How to Convert (Upgrade) Windows Server 2019/2016 Evaluation to

Full Version?

Microsoft invites everyone to get acquainted with the features of the server platform using trial
versions of Windows Server 2019 or Windows Server 2016
(StandardEvaluation or DatacenterEvaluation). By filling out a short form, you can
download Windows Server 2019 on-premises Free Trial or Windows Server 2016 Evaluation for
free here. After installing Windows Server Evaluation, you have 180 days to test its capabilities.
During this time, the full functionality of Windows Server 2019/2016/2022 is available to you.

When using the Evaluation version of Windows Server, the desktop displays the current build and
the time until the end of the grace period (Windows License valid for 180 days).

At any time, you can display the time until the end of the grace period for an evaluation version
of Windows Server:
Slmgr /dli
You can see the product name, description (TIMEBASED_EVAL channel), and activation
expiration time.

After the expiration of the trial period, Windows Server starts requiring activation and shutting
down every hour with the following events in the Event Viewer:

Log Name: System

Source: USER32
Event ID: 1074
Description:
The process C:\Windows\system32\wlms\wlms.exe Server1 has initiated the shutdown of
computer Server1 on behalf of user NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM for the following reason:
Other (Planned)
Reason Code: 0x80000000
Shutdown Type: shutdown
Comment: The license period for this installation of Windows has expired. The
operating system is shutting down.
Or:
Log Name:   Application
Source:       WLMS
Event ID:     100
Description: The license period for this installation of Windows has expired. The
operating system will shut down every hour.

The desktop background will turn black, and a notification “Windows Licenses is expired” will
appear in the lower right corner.