Upgrade Windows Server 2008 R2 to Windows Server 2012 R2

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If yous want to keep the same hardware and all the server roles you've already set up upwardly without flattening the server, you lot'll desire to do an in-place upgrade. An in-place upgrade allows you to go from an older operating system to a newer one, while keeping your settings, server roles, and data intact. This article helps y'all to move from Windows Server 2008 R2 to Windows Server 2012 R2.

To upgrade to Windows Server 2019, use this topic start to upgrade to Windows Server 2012 R2, and and so upgrade from Windows Server 2012 R2 to Windows Server 2019.

Before you brainstorm your in-identify upgrade

Before y'all beginning your Windows Server upgrade, nosotros recommend that you collect some data from your devices, for diagnostic and troubleshooting purposes. Considering this information is intended for utilise only if your upgrade fails, you must make sure that you store the information somewhere that yous tin become to information technology off of your device.

To collect your info

  1. Open a command prompt, go to c:\Windows\system32, so type systeminfo.exe.

  2. Copy, paste, and shop the resulting system data somewhere off of your device.

  3. Type ipconfig /all into the command prompt, and then copy and paste the resulting configuration information into the same location as above.

  4. Open the Registry Editor, go to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion hive, and and so copy and paste the Windows Server BuildLabEx (version) and EditionID (edition) into the same location as to a higher place.

After you've nerveless all of your Windows Server-related data, we highly recommend that yous backup your operating system, apps, and virtual machines. You must likewise Shut downwardly, Quick migrate, or Live drift any virtual machines currently running on the server. You tin can't have any virtual machines running during the in-place upgrade.

To perform the upgrade

  1. Brand sure the BuildLabEx value says yous're running Windows Server 2008 R2.

  2. Locate the Windows Server 2012 R2 Setup media, and then select setup.exe.

    Windows Explorer showing the setup.exe file

  3. Select Aye to start the setup process.

    User Account Control asking for permission to start setup

  4. On the Windows Server 2012 R2 screen, select Install at present.

  5. For internet-connected devices, select Go online to install updates at present (recommended).

    Screen to choose to go online to get important Windows updates

  6. Select the Windows Server 2012 R2 edition you desire to install, and then select Next.

    Screen to choose which Windows Server 2012 R2 edition to install

  7. Select I accept the license terms to have the terms of your licensing understanding, based on your distribution channel (such as, Retail, Volume License, OEM, ODM, and then on), and and then select Side by side.

    Screen to accept your license agreement

  8. Select Upgrade: Install Windows and proceed files, settings, and applications to choose to do an in-place upgrade.

    Screen to choose your installation type

  9. Setup reminds yous to make sure your apps are compatible with Windows Server 2012 R2, using the data in the Windows Server installation and upgrade article, and and then select Next.

    Screen reminding you to check your app compatibility

  10. If you lot see a page that tells you upgrade isn't recommended, you tin can ignore it and select Confirm. Information technology was put in place to prompt for make clean installations, just it isn't necessary.

    Screen showing your upgrade progress

    The in-place upgrade starts, showing you lot the Upgrading Windows screen with its progress. Afterward the upgrade finishes, your server volition restart.

Later on your upgrade is washed

Later on your upgrade completes, you must make certain the upgrade to Windows Server 2012 R2 was successful.

To make sure your upgrade was successful

  1. Open the Registry Editor, get to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion hive, and view the ProductName. You should see your edition of Windows Server 2012 R2, for example Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter.

  2. Make certain all of your applications are running and that your client connections to the applications are successful.

If yous think something might have gone wrong during your upgrade, copy and zip the %SystemRoot%\Panther (usually C:\Windows\Panther) directory and contact Microsoft support.

Next steps

You lot tin can perform one more than upgrade to become from Windows Server 2012 R2 to Windows Server 2019. For detailed instructions, see Upgrade Windows Server 2012 R2 to Windows Server 2019.

  • For more than details and information nearly Windows Server 2012 R2, see Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2012.