Windows Server 2022 Standard Setup Guide

In short: Download the Windows Server 2022 ISO from Microsoft, install Windows Server 2022 Standard (with or without Desktop Experience), then convert and activate it with one DISM command using your 25-character product key.

Before you start

Check that your server or virtual machine meets the Windows Server 2022 minimum requirements:

Processor	1.4 GHz 64-bit, x64 instruction set, with NX and DEP, CMPXCHG16b, LAHF/SAHF and PrefetchW support, and Second Level Address Translation (EPT or NPT)
RAM	512 MB for Server Core, 2 GB for Desktop Experience. ECC memory is recommended for physical servers.
Storage	32 GB minimum. Desktop Experience needs more space in practice.
Network	Gigabit Ethernet adapter
Firmware	UEFI 2.3.1c with Secure Boot. TPM 2.0 is required for some security features.
Display	1024 x 768 or higher

Step 1: Download the Windows Server 2022 ISO

Open the Windows Server 2022 page on Microsoft's Evaluation Center.
Choose the ISO download, fill in the short registration form, and select your language.
Save the ISO file. It is about 5 GB.

Why the evaluation ISO? Microsoft publishes Windows Server 2022 through the Evaluation Center. In Step 4 you convert the evaluation edition to a full, permanently activated Standard edition with your product key.

Step 2: Prepare the installation media

Virtual machine (Hyper-V, VMware, Proxmox): attach the ISO file to the VM's virtual DVD drive. No USB drive is needed.
Physical server: write the ISO to a USB drive of 8 GB or more with a tool such as Rufus. Select the ISO, choose the GPT partition scheme for UEFI systems, and click Start. Everything on the USB drive is deleted.

Step 3: Install Windows Server 2022 Standard

Boot the server or VM from the ISO or USB drive. Press a key when you see Press any key to boot from CD or DVD.
Choose your language, time and keyboard settings, then click Next and Install now.
Select the edition:
- Windows Server 2022 Standard (Desktop Experience) for the full graphical interface with Server Manager.
- Windows Server 2022 Standard for Server Core, a minimal installation managed from the command line and PowerShell.
Accept the licence terms and choose Custom: Install Microsoft Server Operating System only.
Select the drive to install on and click Next. The server restarts several times.
Set a strong password for the built-in Administrator account, then sign in with Ctrl + Alt + Del.

Step 4: Activate Windows Server 2022 Standard

Open Command Prompt as administrator. On Desktop Experience, right-click Start and choose Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin). On Server Core, a command window opens after sign-in.
Check the current edition:
```
DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition
```
Convert and activate with your key, replacing the Xs with the key from your Msckey order email:
```
DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula
```
Type Y to restart when asked. The server may restart twice.
Confirm activation:
```
slmgr /xpr
```
If it does not show as permanently activated, run slmgr /ato while connected to the internet.

Domain controllers: Microsoft does not support converting an evaluation edition that is already a domain controller. Convert and activate the server first, then promote it to a domain controller.

Step 5: Configure the network

Server Core

Type sconfig and press Enter to open the Server Configuration menu.
Choose 8) Network settings, select your network adapter, and set a static IP address, subnet mask, gateway and DNS servers.

Desktop Experience

Open Server Manager > Local Server and click the link next to your Ethernet adapter.
Right-click the adapter, choose Properties > Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), and enter your IP settings.

If activation fails

"The specified product key is invalid": check that the key is for Windows Server 2022 Standard and that you used ServerStandard in the command, not ServerDatacenter.
Phone activation keys: run slui 4, choose your country, and use the Installation ID on our Get Confirmation ID page.
Still stuck? Email support@msckey.com with your order number and a screenshot of the error.

Setting up the Datacenter edition instead? Follow our Windows Server 2022 Datacenter guide.

Need a Windows Server 2022 Standard key?

Msckey sells genuine Windows Server 2022 Standard product keys delivered by email, usually within 1 to 24 hours of payment confirmation.

Buy Windows Server 2022 Standard

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How to Download, Install and Activate Windows Server 2022 Standard