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Upgrading Windows Server 2012 Standard as Domain Controller to Datacenter

I mistakenly installed Windows Server 2012 Standard Edition in a virtual machine.  A contractor arrived and promoted it to be the new domain controller.  All was well until the next day I attempted to activate Windows and realized it was the wrong version (we have a volume license).  The previous domain controller is still online, but the new one is the primary.  There is also another server that is the backup domain controller.

How can I upgrade the new domain controller from 2012 Standard to 2012 Datacenter?  I know I can upgrade Standard to Datacenter if not a DC using powershell.  Can I demote the DC, upgrade it, and promote it back to a DC?  Would that work?  Thanks.  Oh.  All servers are on the same subnet.  The DC is also running our DNS and DHCP services.
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Syed Muhammad Usman
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The key for me in getting this resolved was the confirmation of which DC held the FSMO roles.  Using the netdom query fsmo did the trick as I found that the Schema Master role was not where I thought it was.  I was able to transfer that role to the desired DC and then I was able to transfer the other roles to the same desired DC.  Now I can upgrade the 2012 Std server after demoting it.  Thanks Syed.