Windows Server 2003 or 2008 R2 Standard 32 bit

[Kirby]

There is no way I'm doing any off-the-wall tech for her. She already blames me every time something breaks within a week after me being there, and I'm there 2-4 times a week lately. This customer just can't handle a VM on her computer. The only reason she can handle a VM on the server is because I will be the one dealing with it.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I would rather not do a downgrade install. I would rather purchase a surplus disk and key somewhere. .

Just to clarify, it's "Downgrade Rights"....when you purchase some retail, and all Volume licenses, of Microsoft products...you're entitled to install and use prior versions of that product. You don't have to take Server 2012..install it..and then do a "downgrade install" of an older OS, like a reverse upgrade.
You simply install the old OS first...period, done.

The reason is, for most of us, you can't purchase "old licenses" by themselves anymore from Microsoft or official channels. What happens is, if you need old licenses, you purchase certain retail SKUs..or better yet, Volume SKUs...which include rights to use/install older versions.
Purchase Windows 10..allowed to do 8.1 or 8.0 or 7. ....for example.

 

[Kirby]

Yeah, but the downgrade install is a pain. The last time I did one and called Microsoft to activate and they had no idea what I was talking about. On the plus side, when you talk to a person you can give them any old line and they will activate it, simply assuming you know more about it than they do.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I've never had a problem with a "downgrade install"....it's really just like a regular install, plop in the CD, follow the bouncing ball, type in activation key, proceed to driver updates 'n reboots 'n lotsa windows updates.
The super old ones with newer subscriptions can require a phone call to get an activation key, around 6 minutes of time on speaker phone while you're doing something else. But those are not common.