I would like to downgrade Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard (OEM) to Windows Server 2012 Standard, the reason being instability of WS 2012 R2, most probably caused by incompatibility with the RAID controller in my server (details follow, skip if uninterested). The controller is HP Dynamic Smart Array B120i and the instability problem is that Windows crashes for no apparent reason returning a KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILED error. See screenshot here. HP does not currently provide any drivers for WS 2012 R2 — it's supposed to be released in early 2014 but with no specific date given.
Windows Server 2012 is officially supported by HP and since R2 does not introduce any features of interest to me I figured I could downgrade R2 to the previous edition. As far as I'm aware the license allows that.
My question is: how do I do that?
I'm at the point of system installation, so there's no problem with that. The trick is I only have an R2 installation DVD. Where do I get Windows Server 2012? The 180-day evaluation edition that is available from Microsoft does not allow for activation with my R2 licence key (I've just tried that).
Where can I get installation sources for Windows Server 2012 that will allow activation with a commercial key? Or is it done some other way?
Best Answer
From your Microsoft Volume License Portal - likely the same place that you got the 2012 R2 ISO and key. They're two different ISOs and keys. After all, they're two different operating systems.