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Meraj mohdFlag for Germany

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Windows server activation key

Dear Experts,

It might be stupid question but I need to ask. Can I supply product key of windows server 2016 standard edition  to Windows server 2016 Data center edition Evaluation. Will it automatically down grade the installed Data center edition to standard edition or OS will refuse to accept the standard edition product key. Please share your experiences Thanks
(Virtual environment Hyper-V)
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☠ MASQ ☠

No it won't activate.  You can activate Standard with DC keys but not the other way around.
As Coolie Sheppard has mentioned, you cannot downgrade it like you can upgrade.  But, you can do an upgrade install, basically a refresh, in Windows 10 lingo.  Saving all files and settings.
Not sure how this will work if you have roles installed.
Would advise to do a trial run in a Virtual Lab environment, by taking a disk2vhd image or just copying the .vhdx and configuration files to a new VM.  That way you aren't burning any bridges, and will know for sure what you will end up with.
You may have to convert it first.

You'll need to open an elevated command prompt or powershell to convert it first.  Enter your correct Product Key instead of the 0s

dism /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandardEdition /ProductKey:00000-00000-00000-00000-00000 /AcceptEula
Did not know that DISM could downgrade. I have never seen Microsoft show it either...  If it works, good to know.

I have been creating all my images with standard, and inputting an enterprise key at first setup seems to do an upgrade...
Did not know that DISM could downgrade. I have never seen Microsoft show it either...  If it works, good to know.

I have been creating all my images with standard, and inputting an enterprise key at first setup seems to do an upgrade...

DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition to know the version and after;

DISM /online /Get-TargetEditions to know what it can be switched to

If ServerStandard is given back as an answer as a TargetEdition it might work.
You can absolutely do this in the Eval edition. I've got it running in a VM right now, and here's the output of the Dism command:

User generated image
I generally install the Evaluation version before someone gets their license squared away, so I've always been able to upgrade or downgrade.  I have not tried it after an edition has been licensed.
Well, I'm afraid I have to take it back. Upon further review, that VM was running the Standard Eval edition. I installed a new one running the Datacenter Eval, and here's the new output:

User generated image
It looks like it can't be done after all.
Eval activation is strictly one-way. You can only upgrade it. You can't activate DC using a Std Key  and get a Std installation (which was the original question) .
That is what I thought... Up is the only way you can go...
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Meraj mohd
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