Download Windows Server 2022 directly from the Microsoft Evaluation Center.
Select:
Windows Server 2022 | 64-bit ISO
The official Evaluation ISO includes:
✅ Windows Server 2022 Standard
✅ Windows Server 2022 Datacenter
Installation options include:
✅ Server Core
✅ Server with Desktop Experience
The Evaluation edition is initially valid for 180 days.
After installation, follow the conversion process below to convert the Evaluation installation to the appropriate full edition using your product key.
IMPORTANT — Choose the Correct Edition
If you purchased:
Windows Server 2022 Standard
Install:
Windows Server 2022 Standard Evaluation
Windows Server 2022 Datacenter
Install:
Windows Server 2022 Datacenter Evaluation
Also choose the correct installation type:
Server Core
A smaller installation without the traditional local Windows GUI.
Designed primarily for remote administration through:
- Windows Admin Center
- PowerShell
- Remote management tools
Server with Desktop Experience
Includes the traditional Windows graphical user interface.
If you prefer the familiar Windows desktop environment, select:
Server with Desktop Experience
Important Conversion Rules
Not every Evaluation installation can be converted to every retail edition.
Always check the supported target edition before applying your product key.
Run:
DISM /online /Get-TargetEditions
before attempting the conversion.
If your purchased edition does not appear in the results, do not attempt the conversion.
A clean installation of the correct edition may be required.
Activation & Evaluation Conversion Instructions
Step 1 — Download Windows Server 2022
Download the official Windows Server 2022 64-bit ISO from the Microsoft Evaluation Center.
You can:
- Create a bootable USB
- Burn the ISO to DVD
- Mount the ISO in a virtual machine
Step 2 — Install Windows Server 2022
During setup, choose the edition matching your purchase.
For example:
Windows Server 2022 Standard Evaluation
or:
Windows Server 2022 Datacenter Evaluation
Then choose:
Server Core
or:
Server with Desktop Experience
Complete the installation normally.
Step 3 — Open Command Prompt as Administrator
After installation, open:
Command Prompt
or:
PowerShell
using Run as Administrator.
Step 4 — Check the Current Edition
Run:
DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition
Evaluation installations normally contain:
Eval
in the edition name.
Examples:
ServerStandardEval
or:
ServerDatacenterEval
Step 5 — Check Supported Target Editions
Before entering your product key, run:
DISM /online /Get-TargetEditions
This tells you exactly which full editions your current installation can be converted to.
For Standard, look for:
ServerStandard
For Datacenter, look for:
ServerDatacenter
Only continue if the edition you purchased appears in this list.
Step 6 — Windows Server 2022 Standard Conversion
If you purchased Windows Server 2022 Standard and ServerStandard appears as a supported target, run:
DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula
Replace:
XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
with the product key supplied with your EasySoftwares order.
Step 7 — Windows Server 2022 Datacenter Conversion
If you purchased Windows Server 2022 Datacenter and ServerDatacenter appears as a supported target, run:
DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerDatacenter /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula
Replace the example key with your provided product key.
Step 8 — Wait for the Conversion
DISM will process the edition change.
Do not shut down or interrupt the server during this process.
Once completed, Windows Server will request a restart.
Restart the server.
Step 9 — Verify the Edition
After restarting, open an elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell window and run:
DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition
The edition should now appear without:
Eval
For example:
ServerStandard
or:
ServerDatacenter
Step 10 — Verify Activation
You can check the activation status using:
slmgr.vbs /dlv
For a shorter activation status check, run:
slmgr.vbs /xpr
Your Windows Server 2022 Standard or Datacenter installation is now ready to use.
Important Conversion Notes
⚠️ Always check the target edition first
Run:
DISM /online /Get-TargetEditions
before performing the conversion.
Do not assume that every Evaluation edition can convert to every full edition.
⚠️ Datacenter Evaluation Cannot Downgrade to Standard
If you installed:
Windows Server 2022 Datacenter Evaluation
you cannot convert it down to:
Windows Server 2022 Standard
using this process.
If you purchased Standard, install the correct Standard edition instead.
⚠️ Standard Desktop Experience Can Have Multiple Targets
A Standard Desktop Experience Evaluation installation may support conversion to:
- Standard
- Datacenter
Always confirm using Get-TargetEditions.
⚠️ Special Rule for Standard Server Core Evaluation
Microsoft states that since Windows Server 2016, a Standard Core Evaluation installation cannot be converted to retail Standard Core.
It can only be converted to an available Datacenter Core target.
Therefore, if you purchased a Windows Server 2022 Standard key and want Standard, using Server with Desktop Experience is the simpler Evaluation-to-Standard path.
Always verify using:
DISM /online /Get-TargetEditions
before purchasing or converting.
⚠️ Desktop Experience and Server Core Cannot Be Switched During Conversion
If you installed:
Desktop Experience
you cannot use the conversion process to change it into:
Server Core
and vice versa.
Choose the correct installation option during initial setup.
⚠️ Active Directory Domain Controllers
Microsoft does not support directly converting an Evaluation installation to retail while that server is operating as an Active Directory Domain Controller.
If you are building a new domain controller, complete the Evaluation-to-full conversion before promoting the server to a domain controller.