Activate Windows Server 2012 Evaluation version to Full Version

I often used to install evaluation version of Windows Server 2012 for testing of different scenarios. Afterwards if I want to upgrade or activate the Windows Server 2012 to full retail version, here are few commands for it. There commands are given below with screen shots as well;

DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management Tool) command line tool will help to perform the above task. Basically, DISM is used to prepare a Windows Preinstallation Environment and to services a windows image. In my separate post I will discuss DISM in detail. Here we will use it to upgrade evaluation version of Windows Server 2012 to full retail version. Here are the steps to follow;

1)      First of all, you need to open command prompt in elevated mode (Run as Administrator) by clicking windows button at bottom left corner showing in fig-1 below;

2)      When command prompt will be opened you have to type the following command and check about the current version of Windows Server 2012 fig-2;

DISM /online /Get-CurrentEditon

3)      Once you get your current version now you must check to which target version/edition you can upgrade your current version/edition fig-3;

DISM /online /Get-TargetEditions

4)      After finding out to which target version/edition you can upgrade now its time to upgrade to your required version by typing following command showing in fig-4;

DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerDatacenter /productkey:XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX /AcceptEula