Share via

Windows Server 2025 Standard Evaluation activation issue

LCCH Admin 0 Reputation points
2025-09-16T17:50:00.4233333+00:00

Windows Server 2025 host running hyper-v which is currently an evaluation license but we now have our license on the Microsoft Admin 365 page and want to get this physical host activated. I keep getting this error message. Here's some additional background:

DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool

Version: 10.0.26100.1150

Image Version: 10.0.26100.4946

Current edition is:

Current Edition : ServerStandardEval

The operation completed successfully.

DISM /Online /Get-TargetEditions

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool

Version: 10.0.26100.1150

Image Version: 10.0.26100.4946

Editions that can be upgraded to:

Target Edition : ServerTurbine

Target Edition : ServerDatacenter

The operation completed successfully.

DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:TVRH6-WHNXV-R9WG3-9XRFY-MY832 /AcceptEula

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool

Version: 10.0.26100.1150

Image Version: 10.0.26100.4946

Pended operations ignored. When this image is next booted, these operations will be processed.

Starting to update components...

Starting to install product key...

Finished installing product key.

Finished updating components.

Starting to apply edition-specific settings...

Error: 1168

An error occurred while applying target edition component settings. The upgrade cannot proceed.

For more information, review the log file.

The DISM log file can be found at C:\Windows\Logs\DISM\dism.log

Here's the snip from the DISM log...

2025-09-16 07:37:05, Info DISM DISM Smi Provider: PID=4220 TID=4920 End of list. - CSmiWrapper::ApplySettings

2025-09-16 07:37:05, Info DISM DISM Driver Manager: PID=4220 TID=4920 Not operating offline. No unattend work to be done for DMI. - CDriverManager::Apply

2025-09-16 07:37:05, Info DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=4220 TID=4920 Copying edition override file from [C:\Windows\Servicing\Editions\ServerStandardEdition.xml] to [C:\Windows\ServerStandard.xml] - CTransmogManager::ProjectEditionOverrideFile

2025-09-16 07:37:05, Info DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=4220 TID=4920 Installing edition license file for edition [ServerStandard] - CTransmogManager::ProjectEditionLicenseFile

2025-09-16 07:37:05, Error DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=4220 TID=8416 Failed to copy edition license file. - ThreadSkuInstallEula(hr:0x80070490)

2025-09-16 07:37:05, Error DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=4220 TID=4920 Thread for Installing EULA Failed. - CTransmogManager::ProjectEditionLicenseFile(hr:0x80070490)

2025-09-16 07:37:05, Error DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=4220 TID=4920 Failed to apply edition settings - CTransmogManager::ApplyEditionSettings(hr:0x80070490)

2025-09-16 07:37:05, Error DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=4220 TID=4920 Failed to apply edition settings for [ServerStandard] - CTransmogManager::TransmogrifyWorker

2025-09-16 07:37:05, Error DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=4220 TID=4920 [Upgrading system]: An error occurred while applying target edition component settings. The upgrade cannot proceed.

For more information, review the log file.

[hrError=0x80070490] - CTransmogManager::EventError

2025-09-16 07:37:05, Error DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=4220 TID=4920 Failed to Upgrade! - CTransmogManager::TransmogrifyWorker(hr:0x80070490)

2025-09-16 07:37:05, Error DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=4220 TID=4920 Failed to upgrade! - CTransmogManager::ExecuteCmdLine(hr:0x80070490)

2025-09-16 07:37:05, Info DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=4220 TID=10288 Finalizing CBS core. - CDISMPackageManager::Finalize

2025-09-16 07:37:05, Info DISM DISM Manager: PID=11440 TID=8412 Closing session event handle 0x270 - CDISMManager::CleanupImageSessionEntry

2025-09-16 07:37:05, Info DISM DISM.EXE: Image session has been closed. Reboot required=yes.

2025-09-16 07:37:05, Info DISM DISM.EXE:

2025-09-16 07:37:05, Info DISM DISM.EXE: <----- Ending Dism.exe session ----->

2025-09-16 07:37:05, Info DISM DISM.EXE:

I'm in production now and just need to get this activated.. license is paid for...

Help!

Windows for business | Windows Server | Devices and deployment | Licensing and activation
0 comments

1 answer

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Henry Mai 8,220 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-09-16T19:03:50.51+00:00

    Hello LCCH Admin, I am Henry and I want to share my insight about your issue.

    Based on your logs, the issue is clear:

    • Get-TargetEditions output shows only ServerDatacenter and ServerTurbine as valid upgrade paths — not ServerStandard.
    • DISM error 0x80070490 means the required ServerStandard license/component files don’t exist in your current Evaluation build.

    This is why DISM fails — the installed Evaluation ISO simply doesn’t support conversion to Standard.

    What You Need to Confirm

    1. Where did your license come from (VLSC, CSP, retail, M365 Admin Center)?
    2. Do you have your purchased Windows Server 2025 Standard product key? (Note: the key you tried is a GVLK for Server 2022, which won’t activate 2025).

    The fix is to perform an in-place upgrade with the correct licensed media:

    1. Download the official Windows Server 2025 Standard ISO from your licensing source (not the Evaluation ISO).
    2. Mount the ISO and run setup.exe.
    3. Choose Download updates (recommended), enter your valid 2025 Standard key, and select Keep personal files and apps.
    4. Let the upgrade finish — your roles, Hyper-V configuration, and data will remain intact.

    After reboot, the server will be converted from Evaluation to licensed Windows Server 2025 Standard.

    Hope this points you in the right direction for troubleshooting.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.