I have an old HP server with Windows Server 2012 R2 that has been turned off for a while due to security concerns. This server contains a vital dental patient database which must be retained for a specified duration. While it's off, I've been considering upgrading the server's operating system to make it secure before turning it back on and connecting it to the internet. I'm not an IT professional, but I'm eager to learn. My goal is to figure out how to upgrade Windows Server and understand the associated costs, especially since we're parting ways with our managed service provider (MSP). I'm not running multiple users; it's more of a personal learning project without disrupting the existing database. Any insights would be appreciated!
1 Answer
It's probably best to leave that old server alone if you're worried about the database. The risk of losing it is too high. Instead of messing with the server, consider buying used office PCs to experiment with. They can help you learn without the stress of potentially losing important data. However, if you're really set on using a server, consider just powering it up to do a database backup and then exploring options for a trial version or clean install elsewhere.
Thanks for the tip! I appreciate the advice. Tinkering on something less critical sounds like a smarter approach!