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Converting Windows evalutation to a standard instance

Let’s say, for example, that you downloaded an evaluation of Windows from the Microsoft site, and after evaluating it for a period of time, you decide that you’re satisfied with the product and want to make it a permanent feature in your environment.

It might be a pain to have to reinstall a non-evalation copy of the OS and start from scratch. No one likes to work hard, when they can work smart instead. Luckily, there is a fully supported method to convert your evaluation instance of Windows into a ‘normal’ installation. Follow along with the steps below to make this journey a realisation.

Before you start

For Key Management Services (KMS) installations (non-MAK or retail), review the Generic Volume License Keys (GVLK) information at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/kms-client-activation-keys. GVLKs are used when your environment has a KMS server deploy to issue licensing.

EditionGVLK
Windows Server 2022 DatacenterWX4NM-KYWYW-QJJR4-XV3QB-6VM33
Windows Server 2022 Datacenter
Azure Edition		NTBV8-9K7Q8-V27C6-M2BTV-KHMXV
Windows Server 2022 StandardVDYBN-27WPP-V4HQT-9VMD4-VMK7H
Windows Server 2019 DatacenterWMDGN-G9PQG-XVVXX-R3X43-63DFG
Windows Server 2019 StandardN69G4-B89J2-4G8F4-WWYCC-J464C
Windows Server 2019 EssentialsWVDHN-86M7X-466P6-VHXV7-YY726
Windows Server 2016 DatacenterCB7KF-BWN84-R7R2Y-793K2-8XDDG
Windows Server 2016 StandardWC2BQ-8NRM3-FDDYY-2BFGV-KHKQY
Windows Server 2016 EssentialsJCKRF-N37P4-C2D82-9YXRT-4M63B
Windows 11 Pro
Windows 10 Pro		W269N-WFGWX-YVC9B-4J6C9-T83GX
Windows 11 Enterprise
Windows 10 Enterprise		NPPR9-FWDCX-D2C8J-H872K-2YT43

Windows Server Standard or Datacenter instances

  1. Open a Power Shell prompt and determine the name of the current edition:
DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.20348.1

Image Version: 10.0.20348.587

Current edition is:

Current Edition : ServerStandardEval

The operation completed successfully.
  1. 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:
DISM /online /Get-TargetEditions

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.20348.1

Image Version: 10.0.20348.587

Editions that can be upgraded to:

Target Edition : ServerStandard
Target Edition : ServerDatacenter

The operation completed successfully.
  1. Make note of the target edition name you want to convert to, and enter this and your retail product key in the command below. This process requires you to accept the Microsoft Software License Terms for Windows Server you saved previously.
DISM /online /Set-Edition:<edition_ID> /AcceptEula /ProductKey:<product_key>
DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /AcceptEula /ProductKey:VDYBN-27WPP-V4HQT-9VMD4-VMK7H

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.20348.1

Image Version: 10.0.20348.587

Starting to update components...
Starting to install product key...
Finished installing product key.

Adding package Microsoft-Windows-ServerStandardEdition~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.20348.587
[==========================100.0%==========================]
Finished updating components.

Starting to apply edition-specific settings...
Finished applying edition-specific settings.

The operation completed successfully.
Restart Windows to complete this operation.
Do you want to restart the computer now? (Y/N)

This will prompt you to restart the device and complete the process.

Activation

If you have a KMS server, now would be a good time to activate the Windows instance against it.

From a command prompt, you can follow the below steps to complete the activation.

  1. Apply the KMS client key, if the key wasn’t applied as part of the process above:
slmgr /ipk <license_key>
  1. Set the KMS server address/identity. You could try using kms9.msguides.com as a test:
slmgr /skms <kms_server>
slmgr /skms kms9.msguides.com
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.812
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Key Management Service machine name set to kms9.msguides.com successfully.
  1. Request activation:
slmgr /ato
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.812
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Activating Windows(R), ServerStandard edition (9bd77860-9b31-4b7b-96ad-2564017315bf) ...
Product activated successfully.
  1. You can check the activation information using the following commands:
slmgr /dli
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.812
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.


Name: Windows(R), ServerStandard edition
Description: Windows(R) Operating System, VOLUME_KMSCLIENT channel
Partial Product Key: VMK7H
License Status: Licensed
Volume activation expiration: 259200 minute(s) (180 day(s))
Configured Activation Type: All

Most recent activation information:
Key Management Service client information
    Client Machine ID (CMID): ce098f04-868e-43e0-a4f8-479e46f3e82e
    Registered KMS machine name: kms9.msguides.com:1688
    KMS machine IP address: 193.29.63.133
    KMS machine extended PID: 55041-00206-556-944223-03-5127-7601.0000-1812020
    Activation interval: 480 minutes
    Renewal interval: 172800 minutes
    KMS host caching is enabled

slmgr /dlv
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.812
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Software licensing service version: 10.0.20348.587

Name: Windows(R), ServerStandard edition
Description: Windows(R) Operating System, VOLUME_KMSCLIENT channel
Activation ID: 9bd77860-9b31-4b7b-96ad-2564017315bf
Application ID: 55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-d6ec3f16059f
Extended PID: 03612-04541-000-000001-03-1033-20348.0000-2442023
Product Key Channel: Volume:GVLK
Installation ID: 613879317066513432774842889453366509908694147324421456036695440
Partial Product Key: VMK7H
License Status: Licensed
Volume activation expiration: 259199 minute(s) (180 day(s))
Remaining Windows rearm count: 1001
Remaining SKU rearm count: 1001
Trusted time: 1/09/2023 8:45:32 PM
Configured Activation Type: All

Most recent activation information:
Key Management Service client information
    Client Machine ID (CMID): ce098f04-868e-43e0-a4f8-479e46f3e82e
    Registered KMS machine name: kms9.msguides.com:1688
    KMS machine IP address: 193.29.63.133
    KMS machine extended PID: 55041-00206-556-944223-03-5127-7601.0000-1812020
    Activation interval: 480 minutes
    Renewal interval: 172800 minutes
    KMS host caching is enabled

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