Question : SBS 2003 Cold Backup and Restore using NTBackup.exe

Hello, this is another SBS 2003 backup and restore question. I currently have SBS 2003 with a key that is over the 90 days requirement for software assurance, so this is what I want to do. I want to create a cold backup server with another key (that is also expired in terms of software assurance). Can I just install 2003 on the backup server and do a full restore of the original server using the NTBackup util? Will this break Exchange, Sharepoint services, and Active Directory on the backup server?
The motherboard chipset and processors are the same; the storage medium is the same size only not raided on the backup server.
Also, if I can't use the different key on the backup server will I still be able to get around activation and licensing if I OWN 2 sbs 2003 keys but only have the one installed on both servers (via a full C: restore method)?

Answer : SBS 2003 Cold Backup and Restore using NTBackup.exe

you cannot restore a sbs 2003 system state on a windows server 2003
sbs2003 is not an upgrade to windows 2003 it is completely different operating system

anyway the installation of the os is needed only to provide you the ntbackup utility when you restore the complete c: it is possible to restore as you said but you do not have to restore anything but the c:, the system state and the other data drives

if the hardware is the same it would be much easier and quicker to clone the disk with an imaging utility like acronis true image or norton ghost