What to do before installing the Transition Pack
So, you have outgrown your SBS installation and need to unlock its features by installing the Transition Pack.
What things should you check before installing it in order to have a successful experience?
Wait, what is the Transition Pack?
For information on the Transition Pack check:
https://www.microsoft.com/WindowsServer2003/sbs/techinfo/planning/transition.mspx
https://download.microsoft.com/download/b/c/6/bc6a736b-faeb-43e1-ab61-17fed7f9ea40/PMUpgrade.htm
The first thing you want to do is make sure that you understand what you get with the Transition Pack and how it changes your licensing.
1-Read the Transition Pack Licensing FAQ
https://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/sbs/techinfo/overview/licensingfaq.mspx#EFH
2-Make sure you purchase the Transition Licenses (so you have the proper CALs after you finish the process)
https://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/sbs/howtobuy/pricing.mspx
3-Read the documentation found here:
4-Get the media kits for your new unlocked products!
(Check page 2 on the following document)
https://www.microsoft.com/WindowsServer2003/sbs/techinfo/planning/transition.mspx
5-Check the licensing of your third party products to make sure they are still going to be licensed once you are no longer running SBS.
And finally, here we go to the GOTCHAS! This is truly what the post is aimed towards - this is what people call PSS for.
6-Before installing the transition pack make sure you Export and Remove the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosftSmall Business
Note: There will be a SMALLBUSINESSSERVER key and that is OK, we are only interested in the “Small Business” key.
Presence of this registry key when installing the Transition pack may cause it to fail.
7-Make sure you are using the Windows Small Business Server 2003 with SP1 Transition Pack if you have installed Windows 2003 Service Pack 1 on your SBS 2003 server. You want to make sure that the service pack matches before starting up the process.
Basically, try to avoid mixing the versions. If you have Transition Pack media that does NOT include Service Pack 1, then make sure you are upgrading an SBS server that does NOT have Windows 2003 Service Pack 1 installed.
(Today's post comes to us courtesy of Damian Leibaschoff aka "The Guy with the Funny Accent")