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How to upgrade from Windows Server 2008 R2

3 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Typical Windows users are probably already aware that Microsoft ispulling the plug on Windows 7, and that they now have to migrate toWindows 10. However, what some of you don’t know is thatWindows Server2008 isalso being discontinued.

This means that server administrators are left with only one choice: Upgrading toWindows Server 2012.

The upgrade process forWindows Serveris different from the typical user OS. That is why we’ve decided to create this step-by-step guide that will show you exactly how you can perform the upgrade yourself.

Note:Before proceeding with the upgrade, we recommend that you follow these steps to ensure that no data will be lost and that the installation process goes smoothly:

For more information on how you can back up yourWindows Serverdata, check out thisin-depth guide.

How do I upgrade from Windows Server 2008 R2?

How do I upgrade from Windows Server 2008 R2?

In order to migrate from Windows Server 2008 R2 to eitherWindows Server 2012or 2016, simply follow these steps:

The in-place upgrade will now start, and once it is finished, your server will restart.

By following these steps, you should be able to upgrade your Windows Server 2008 R2 toWindows Server 2012. Keep note that upgrading to Windows Server 2016 or Windows Server 2019 goes in pretty much an identical manner as mentioned above.

The only difference between the setups is that with the 2016 and 2019 upgrades, you will also have to provide the License Key somewhere during the installation process.

As you can see, the upgrade process For Windows Server is fairly simple, with backing up your data being the biggest headache.

Did you find this article to be useful? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Teodor Nechita

Eager to help those in need, Teodor writes articles daily on subjects regarding Windows, Xbox, and all things tech-related.

When not working, you may usually find him either at the gym or taking a stroll in the park, trying to find inspiration for the next articles he may write.

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