Sage Database Administrator 25 and Windows Server 2012

We are currently in the process of purchacing a new server.
Sage Database Administrator 25 "SDA25" will not run on Windows Server 2012 "WS12"

Problem
Closing Payroll for end of year requires
Open SDA
Archive Company Data
Archive Oldest Payroll Year

I tried unistall ver 25, reinstall 24. It wont archive because Data files are currenty in Database Version 25

Other ideas I have are
1 - Upgrade Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard to Windows Server 2016 Standard
Worried may break compatability with our other VM Servers possibly????
2 - Downgrade Database file back to Ver 24 - Then Archive - Then upgrade back to 25. But how.
3 - Somehow make SDA25 run on WS2012
4 - Upload current backup to cloud - perform archive - Restore backup.

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DB Server
Disable Paperless
Uninstall Sage 100C 251300 - Install ver24
Backup current company

Install blank drive into spare pc
Dowload Server 2016 eval - Made bootable USB - Install
Rename server to match existing
Install Sage 100c Database admin 251300 - ignore 2019 SQL
Dotnet 3.5
Bat file SQL exp 2014 install
Sage Database Admin 25 - Restore backup - Tuneup
Authorise as admin
Install Sage 100C program
Run payroll year end
Remove employees
Backup Company and payroll company

Copy to DB Server
Sage Database 24 - Restore Company - Restore Payroll Company
Test OK
Enable Paperless
Test RAS access OK

9 Hours 1st day
6 hours 2nd day

Any wrong button push had to start over
Trial and error many failed restored
SQL and Sage Database admin version had to be exact

3x Server install
5x SQL install remove
5x Sage Database admin install remove

Final run took only 2 hours from scratch install 2016 server to SUCCESS!!!!
I didnt want to do but I had no choice. Learned enough to be dangerous.