Can't convert windows server standard core version to licensed copy.

[jasonmphillips]

I have a case where customer installed 2019 Server Standard Core EVAL version and has it all setup and configured for production and we can’t convert it to non-EVAL version.

I did a new install myself in a VM and confirm you can’t convert 2019 Standard Core to full licensed copy. The only option given when converting it is to convert to Datacenter. In Microsoft’s documentation they mentioned this occurred with earlier versions of 2016 and it seems to have carried over to 2019 and 2022 as well from what I have found online. Can someone at Microsoft confirm this is the intended behavior and have them update their documentation to reflect it? Or have them tell us if this is a bug and have it corrected and if there is any other way to get this Server Standard Core EVAL to convert to a licensed copy.

Thanks, Jason

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/upgrade-conversion-options

C:\Users\Administrator>dism /online /get-currentedition

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.17763.1697

Image Version: 10.0.17763.2565

Current edition is:

Current Edition : ServerStandardEvalCor

The operation completed successfully.

C:\Users\Administrator>dism /online /get-targeteditions

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.17763.1697

Image Version: 10.0.17763.2565

Editions that can be upgraded to:

Target Edition : ServerDatacenterCor

The operation completed successfully.

C:\Users\Administrator>DISM /online /Set-Edition:serverstandardcor /ProductKey:N69G4-B89J2-4G8F4-WWYCC-J464C /AcceptEula

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.17763.1697

Image Version: 10.0.17763.2565

Starting to update components...
Starting to install product key...
Finished installing product key.

Finished updating components.

Starting to apply edition-specific settings...

Error: 1168

An error occurred while applying target edition component settings. The upgrade cannot proceed.
For more information, review the log file.

The DISM log file can be found at C:\Windows\Logs\DISM\dism.log

2022-03-02 07:42:34, Info DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=3772 TID=3760 Migrating product key values from [Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\DefaultProductKey2] to [Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion] and [ControlSet001\Control\ProductOptions]... - CTransmogManager::MigrateDigitalProductKey
2022-03-02 07:42:34, Info DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=3772 TID=3760 Successfully migrated product key information. - CTransmogManager::MigrateDigitalProductKey
2022-03-02 07:42:34, Info DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=3772 TID=3760 Successfully migrated the product key. - CTransmogManager::UpdateComponents
2022-03-02 07:42:34, Info DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=3772 TID=3760 Successfully updated components. - CTransmogManager::UpdateComponents
2022-03-02 07:42:34, Info DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=3772 TID=3760 Successfully updated components from [ServerStandardEvalCor] to [serverstandardcor] - CTransmogManager::TransmogrifyWorker
2022-03-02 07:42:34, Info DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=3772 TID=3760 Copying edition override file from [C:\Windows\Servicing\Editions\serverstandardcorEdition.xml] to [C:\Windows\serverstandardcor.xml] - CTransmogManager::ProjectEditionOverrideFile
2022-03-02 07:42:34, Info DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=3772 TID=3760 Installing edition license file for edition [serverstandardcor] - CTransmogManager::ProjectEditionLicenseFile
2022-03-02 07:42:34, Error DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=3772 TID=2648 Failed to copy edition license file. - ThreadSkuInstallEula(hr:0x80070490)
2022-03-02 07:42:34, Error DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=3772 TID=3760 Thread for Installing EULA Failed. - CTransmogManager::ProjectEditionLicenseFile(hr:0x80070490)
2022-03-02 07:42:34, Error DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=3772 TID=3760 Failed to apply edition settings - CTransmogManager::ApplyEditionSettings(hr:0x80070490)
2022-03-02 07:42:34, Error DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=3772 TID=3760 Failed to apply edition settings for [serverstandardcor] - CTransmogManager::TransmogrifyWorker
2022-03-02 07:42:34, Error DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=3772 TID=3760 [Upgrading system]: An error occurred while applying target edition component settings. The upgrade cannot proceed.
For more information, review the log file.
[hrError=0x80070490] - CTransmogManager::EventError
2022-03-02 07:42:34, Error DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=3772 TID=3760 Failed to Upgrade! - CTransmogManager::TransmogrifyWorker(hr:0x80070490)
2022-03-02 07:42:34, Error DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=3772 TID=3760 Failed to upgrade! - CTransmogManager

[#2]

I'd assume its an uncorrected bug. I just now tried a new 2019 core eval and using the same KMS key throws error 1168. Also tried a VS subscription key and that throws error 87

[#3]

Thanks for the reply Dave. Do you have any contacts at Microsoft to send this to or know if they read these posts and help resolve issues posted here? This is my first post here so not familiar with the process.

[#4]

I did just try converting to ServerDataCenterCor using a KMS key and that did work. You might try pinging Elden here. Elden Christensen (@EldenCluster) / Twitter

[#5]

Tomorrow I'll try this with the Server 2022 eval and if it does the same thing, I do have an internal email group I can bring it up in. 

[#6]

Thanks Dave

[#7]

Any results? I am running into the same issue now - I have 3 Server 2022 Core installs I cannot activate from Eval to Full - it throws the same error as above "Failed to copy edition license file."

Any resolvement for this issue?

[#8]

@ThaDaVos I have the same problem. Last step to put server in production and now we cant activate properly.

It seems there was something related on 2016 version. See the quote from https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/upgrade-conversion-options

 "Important

For releases of Windows Server 2016 prior to 14393.0.161119-1705.RS1_REFRESH, you can only convert from evaluation to retail when Windows Server has been installed with the Server with Desktop Experience installation option (not Server Core). Starting with version 14393.0.161119-1705.RS1_REFRESH and later releases, you can convert evaluation editions to retail regardless of the installation option used."

[#9]

Converting an evaluation version to a retail version (Server Core) · Issue #7017 · MicrosoftDocs/win...