Migrating Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2025

Question

As in topic. We have windows server 2003 for Small Business Server Service Pack 2 (OEM version i think) as our AD DC . We want to migrate all users, computers, dns, dhcp, gpo, groups etc to a newest windows server 2025. What is the best possible way to do so? 2003 have x32 architecture. I was thinking jumping from 2003 to 2012 to 2019 to 2025. Do i need to buy offical key for this versions just to be able to transfer all settings from one to another? We already bought Windows server 2025 standard version OEI 16 core.

Answer 1

Hello,

You cannot in-place upgrade from Server 2003 to any system after Server 2008 R2.

This is because Server 2003 is 32-bit and all Windows Server versions since Windows Server 2008 R2 are 64-bit only. Upgrading from a 32-bit to a 64-bit architecture is not supported.

In this case, only a fresh installation of Windows server 2025 can be performed. But your system is too old to support Server 2025 with high probability.

In this case, it is recommended that you purchase a new machine.

More details please refer to this link:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/upgrade-conversion-options

Have a nice day.

Best Regards,

Hania Lian

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