Windows Server evaluation editions run fully-featured for 180 days before shutting down repeatedly and eventually becoming unusable. If you're past the point of wanting to reinstall from scratch, DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) can convert that evaluation install to the matching full retail or volume-licensed edition in place — no reinstall required.
Before You Start
- A Windows Server installation currently running an evaluation edition
- A genuine Windows Server product key for the target edition
- Administrator access to an elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell
- A recent backup or snapshot before making the change, as a safety net
1.Confirm you're on an evaluation edition
Open an elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell and run: DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition. The output confirms whether the current install is flagged as an evaluation SKU.
2.List valid target editions
Run: DISM /online /Get-TargetEditions
This returns the specific full editions your current evaluation install is eligible to convert to — you can only convert within the same product family (for example, Standard Evaluation converts to Standard, not Datacenter).
3.Run the edition conversion
Run: DISM /online /Set-Edition:<TargetEdition> /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula
Use the exact edition ID from the previous step's output and your full-version license key. This step can take several minutes.
4.Reboot to complete the conversion
The server restarts automatically once DISM finishes preparing the change. Don't power it off manually during this process.
Confirm the conversion succeeded
After reboot, check System Properties (right-click This PC > Properties, or Settings > System > About) — the evaluation notice and countdown should be gone entirely.
You can also re-run DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition; it should now report the full edition name rather than an evaluation SKU.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| "Error: 0x8007007b — The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect" | A typo in the edition name, which is case- and spelling-sensitive. | Copy the exact edition ID from the /Get-TargetEditions output rather than typing it from memory. |
| Server won't boot after the conversion reboot | Rare, but can happen if the process was interrupted mid-conversion. | Boot into Safe Mode or use recovery media to check the event log for the specific failure, and consider restoring from the backup taken before starting. |
| Chosen target edition doesn't appear in /Get-TargetEditions | You're trying to convert across product families (e.g. Standard to Datacenter), which DISM doesn't support directly. | A cross-family edition change requires a fresh installation of the target edition rather than an in-place conversion. |
