Upgrading Windows Server 2016 Standard Evaluation to Full Version

Evaluation versions are great for testing new environments, but upgrading to the full version is not as simple as changing the product keys.

I tried that recently with Windows Server 2016 Standard Evaluation and it returned the message “This edition cannot be upgraded.”

Fortunately, upgrading is as simple as using the command line.

The first thing that has to be done is opening the command line in an evaluated mode (administrator mode).

This can be done in several ways but I find right clicking and selecting ‘Run as administrator‘ as the easiest way.

Then enter the following command:

DISM /Online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:Your-VLK-Product-Key-For-WindowsStandard /AcceptEULA

You will obviously have to enter the product key for your full version.

Once the command completes, it may require a reboot.