Able to convert 2016 server core (Standard with Non-GUI) to Hyper-V Server core?

Question

Hi Microsoft

I'm hoping someone can help me find a path of least resistance.

We have a VM-Host server that was built with the incorrect operating system. The evaluation version of Server 2016 Standard without the Desktop Experience (core) was installed and then licensed VMs loaded on.

The server is now turning itself off because of a licensing issue (the evaluation has expired).

We have gotten around this by rearming the evaluation, but this only buys us more time until we have to fix the issue.

We need to convert the license from the Standard version to Hyper-V Server (both server 2016) but unsure on how to do this on a core version of the server or if this is even possible.

Alternatively we could export the VMs and rebuild the VM Host from scratch but this would prove more difficult and we would need to hope the VMs came back to life on the new machine, moving them between versions.

Can anyone help?

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/3046b8f9-5ca8-4b1e-8e2a-4761b5dea244/able-to-convert-2016-server-core-standard-with-nongui-to-hyperv-server-core?forum=winservercore

Answer 1

Did you want to convert Windows Server 2016 core to Hyper-V Server core?

It's crazy. As far as I know, we can't do it. We can only convert the Windows Server core to Windows Server GUI.

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/john_taylor/2013/01/08/converting-from-server-2012-core-install-to-full-gui/

So now, you should export your VM and recreate the Hyper-V host, then import the VM to the new Hyper-V host.

Hope this can help you, if you have any question, please feel free to let me know.