I can't access my machine right now, but if it's like WHS v1 there is a client restore iso in the server shares.
hxxp://thepiratebay.org/torrent/6302332/Microsoft.Windows.Home.Server.2011-CRBS whs 2011 is up now too
That is the first thing I thought of, but when I looked for a client restore iso in the server shares of WHS 2011, I could not find anything. I am assuming that since these products are so similar, there won't be one in Windows Storage Server Essentials 2008 R2 either. I find this is pretty typical for torrents. Often those who upload have no understanding of the product, so they leave out important things. I think all they really care about is credit for being the first to upload, and probably have no intention of ever using the product.
Would there be any reason to go with Windows Home Server 2011 over Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials? Does it have any features that WSSE lacks?
Nope, they both support homegroup and media sharing, only difference I see is the user limit, domain joining and a different color splash screen
The version on piratebay is the same as msdn/technet. Totally virgin untouched. I downloaded the privatebay version and compared the sha1 numbers. They are identical.