Upgrade windows server 2016 to 2019

How to upgrade windows server 2016 to windows server 2019

Windows Server 2019 is a new server in Microsoft family. you can easily upgrade your windows server 2016 in windows server 2019 keeping your settings, server roles, and data intact. If you want to upgrade your windows server 2016 to server 2019 on the same hardware with all the server roles without formatting use the following steps.

Before you start to upgrade your Windows Server, collect all information from your server 2016, for diagnostic and troubleshooting purposes. This information is required for use only if your upgrade fails, you must make sure that you store this information of another device. 

Windows Server 2019 features.

Windows Admin Center

Desktop experience

System Insights

Server Core app compatibility feature on demand

Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP)

Security with Software Defined Networking (SDN)

HTTP/2 for a faster and safer Web

Storage Spaces Direct

Storage Replica


Failover Clustering

Collect Server information

1. Open a command prompt go to c:\Windows\system32, and then type systeminfo.exe and press enter.

2. Copy all resulting system information and store somewhere on another device.

3. Open a command prompt, type ipconfig /all and then Copy all resulting system information and store somewhere on another device.

4. Open the Registry Editor, Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion hive, and then copy and paste the Windows Server BuildLabEx (version) and EditionID (edition) into the same location as above.

After collected the all data of your Windows Server-related information, take the backup of your operating system, apps, and virtual machines. You must also Shut down, Quick migrate, or Live migrate any virtual machines currently running on the server.

1. Extract Windows Server 2019 Setup ISO file and double click on setup.exe.

2. Click on Yes to start the setup process.

3. Internet Access requires download updates, drivers, and optional features (recommended) option and click on Next.

4. Setup will check your server configuration, you must wait some time to finish the step and click on Next.

5. Enter your server licensing key to continue.

6. Select the Windows Server 2019 edition what you want to install, and click on Next.

7. Click on Accept to accept the terms of your licensing agreement.

8. Setup will recommend that you Remove antivirus using Add/Remove programs.

9. Select Keep personal files and apps to choose to do an in-place upgrade and click on Next.

10. After Setup analyzes completed click on Install.

11. Once the server upgrades start, it's showing you the Upgrading Windows screen with its progress. After the upgrade finishes, your server will restart.

12 After your upgrade is done make sure the upgrade to Windows Server 2019 was successful.

13. Click on start and search Regedit

14, When registry editor opens, navigate to  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion key, and view the ProductName. You should see your  Windows Server 2019 edition.