Home > IT Answers > Windows Server > Can you Downgrade from Windows Server 2008 R2 to R1?
ITKE
16,755 pts.
 Can you Downgrade from Windows Server 2008 R2 to R1?
Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008 R2 Downgrade
Can you Downgrade from Windows Server 2008 R2 to R1? Has anyone done this before?

Software/Hardware used:
Windows Server 2008 R2
ASKED: January 18, 2010  4:37 PM
UPDATED: February 15, 2011  4:47 PM
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Answer Wiki:
You can't downgrade any Microsoft OS to an older one from within the OS. You can however use your downgrade rights to install an older copy of the OS on that machine. This allows you to purchase Windows 2008 R2 and instead of using Windows 2008 R2 you can install Window 2008, or Windows 2003. If you are using an OEM Windows 2008 R2 license you'll need to contact your OEM provider for media and a Windows 2008 Key. There will be a small cost which goes with this, but it shouldn't be more than $100 US.
Last Wiki Answer Submitted:  January 18, 2010  7:45 pm  by  Denny Cherry   64,520 pts.
All Answer Wiki Contributors:  Denny Cherry   64,520 pts.
To see all answers submitted to the Answer Wiki: View Answer History.


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Yes Windows 2008 is an operating system not a service pack to downgrade without fresh installation. So you have to follow the adivice of Mrdenny

Yasir Irfan
 5,395 pts.
 

Mrdenny,

Thank you for the information — a good thing to know! I wasn’t aware downgrade rights on Microsoft products worked that way.

Thanks,
Jenny
Community Manager

JennyMack
 4,265 pts.
 

i ordered r2 insteAD OF SP3 SERVER 2008
DELL SAYS IF WANT TO DOWNGRADE THEY WILL SELL ME NEW SOFTWARE FOR $1100.00
WILL TRY TO DOWNLOAD WINDOWS SERVER 2008 AND USE R2 KEY
KEY OS FOR SERVER 2008-NO VERSION SPECIFIED
dell was not very helpful and very expensive
asked if i could trade installation cd-they said no
will let you know how it goes

Bootsandchico
 10 pts.
 

Yes you can, you needWin Srv 2008 SP2 Standard DVD Media Only to downgrade to R1.

Navvy786
 10 pts.