You might be looking into the possibility to convert the Windows Server Evaluation edition to the retail edition. We'll look at how to install a license key to transform Windows Server 2019 from the Evaluation version to the retail one.
Vladan Seget

Microsoft calls this license conversion. In some releases of Windows Server, you can also freely convert among OEM, volume-licensed, and retail versions with the same command and the appropriate key.

Cases in which you run an evaluation and then need to convert it to retail are numerous. Yes, this is really useful for environments created for a proof-of-concept (POC) purpose that then decide to go to production. In such cases, it's a great time-saver because you don't have to start from scratch.

Some features of Windows Server 2019 need the Datacenter edition instead of the Standard edition installed. You should know you can also convert the Standard to the Datacenter edition without reinstalling, and this post will show you how.

The possibility of converting a Microsoft OS isn't new, but previously, back in the day, this was not really possible.

Although in this post we'll focus only on converting licenses or editions, you might be looking also for upgrade options. There's support for some use cases but not others.

Supported and unsupported cases

There are situations when an upgrade won't work. Let's have a look.

If you think that upgrading between server versions is easy, it might be in some situations. You should not underestimate it. But you need to be aware of some considerations first.

Here are a couple of known facts about upgrading from a previous release of Windows Server (WS 2012 or WS 2016):

  • There's no support for upgrading from one language to another. You'll have to upgrade to the same language. You can then change the language UI only.
  • If you have a domain controller (DC), you'll need to run a Forestprep and Domainprep prior to the upgrade. You should follow the usual Microsoft checklist concerning DCs before the upgrade.
  • There's no support for converting the Core edition to Server with the UI, even though some sources have been saying Microsoft will finally implement this in WS 2019. They have not.
  • You can't downgrade from Standard back to Eval. There's no support for upgrading from a previous Windows Server installation to an evaluation copy. You can and should install evaluation versions as clean installs.
  • You can convert the evaluation version of Windows Server 2019 Standard to either Windows Server 2019 Standard (retail) or Datacenter (retail).

Upgrade Windows Server 2019 Evaluation to Full

If you have installed Windows Server 2019 StandardEvaluation or DatacenterEvaluation, you have essentially only 180 days to test any features of the new server platform version. This might be enough for some but not for others.

During this period, all features of Windows Server 2019 are fully working and available. However, after the trial period is over, the system starts to ask for activation and powers down every hour. This is quite annoying.

The Windows License expiration notice displays on regular basis.

This edition cannot be upgraded

This edition cannot be upgraded

First, check the version that's running with this command:

DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition

You'll see a message about the edition you currently have.

Get the current edition

Get the current edition

Now we can get the list of editions you can convert your current Eval edition to:

DISM /online /Get-TargetEditions

And you should get this output:

Get target editions

Get target editions

To upgrade to the edition you want, you can run a PowerShell command to perform the actual edition upgrade. You'll need, however, a valid serial number to do this.

Run this command:

DISM /online /Set-Edition: /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula

So to upgrade from Eval to Standard, use this command:
DISM /Online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx /AcceptEula

From Eval to Datacenter, use this command:
DISM /Online /Set-Edition:ServerDatacenter /ProductKey:xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx /AcceptEula

You'll get a prompt to reboot the server during which the server will change its edition.

The server will run through the image-conversion process and then restart twice. After the server reboots, you'll need to reactivate it and enter the key again.

How to convert the Standard edition to Datacenter

This is basically the same process as above. The main difference is the system we're on is on Standard already, not Eval.

We'll be using PowerShell, even if apparently other ways exist. From an elevated command prompt, use this command:

DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition

You'll see a message about the edition you currently have.

Get the current edition Standard

Get the current edition Standard

Then simply run this command, which is the same as the one to go from Eval Standard to Datacenter:

DISM /Online /Set-Edition:ServerDatacenter /ProductKey:xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx /AcceptEula

You must enter a valid product key to continue with the upgrade process. It'll ask you to reboot.

It's worth noting that if you've used an evaluation edition to build a DC for your POC, you can't change the edition. You'll either need to build a new DC, demote the evaluation edition DC, or convert Eval to Standard (or Datacenter) and then promote it again for a DC.

You can also use this command to change your edition between other types, such as Datacenter or Essentials.

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By simply running a few PowerShell commands, you can check the currently installed edition, see which version you can upgrade to, and also run the actual upgrade PowerShell command.

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40 Comments
  1. Avatar
    Sunil 3 years ago

    For what its worth: I was able to accomplish this by copying to the ISO for 2019 SE to the Eval desktop, opening it (explorer mounts it as a drive) and run setup… took only a few minutes to upgrade and then I was able to put the paid for key into the activation wizard and be on my way.

    This assumes you are using the desktop version of course.

     

  2. Avatar
    jackrm85 3 years ago

    Hi,

    i can't convert my windows server 2019 essential evalutaion to OEM license.

    I created a VM and installed windows server 2019 Essentials Evaluation and after 3 months I decided to buy the original license (OEM).
    Activation fails and generates an error message:
    The product key entered does not work. Check it and try again or enter a different one (0xc0020036)
    From cmd, it reports Error 87, Invalid Product Code KEy.
    I tried these commands:
    slmgr -ipk <KEY>
    (0xc0020036) On a computer running a non-core edition of Microsft windows, run slui 0x02 0xC0020036 to view the error text. If I run the command it tells me "No Endpoint available in the endpoint mapping"

    I tried to do these procedures but without success:

    sfc / scannow
    dism / online / cleanup-image / restorehealth

    Windows Server 2019 Essential is not a Domain Controller, there are no Antivirus and the only firewall is the Defender that I have also tried to disable.

    What can I do to activate the license?

  3. Avatar
    Chris Turpin 3 years ago

    DISM /Online /Set-Edition:ServerDatacenter /ProductKey:xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx /AcceptEula

     

    is no longer.  It is as follows

     

    DISM /Online /Set-Edition:ServerDatacenter  /AcceptEula /ProductKey:xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx 

    • Avatar
      Rudy 4 weeks ago

      still doesnt work

  4. Avatar
    Andrea Bufalo 2 years ago

    worked perfect for me. Thank you so much!

  5. Avatar
    Lindsay Mathieson 2 years ago

    Worked perfectly, thankyou!

  6. Avatar
    Ramtin 2 years ago

    Hi, I installed Windows Server 2016 on my computer, and when I installed it, it asked me which Windows to select. I also selected Windows Server Dasta Center, and after installing Windows on my computer, it asks me I need the administrator password. I do not know, but I do not know what the password. Please help me, thank you

  7. Avatar
    Joe Volence 1 year ago

    I was able to convert eval to standard using a DC using server 2022. Maybe they changed it so this is supported now?

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