Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support. Feedback will be sent to Microsoft: By pressing the submit button, your feedback will be used to improve Microsoft products and services. Privacy policy. You can upgrade or convert installations of Windows Server to newer versions, different editions, or switch between licensing options, such as evaluation, retail, and volume licensed. This article helps explain what the options are to help with your planning.
The process of upgrading or converting installations of Windows Server might vary greatly depending on which version and edition you have installed, how it is licensed, and the pathway you take.
We use different terms to distinguish between actions, any of which could be involved in a deployment of Windows Server: clean install, in-place upgrade, cluster operating system OS rolling upgrade, migration, and license conversion. You can learn more about these terms at Install, upgrade, or migrate.
Below are general guidelines for in-place upgrade paths where Windows Server is already licensed that is, not evaluation :. You can convert windows server 2003 enterprise r2 cd key free download evaluation version of Windows Server to the retail version.
If you have installed the evaluation of Standard edition, you can convert it to the retail version of either the Standard edition or Datacenter edition. Similarly, if you have installed the evaluation of windows server 2003 enterprise r2 cd key free download Datacenter edition, you can only convert it to the retail version of the Datacenter edition.
If you haven't already activated Windows, the bottom right-hand corner of the desktop shows the time remaining in the evaluation period.
For releases of Windows Server prior to Starting with version Before you attempt to convert from evaluation to retail, verify that your server is actually running an evaluation version. To do this, launch an elevated command prompt and run the command slmgr. If the server is running an evaluation version of Windows Server Standard edition or Windows Server Datacenter edition, you can convert it to a retail version as follows:.
From an elevated command prompt or PowerShell session, run the following command to save the Microsoft Software License Terms for Windows Server, which you can then review:. Determine the current edition name by running the command below. The output is an abbreviated form of the edition name, for example Windows Server Datacenter edition is ServerDatacenter :. Verify which editions the current installation can be converted to by running the command below.
The evaluation version of Windows Server Standard can be converted to the retail version of either the Standard or Datacenter editions of Windows Server, whereas the evaluation version of Windows Server Datacenter can only be converted to the retail version Windows Server Datacenter:. Make note of the target edition name you want to convert to, and enter this and your retail product key in the command below.
You can convert from the evaluation version of Windows Server Standard to the retail version of Windows Server Datacenter in one step by using the appropriate product key and edition ID. For more information about Dism.
If the server is an Active Directory windows server 2003 enterprise r2 cd key free download controller, you cannot convert it to a retail version. In this case, install an additional domain controller on a server that runs a retail version, migrate any FSMO roles held, and remove Active Directory Domain Services AD DS from the domain controller that runs on the evaluation version. If the server is windows server 2003 enterprise r2 cd key free download Windows Server Essentials, you can convert it to the full retail version by entering a retail, windows server 2003 enterprise r2 cd key free download license, or OEM key by launching an elevated command prompt and entering it as part of the following command:.
You can also run setup. If you run setup. Determine that Windows Server Standard is the current edition name by running the command below.
The output is an abbreviated form of the edition name, for example Windows Server Standard edition is ServerStandard :. Verify that Windows Server Datacenter is a valid option to convert to by running the following command:. At any time after installing Windows Server, you can freely convert between a retail license, a volume-licensed license, or an OEM license.
The edition Standard or Datacenter remains the same during this conversion. If you are starting with an evaluation version, convert it to the retail version firstthen you can convert between the versions. To do this, run the following command from an elevated command prompt, including providing your volume-license, retail, or OEM product key:. Skip to main content. This browser is no longer supported. Download Microsoft Edge More info.
Contents Exit focus mode. Please rate your experience Yes No. Any additional feedback? Important For releases of Windows Server prior to Note Before you attempt to convert from evaluation to retail, verify that your server is actually running an evaluation version. Tip You can convert from the evaluation version of Windows Server Standard to the retail version of Windows Server Datacenter in one step by using the appropriate product key and windows server 2003 enterprise r2 cd key free download ID.
Tip For more information about Dism. Important If the server is an Active Directory domain controller, you cannot convert it to a retail version. Submit and view feedback for This product This page. View all page feedback. In this article.
