Sign up for Microsoft Windows 2003 Server RC2 for $3.95

[Nomans]

I've found this in another forums and thought may be some of you guys are interested in the Upcoming Microsoft Windows 2003 Server. Select "Standard Ground" as shipping method for the CD-ROM (the default choice is "Standard Express", I think, which probably will cost you $7.95 instead of $3.95). It's still a very cheap way to check out the next Microsoft Windows Server though.

Sign Up for Microsoft Windows 2003 RC2

 

[Controller]

It also shipped with the MS Office System Beta 2 Kit 2003.

 

[Vegito]

you can download the ISO from microsoft and burn it urself for free

 

[BarneyFife]

When does it come out?

 

[Walliser]

Release Candidate?

Is that what they call beta soft these days? :Q

I love (not) Micro$oft!

 

[Nomans]

This is release RC2 (Release Cadidate 2). I think it should be much closer to the final release version than Beta. First they would release the Beta1, then Beta2, then eventually RC1, then RC2, may be RC3 before the final one. At least, I think that's the way Microsoft has been doing with previous Windows versions before the actual release. I have no idea when the Windows 2003 Server will be available but I think we're very close (may be just weeks?).

Sure, you could dounload the Windows 2003 Server for free, assume you have high-speed Cable/DSL and some HDD space (I think at least 300-500MB).

 

[Vegito]

i dl the Microsoft® Windows® .NET Server 2003, Enterprise Edition Release Candidate 2. My is enterprise edition. Most people have 500 meg to spare and high speed cable lines... unless they're on the 56k days..

2003 server due out end of april beginning of may.. unless someone decides to delay

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: Walliser
Release Candidate?

Is that what they call beta soft these days? :Q

I love (not) Micro$oft!

Way to threadcrap moron. If you don't like Microsoft, WTF are you here? Nef Noob alert.

FYI the way MS works is

Beta 1
Beta 2
Beta 3

RC1
RC2
RC3

Gold

Good deal for only 4$. I'd like to know how to d/l it though!

 

[Vegito]

I got this 1/7/2003

Thank you for your interest and participation in the Windows Server 2003 Customer Preview Program! Microsoft welcomes your participation, and we strive to make this a positive and beneficial experience for you.

Due to Microsoft's security requirements, the hyperlink(s) contained in this email may not automatically open your browser. If you experience any difficulty with a hyperlink in this document, please copy the hyperlink and paste into your browser.

Please do not reply directly to this message as this message is being sent to you from an un-monitored account. For questions specific to the download process, please send e-mail to cppdlsup@microsoft.com.

EMAIL NOTIFICATION FOR RC2 DOWNLOAD CUSTOMERS

Microsoft® Windows® Server 2003 Release Candidate 2 is now ready for download! Please read this email carefully and keep a copy so that you will not lose valuable information you need for participating in the Windows Server 2003 Customer Preview Program.

As a participant in the Windows Server 2003 Customer Preview Program, you are entitled to a copy of the Windows Server 2003 Release Candidate 2 (RC2).

DOWNLOADING RC2

If you have previously registered or downloaded Windows Server 2003 RC1: To download RC2 now, go to http://windowsbeta.microsoft.com, and login with the Microsoft Passport ID that you used to download RC1. There is no need to register again.

If you have not previously signed into http://windowsbeta.microsoft.com, please register for the site using your Customer Preview Program username and password below.

Note: You do not need to enter this information again if you?ve previously done so.

After completing the registration wizard you will be able to acquire a product key and download Windows Server 2003 RC2 from the site. Please make sure you fully complete the registration wizard before attempting to acquire a product key or download. Instructions on how to acquire a product key and download Windows Server 2003 RC2 will be found on http://windowsbeta.microsoft.com/default.asp after you have successfully completed the registration wizard.

To download Windows Server 2003 RC2 please ensure that you are using a computer that is running Windows95 or later and Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or greater.

If you experience any problems downloading Windows Server 2003 RC2, please send e-mail to cppdlsup@microsoft.com.

INSTALLING RC2 AFTER THE DOWNLOAD

1. Windows Server 2003 RC2 requires a product key for installation of the product. This key can only be used with Windows Server 2003 pre-release builds. This key is the same key you used to install RC1. You can obtain your personal product key from https://windowsbeta.microsoft.com/keys/default.asp. You are allowed to install this beta software on as many machines as permitted by your license agreement.

2. Windows Server 2003 RC2 includes product activation. You will be required to activate the product within 14 days of installation.

3. Windows Server 2003 RC2 is a time limited release and will expire 360 days after initial installation is complete.

4. Windows Server 2003 RC2 is not recommended for production systems unless you are explicitly working with Microsoft on deployment programs.

5. Due to the nature of pre-release software, some of your applications and hardware may not function correctly. For technical questions, please review the information on newsgroup support below.

If you proceed with the Internet download option, please note that you will need to either burn a CD or use third party software to extract the Windows Server 2003 setup files. The Internet download is an .ISO file, an "image" of the product CD. It is not a self-installing executable like many Internet-downloadable programs. You will need a CD Burner and CD Burn software or a third party utility to extract files from an .ISO image. More details and instructions will be available on the web site prior to your download.

If you will be connected to the Internet when installing Windows Server 2003, please use the Dynamic Update option during setup. This will ensure that the very latest fixes can be delivered to your machine prior to running setup. If you are upgrading Windows 2000 or Windows NT 4.0, and do not use Dynamic Update, you may get an error about kernel mode audio drivers on some systems. You will need to uninstall and reinstall using Dynamic Update on these systems. This will enable Microsoft to test the Dynamic Update feature of Windows Server 2003.

Please review the pre-release license agreements carefully during the installation of Windows Server 2003 RC2. By installing this release, you agree to the terms and conditions of these license agreements. As a reminder, all licenses associated with the product will expire when the product becomes commercially available.

Before installing this release you must print and fully read Read1st.txt. This document contains critical pre-installation and upgrade information important to your installation and is located at the root of the installation media.

PRODUCT KEY

During the installation process, you may be prompted to enter a product key. The key required is the same key you used to install RC1. If you have misplaced your key, you can return to https://windowsbeta.microsoft.com/keys/default.asp after logging into WindowsBeta to retrieve your key.

CPP CD KIT OPTION
You can also obtain Windows Server 2003 RC2 via CD kit. If you would like to receive a CD kit, please visit www.microsoft.com/windows.netserver/preview. For CD kit questions, please send e-mail to: cppadmin@microsoft.com

GETTING UPDATES
To complete the survey and to receive additional information, please register at: www.cppregister.com/dlrc2.
For order processing questions, please send e-mail to cppadmin@microsoft.com.
For technical questions, please utilize the newsgroups; information on accessing the newsgroups is above.

Thank you very much for your interest in the Windows Server 2003 Customer Preview Program; we hope that your experience is positive, and welcome your feedback!

Best Regards,
The Windows Server 2003 Customer Preview Program Download Team

 

[Vegito]

Seriously windows server are pretty stable.. I have file server that has not crash in 3 year except for the time the jr admin decides to install CRAP on it.. smack him around .. hahaha..

I would like windows to be cheaper but it isn't..

there is a new windows 2003 web server, strip down version for 399 instead of 999 for regular server ..

 

[pcmax]

I have had .NET(2003) Server RC2 for about a month now and I really like it. It seems to run more efficiently on the same hardware than Win2k Server.

 

[vetteguy]

The real OS is coming out at the end of April...is there a reason that people would want to pay $4 to get a pre-release copy with less than 45 days to go?

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: vetteguy
The real OS is coming out at the end of April...is there a reason that people would want to pay $4 to get a pre-release copy with less than 45 days to go?

..free for 360 days on RC1/RC2 if you dl it..

 

[amdskip]

They sent me a copy of it along with a nice thick book on how to program in it, version RC2.

 

[Vegito]

i would run the free one for a while to test the older hardware, ie raid controllers, etc and then buy it.. if its not compatible with existing drivers, i wouldn't waste money now..

 

[damonpip]

I had the beta which was good for 14 days, if you can get RC2 for free it's a great deal, it was already almost perfectly stable in the beta.

 

[LikeLinus]

I installed it on my Inspiron 8100 laptop to test it before I throw it at the mercy of my PowerEdge server (Thanks to forcesho!!). I've only got 14 days because I don't have a Product Key, but so far it seems good and I've had no problems with it what so ever.

I've emailed Microsoft trying to get on the Beta Download team so I can get a key. It'd be nice to use this for a bit on my server.

 

[oaaltone]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
I installed it on my Inspiron 8100 laptop to test it before I throw it at the mercy of my PowerEdge server (Thanks to forcesho!!). I've only got 14 days because I don't have a Product Key, but so far it seems good and I've had no problems with it what so ever.

I've emailed Microsoft trying to get on the Beta Download team so I can get a key. It'd be nice to use this for a bit on my server.

YGPM

And just my two cents: MS software is very good software, no matter what any narror-minded anti-M$ person says. I'm an avid Linux user (since the early 90's) and a beta tester for MS since about the same time. The only way to be a genuine computer geek is to open your mind and explore all options. Sure, MS stuff is buggy... but so are most distros of Linux! Sure, MS stuff has security holes... but so does Linux! Pissed that MS is charging you to order beta CDs? This is a common practice -- free image download or pay for a complete package of CDs. In all, when you look back at what MS has accomplished, they've done more good than harm. They've opened the world of computers to a lot of people who were scared to try. And if 90% of everyone in the world uses a Microsoft OS, they're doing something right. I'll continue to use what's best, and right now I use both XP and Redhat/Gentoo Linux -- all are great OS's in their own ways.

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: olliebg

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
I installed it on my Inspiron 8100 laptop to test it before I throw it at the mercy of my PowerEdge server (Thanks to forcesho!!). I've only got 14 days because I don't have a Product Key, but so far it seems good and I've had no problems with it what so ever.

I've emailed Microsoft trying to get on the Beta Download team so I can get a key. It'd be nice to use this for a bit on my server.

YGPM

And just my two cents: MS software is very good software, no matter what any narror-minded anti-M$ person says. I'm an avid Linux user (since the early 90's) and a beta tester for MS since about the same time. The only way to be a genuine computer geek is to open your mind and explore all options. Sure, MS stuff is buggy... but so are most distros of Linux! Sure, MS stuff has security holes... but so does Linux! Pissed that MS is charging you to order beta CDs? This is a common practice -- free image download or pay for a complete package of CDs. In all, when you look back at what MS has accomplished, they've done more good than harm. They've opened the world of computers to a lot of people who were scared to try. And if 90% of everyone in the world uses a Microsoft OS, they're doing something right. I'll continue to use what's best, and right now I use both XP and Redhat/Gentoo Linux -- all are great OS's in their own ways.

I replied to your PM! Thank bro!

I really should get into Linux, but I just don't have the time right now to sit and learn a whole new OS. I'm sure there is a learning curve and with my current work and family going, It's so hard to find time to play with so much

 

[OatMan]

I just received this as part of my MS partner Action Pack subscription.

Its a 365 day license for RC2. At this point I thought that Server 2003 has been released??? what good as a beta (RC2) version at this point??? Is the final release version and the RC2 the same thing??? Or am I missing something...

thanks
OM

I don't think anyone is migrating to S2k3 until NT4 peeps are faced with end of life DEC. 2004. Those already running native 2000 are largely going to ignore it as long as possible. The rush will start next summer, by then hopefully at least SP1 and fixes to the problems.