How to switch license servers for MATLAB clients

For Windows 2008, I believe you can identify a trial version through looking at the System option of the Control Panel, then scroll down to Activation. If it is a trial, it should say something like "60 days to activate." Running winver from the command line should also tell you.

For SQL Server, I think if you go into SQL Server Management Studio then choose Help, About, it will display the days remaining on the right hand side.

According to this link and this one, the attributes you mention were first introduced with Windows Server 2008; so, yes, upgrading the AD schema to 2008 level should fix your problem.

It's a totally safe operation, even if you don't plan to add any 2008 DC to the domain any time soon. Just ensure all your DCs are online, replication is properly working, the DC holding the Schema Master role is accessible and you have Enterprise Admin and Schema Admin rights.

BTW, you should run ADPREP on one of your existing 2003 domain controllers, not on a 2008 member server.