How to uninstall Windows Server 2019 trial edition

Dr Peter 1 Reputation point
2021-07-01T08:05:27.44+00:00

What steps do I take to uninstall Window Server 2019 Essentials 180 day evaluation copy such that I'm left with the originally installed Windows Home that came with the computer when I bought it?

Windows Server
Windows Server
A family of Microsoft server operating systems that support enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.
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  1. Leon Laude 85,651 Reputation points
    2021-07-01T08:18:43.847+00:00

    Hi @Dr Peter ,

    This should be an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) key, they are usually shipped with the computer that you buy, the key should be auto-applied from your UEFI/BIOS whenever you reinstall Windows.

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    If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote and/or accept as answer, thank you!

    Best regards,
    Leon

  2. JiayaoZhu 3,911 Reputation points
    2021-07-02T06:48:19.317+00:00

    Hi,

    Thanks for posting on our forum!

    Based on your description, I have got a few steps for you to follow:

    1. When you installed your Windows Server 2019 Essentials,did you operate a clean installation? In other words, do you still keep your original Windows 10 system file which holds previous system data in C drive? If the answer is yes, then you can copy your old system file to a DVD drive and then restart your computer:
      a. Start the Windows Recovery Environment
      b. Move the Windows10 folders to a new Win10 folder
      c. Copy the contents or move the contents of the Windows.old folder
      d. Restore the boot sector for the previous Windows installation
      e. Restore the Boot.ini file for the previous Windows installation of Windows XP or of Windows 2000
      f. Close the Command Prompt window, and then click Restart
      The specific steps and certain prequistes for this operation are in this article (although the article is about windows7, the logic should be the same):
      https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-restore-a-windows-7-based-computer-to-a-previous-windows-installation-by-using-the-windows-old-folder-bee6e378-866f-67ae-01a3-240ab0f2bca0

    2) If your condition does not fit in with 1) (I guess so), then you need a clean installation of windows10. This is what @Leon Laude has suggested. There are two steps in this case:
    a. Try to download Windows 10 ISO. Before you can install Windows using a USB, you need to create the installation media itself. This will be read by your computer once the USB flash drive is connected, allowing it to boot from USB.
    b. Perform clean install with a bootable USB disk.
    Here is an article which contains the specific details on how to conduct these two processes step by step:
    https://softwarekeep.com/help-center/how-to-install-windows-10-81-or-7-using-a-bootable-usb

    (Please note: Information posted in the given link is hosted by a third party. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy and effectiveness of information.)

    Thanks for your support! Besides, would you please help me Accept Answer? An accepted blog can be put on top of our forum, so that people who have a similar issue can get access to their solution more quickly. I would really appreciate it if you could support my work.

    BR,
    Joan

    If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.

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