running command line programs in remote servers

Download pstools from sysinternals.
Inside the package there's a tool called psexec.

Launch psexec from command line.
e.g. \\servername -u -p

Lost installation product key?

Remote login to similar server and run regedit.
Locate the entries - it's probably under My Computer - HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE - SOFTWARE
If you're lucky you might find the product key in the registry.

Server running on 64-bit or 32-bit?

Microsoft Windows Server 2003

Method 1
1. Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.
2. Click the General tab. The operating system appears as follows:
• For a 64-bit version operating system: Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise x64 Edition appears under System.
• For a 32-bit version operating system: Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition appears under System.

Method 2
1. Click Start, click Run, type winmsd.exe, and then click OK.
2. In the details pane, locate Processor under Item. Note the value.
• If the value that corresponds to Processor starts with x86, the computer is running a 32-bit version of the Windows operating system.
• If the value that corresponds to Processor starts with EM64T or ia64, the computer is running a 64-bit version of the Windows operating system.

Note: - Intel Itanium-based computers can only run 64-bit versions of Windows. Intel Itanium-based computers cannot run a 32-bit Windows operating system. Currently, 64-bit versions of Windows only run on Itanium-based computers and AMD64-based computers.

quick way to check server physical or virtual machine

One of the fastest ways is to check by MAC addresses. If it starts with


00:0C:29 VMWare (auto)
00:50:56 VMWare (manual)
00:16:3e Xen

The VPS provider can change the MAC address ranges (in Xen at least) but most people usually don't bother. It's by no means a foolproof method though.
 
On Windows just open a command prompt window and type getmac.
The MAC address will be the column on the left (under Physical Address)
e.g.
C:\>getmac

Physical Address Transport Name
=================== ==============================
00-D0-xx-xx-xx-xx \Device\Tcpip_{GUID}