Comments on: Known Issue: Windows Home Server 120 Day Evaluation Version Expires Without Warning

By: Brian Gurnett

Brian Gurnett — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:08:51 +0000

And this still seems to be the case now in March 2009 after a couple of years …

What a useless, incredibly time-wasting and technically invalid way of evaluating a product.

There should at least be a WARNING on the evaluation download that this will be expected.

By: Joanne

Joanne — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:47:31 +0000

So, is there no way to convert the trial of WHS to a full version??

Seems strange, sure their must be a way to do it!!

By: Peter L

Peter L — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:19:00 +0000

I installed my WHS Eval version a couple months ago. Today I just checked the settings and it says that my Eval Copy expires 12/7/2008. This seems to indicate that I have another 120 Days left woo hoo
All I did was install, activate my copy and let the updates install automatically.

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:18:55 +0000

I’ve found if you remove a drive out of the server and place into a different PC the folders are available to read on the PC you put the drive in. I will be doing this when upgrading to the full version and copying back to the server from another PC to make sure I don’t loose anything

By: andy

andy — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 01:51:12 +0000

does microsoft not have a single person at the entire company with a clue? destructive reinstall as the only way to get from eval to a bought copy? I’m having trouble censoring my language here. “Hi, customers, Fsck you!”

what’s the flipping point?

By: Owen Davies

Owen Davies — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 06:31:09 +0000

Ahhhh, that’s a shame but worth knowing. My 120 evaluation copy came bundled with a new pc I bought last month. Thought I’d try it out and it is fantastic, very useful. But having to reinstall to upgrade to a retail version is a bit worrying. Has anyone done this yet? My evaluation doesn’t run out until end of March…

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:36:04 +0000

Update: My WHS is no longer expired, and all I did was reboot it. My Vista Business Desktop is still able to connect to the home server console without reinstalling the connector software, but my XP Home laptop and my wife’s XP Home desktop “cannot find my windows home server” even after reinstalling. I have not tried my wife’s Vista Home Premium laptop yet to see if she is able to connect to the console, but it would be interesting to see if it’s an XP related problem. Also, I have an XP Pro laptop at work that I could bring home and see if it’s a Pro/Business vs. Home/Home Premium problem instead. And of course I have messed around with turning the firewall (client and server) off and all that good stuff.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:12:36 +0000

I have had the 120 day evaluation of WHS installed for 1 week and have loved it so far. Today when I woke up and tried to access the WHS console I was unable to do so. When I pinged the server I did not get a response so I went downstairs and pushed the power button once, expecting windows to do it’s little shutdown thing. I was surprised when the machine turned off immediately, and upon powering it back on I started receiving a critical network health notice saying that I had 0 days before my evaluation expired. Frankly that message has me worried since I am no where near the 120 day limit. Also I am now unable to access the WHS console or the server via Remote Desktop from any of the client machines. Oddly enough I can use the console through the remote access website, so I am going to try reinstalling the connector and see if that solves my problem.

By: BullDawg

BullDawg — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 18:37:23 +0000

Does the 120 Evaluation allow a Server Reinstallation option or is it New Installation only? I am currently on the RC version with a Feb 08 expiration. I have ordered the 120 Evaluation, but now I am hearing that a Server Reinstallation option is not given on the 120 Evaluation, only New Installation. So, how can I preserve my data on the RC and install the Evaluation? I have roughly 600 Gig of data, but not enough hard disk space on any client machine or external hard drives to back up the data. Currently WHS RC has four hard drives with 1.41 TB of drive space. (2 500 Gig, 1 300 Gig, and 1 250 Gig, with they system partition on one of the 500 Gig drives) Would it be possible to remove from the data pool, through the console, the largest hard drive, and then copy the data to it with it still physically in the WHS machine? Then disconnect it from the motherboard and install the 120 evaluation. After the installation, then connect the drive again, don’t select the option to add it to the data pool and copy the data back to WHS? Then when that completes, add the drive back to the data pool? Of course, if a Server Reinstallation option is offered by the 120 day eval, then that’s the way I will go, but if not, what choices do I have? I am expecting my 120 Day Evaluation to arrive in the next few days and just assumed it would be “feature complete” and allow the server reinstallation option.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 19:46:11 +0000

Hi again.

Ok, but will it keep my shared material? If not, I dont see the reason for testing the evaluation kit. There should be a easy way of switching to a retail version.

Daniel

By: Terry Walsh

Terry Walsh — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 16:10:25 +0000

Hi Daniel,

You could try a server re-install but it will delete your settings.

Terry

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 16:03:27 +0000

Thanks for the quick reply, Terry. Ive got one more question for you. When I install the fresh copy. Will it save my settings and shared material? Or do I need to move everything again.

Best regards.
Daniel