Microsoft Windows Server

How to Upgrade Windows Server 2012 to Server 2016

This article will helps you to upgrade from Windows Server 2012 to Windows Server 2016. If you need to keep the same hardware & all the server roles you have already setup without flattening the server, you will want to do an in-place upgrade. In-place upgrades permit you to go from an older OS to a newer one while keeping your settings, server roles, & data intact.

To upgrade to Windows Server 2019, use this topic first to upgrade to Windows Server 2016, and then upgrade windows server 2016 to 2019.

Before you begin your in-place upgrade

Before you began upgrade Windows Server, we suggest that you collect some information from your server, for diagnostic and troubleshooting purposes. Through this intelligence is purpose for use only if your upgrade fails, please make sure that you have store the information somewhere that you can get to it off of your device.

To collect your info

1- Run a command prompt, go to c:\Windows\system32, and then type systeminfo.exe.
Copy, paste & store the resulting system information somewhere off of your device.

command prompt systeminfo

2- Type ipconfig /all, and then copy & paste the resulting configuration information into the same location as above.

command prompt ipconfig all

After you have collected all the Windows Server-related information, we highly recommend that you take backup of your operating system, apps, and virtual machines. You can’t have any VM (virtual machines) running during the in-place upgrade.

Upgrade Windows Server 2012 to Server 2016

1- Please make sure that you are running Windows Server 2012. Right click on my computer (This PC) and then properties

system properties

2- Enter Windows Server 2016 Setup media, and then double click to run.

windows explorer

3- It is always best practice to get the latest updates, in case any important security patches have been released, so I would recommend keep the default setting. Click next.

get important updates for server

4- Checking the updates.

we are getting few things ready

5- Enter your Server 2016 Product Key and then click next.

your product key works

6- Here you can decide what type of operating system you want to upgrade, and click next.

server installation select image

7- Accept the license terms.

applicable notices and license terms

8- In this window, the Keep personal files and apps default option was chosen, so I cannot advise on the impact of choosing nothing. I would imagine that selecting this would delete everything, including any installed Server Roles. Proceed with this step at your own risk. Click next

keep personal files and apps

9- Here you will get a rather lengthy Getting Updates window.

gettings updates

10- Finally, before starting the installation, you are prompted with an interesting warning, which you have to dismiss (confirm) before the installation will start.

what needs your attention

11- The install check disk space.

your pc has enough space

12- Now the critical moment, review the settings that we have been specified and then select Install to start the process:

keep personal files and apps

13- The full-screen setup will start, preventing you from doing anything else on the Server throughout the process.

installing windows server 2016

14- This Server will restart several times after that. The whole process will take some time to complete the process.

working on updates

15- After the upgrade, you will be greeted with the new Windows Server 2016 login screen.

server 2016 login screen
Watch Video: How to upgrade Windows Server 2012 to Server 2016.
How to upgrade Windows Server 2012 to Server 2016.

For more details please visit Microsoft

Related: Upgrade Windows Server 2008 r2 to 2012

Watch Video: Upgrade Windows Server 2012 to Server 2016

Jamil Parvez

Jamil Pervez works as a Network Administrator, based in Kuwait with a Primary focus on Microsoft technologies. Microsoft Certified MCSE, MCTP, MCITP, CCNP, CCIP, CCVP with 20 years of experience in administering Windows Servers, Exchange, VMWare, Veeam B&R, Veritas BackupExec.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button