I just updated my Windows Server code name Vail to the new date of March 15, 2011. Thank you to Microsoft for saving me some frustration at the last minute and giving us a solution to continue beta testing. Read on to follow this quick walk-through with screen captures and instructions.
So, here is the information that Microsoft has just released in order to get around the problem:
The beta is built on an evaluation copy of Windows Server 2008 R2, where the eval expiry is hard coded during beta development (and as such cannot be easily changed). However working with our engineering team, there is now a workaround using Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 RC. This will extend the expiry to mid-March.
To extend the expiry, please follow the directions below:
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STEP ONE – Install SP1 (multiple steps within)
Install WS08 R2 SP1 RC on the server from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyId=c3202ce6-4056-4059-8a1b-3a9b77cdfdda&hash=2SduI20oa3rGcMvoU%2bPV1TVHUik%2f3CNeLRmMuOcJXzz13kgszkD2VWTIpb%2bAS0in9K12Sc14FpC3sdT4PNXCUw%3d%3d
Once you click on the link, click Continue. You can download this file to your PC and do not need to be on your Vail machine at this point in the process.
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Once the validation is complete you can download the file. It should be the first and the largest file. You do not need the other files and just download the one shown below.
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Once you download the file you should burn it to a DVD. It is faster to just burn a DVD so I would not recommend trying any other approach.
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Put the DVD in the Vail machine, KVM or Remote Desktop in to Vail, open the DVD and run Setup.
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Nice job Tim, thanks for all the hard work.
Glad it worked out for you Tim, I have completely abandoned Vail. No more beta's for me. 🙂
Thank you for the comment. I hope you reconsider whenever the next beta is released.
Worked great except I had to run "slmgr.vbs /ato" instead of "slmgr.vbs
Hi, it didn't work for me. installed SP1 and changed the key. restarted and checked using winver but it still says it will expire on 10/01/2011. I tried a couple of keys so far and no luck.
What else shall i do?
Try it again. The steps have to be in that specific order. Mine did not seem to work the first time either but I had a step out of sequence.
I think i know the problem. SP1 did not install.I guess i thought it did. i get an error :Error_Invalid_Data(0x8007000d)when trying to install it.
I installed the System Readiness tool, tried again and no luck.
Can you please advise?
I have not seen that error. If after a restart it does still not update I would restore it. Do you backup Vail? You could perform the restore from prior to the change.
I don't have a Veil backup. Not to worry I have all my data backed up, i will install the usual WHS and use it until the new version is out.
Thank you very much for your help.
We are expecting to see a new beta in the next few weeks, hopefully, according to the Microsoft blog post of a few weeks ago.
I got the same "Error_Invalid_Data…" error when trying to install the SP1 package.
No fix for this one?
Found this comment when searching for the "Error_Invalid_Data…", and will see if it works for me too:
@InfiniteLurker Fixed this by installing the WUSignUpTool and installing SP1 via Window Update.
I have heard of a few people using that to get Windows 7 SP1 but not the Vail SP1. Did you try it?
I actually did not find a WUSignUpTool that I could download, but after a new reboot the Windows Server 2008 SP1 installation went well and I'm back in business.
I am gettting error invalid function 0x80070001 when trying to install sp1 on WHS vail?
Any ideas.
I am trying to install via RDP session.
Any joy on the install?
I have the same Error_Invalid_Data(0x8007000d) after installing the readiness update and rebooting twice.
(Obviously diabling both of my AV software)
Anyone have any new solution to add?
Derek
Given that there is a new beta out now and the DE functionality has been removed from the one you are using, you really should stop using it.