Using DISM to upgrade your OS Version

In the past, you may have used Microsoft’s DISM utility to free up and reclaim hard drive space (see here) but Chris Hahn sent over a follow up with another great use for DISM.

Another nice function of DISM is for upgrading the OS version. You can use it to upgrade from standard to enterprise or datacenter via the command line without reinstallation.  Super handy!  See sample syntax below –

C:\Windows\System32\>Dism /online /Set-Edition:ServerEnterprise /ProductKey:xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 6.1.7600.16385
Image Version: 6.1.7600.16385

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

Removing package Microsoft-Windows-ServerStandardEdition~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.1.7601.17514

[==========================100.0%==========================]

Finished updating components.
Starting to apply edition-specific settings…
Restart Windows to complete this operation.

Do you want to restart the computer now (Y/N)?

For those interested in reading up some more on DISM, here is the technet reference:
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd744256(WS.10).aspx

Quick guide to understanding Windows Version Numbers

We refer to Windows versions using lots of different words and numbers, so after noticing a minor change in WinVer.exe’s display in the latest Windows 10 release, I thought I’d use the opportunity to break down some of the versioning vocabulary and provide the Registry locations where the various bits of info can be found, […]

Read more

Thanks Chris!
CARLO

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