

RobbyB

 

[ddorrell]

Thanks.
That's what I did for the users who keep their calendars and messages on the server, and it worked very well, except I forgot to do my own calendar.
Oh, well.
Thanks for the help.