Move Server 2012 Essentials install

[Slug]

I have a working Server 2012 Essentials install on my HP Mediasmart server at home. Working fine but a bit slow. I'm thinking of building a new more powerful server and moving my data over. Obviously I don't have 2 copies of the OS. How do I install the OS on the new server and deactivate the old install with regards to microsoft? I don't necessarily need to do a true server to server migration as my setup is fairly simple. Will I need to call microsoft and explain the situation, or will activation on the new server deactivate the old server? Or should I just pull the system drive out and put it in new server and see what happens?

Thanks.

 

[Dahak]

Unfortunately there is not a built in way to remove the activation.
About all you can do is install it again, and activate it. If you have to you many need to do the phone activation and if so, just say move it and formatted the old one

 

[Slug]

Thanks for the info. That doesn't sound too bad.

 

[drebo]

If it's OEM licensing, you cannot move it from one set of hardware to another.

 

[Slug]

Retail box thankfully. Thanks for the heads up though.