reinstalling Windows 2003 while preserving the SAP installation

[Former Member]

Hi Experts,

I need your expert advice over this.

Is it possible, and if so how, to reinstall windows 2003 server without damaging SAP isntallation. With AIX it certainly is possible but within windows environment I am not sure.

Please comment with suggestion.

Kind regards.

[Former Member]

Thanks all. Think this thread now provides reasonable options for further consideration.

Many thanks for your input.

Kind regards.

[former_member204746]

your Database software also needs files and registry settings to be kept at OS level.

so, plan a complete re-install on a new machine, and when ready, move database to new server. if using a SAN, this can be easily achieved within a 15 minute downtime.

[Former Member]

it is not possible to reinstall the operating system without reinstalling the SAP Software.

Main reason about this is:

1. a lot of information is stored in the windows registry (Environment, Service Definition etc) which is inital after the reinstallation of the OS

2. the operating system installation will generate a new SID (an identifier which is used in File, Directory, Service etc Access Control Lists). Therefore all security settings on files etc done by the first installation are no longer vaild.

therefore the homogenious system is necessary.

regards

peter

[Former Member]

Consider using homegeneous system copy or using golden image software so that registry will be intact.

http://service.sap.com/systemcopy