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Is it possible to upgrade Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard to Enterprise?

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  • This answer looks pretty good but keep in mind your question and subject ask about conversion to different versions of Windows (DataCenter or Enterprise). Which one is it?
    – songei2f
    Oct 4, 2011 at 12:08

1 Answer 1

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In their Windows Server 2008 R2 Upgrade Paths document, Microsoft indicates the following about cross-edition upgrades:

Cross-edition upgrades (for example, the Windows Server 2008 Foundation SKU to the Windows Server 2008 Datacenter SKU) are not supported.

However, it looks as though dism can be used to upgrade editions. See this Technet blog post for more details. Please note that the blog indicates this upgrade cannot be performed on a Domain Controller.

Display current edition:

PS C:\> dism /online /get-currentedition
Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 6.1.7600.16385
Image Version: 6.1.7600.16385
Current edition is:
Current Edition : ServerStandard
The operation completed successfully.

Check the available editions:

PS C:\> dism /online /get-targeteditions
Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 6.1.7600.16385
Image Version: 6.1.7600.16385
Editions that can be upgraded to:
Target Edition : ServerDataCenter
Target Edition : ServerEnterprise
The operation completed successfully.

Upgrade to Enterprise:

PS C:\> dism /online /Set-Edition:ServerEnterprise /ProductKey:489J6-VHDMP-X63PK-3K798-CPX3Y
...
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    This is great for a lab, not so great if you think you'll ever need support
    – Jim B
    Jan 21, 2012 at 16:56
  • @JimB This is a supported way to upgrade CALs from Microsoft. Also here are product keys that may be used if in KMS mode: technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff793421.aspx Jun 17, 2013 at 21:01
  • It may be supported by someone but I suspect most people will prefer Microsoft to support it. I wouldn't want to try to convince Microsoft to support my production issues when you specifically decide not to follow the explicitly spelled out as unsupported, cross edition upgrade.
    – Jim B
    Jun 18, 2013 at 18:35

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