After Windows Server 2016 was announced GA on Ignite 2016 I installed the 180 day evaluation version of the Standard edition. As a test / for research purposes I wondered if this edition could be converted to a licensed edition, and how this could be done.
So here goes.
KMS keys for Windows can be found here: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj612867.aspx
AVMA keys for Windows can be found here: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn303421.aspx
Running winver.exe shows us I’m tunning the Evaluation version:
Using the Activation option to try and activate with a KMS key throws an error:
If you installed the Evaluation version, you first need to convert this edition to the licensed edition.
So, back to good old dism.exe.
In an elevated prompt type the following line:
dism /online /set-edition:ServerStandard /productkey:WC2BQ-8NRM3-FDDYY-2BFGV-KHKQY /accepteula
The product key that is used here is the KMS key for Windows Server 2016 Standard Edition.
Reboot the server (it will reboot twice!).
Checking winver.exe:
In an elevated prompt type the following:
slmgr /ipk WC2BQ-8NRM3-FDDYY-2BFGV-KHKQY
Again, this is the KMS key for Windows Server 2016 Standard Edition.
After that, activate Windows by typing the following in an elevated prompt:
slmgr /ato
Of course, this will only work if you have a KMS host running on your network and have configured the KMS correctly.
Cheers
20+ years experience in Microsoft powered environments. Enjoy automating stuff using scripts, powershell, and even batch files. In my free time (hah! as if there is any) I hunt achievements and gamerscore on anything Xbox Live enabled (Windows Mobile, Windows 8, Windows 10, Xbox 360 and Xbox One). When I'm not doing that I enjoy traveling or riding my Yamaha R1 on the edge ;)
Arjan Mensch
msfreaks
Interesting enough that “dism /online /?” shows a switch called “/set-productkey”, which cannot be used on Online images. The help doesn’t show your “/productkey” switch, but this actually works and does what is needed! Good catch!