How to Download Windows Server 2016 Standard ISO
Windows Server is a server operating system developed by Microsoft that provides various services and features for businesses and organizations. Windows Server comes in different editions, such as Essentials, Standard, Datacenter, and Storage. In this article, we will focus on Windows Server 2016 Standard, which is one of the most popular and widely used editions of Windows Server. Windows Server 2016 Standard is designed for physical or minimally virtualized environments, and it offers a balance of performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. Windows Server 2016 Standard supports up to two processors and two virtual machines per license, and it includes features such as Nano Server, Windows Server Containers, Hyper-V, Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, File and Storage Services, Remote Desktop Services, and more.
If you are interested in trying out Windows Server 2016 Standard for yourself, you can download a free trial or evaluation version from Microsoft. The trial version is valid for 180 days and can be converted to a full version with a valid product key. The evaluation version is intended for testing purposes only and cannot be activated or upgraded. Both versions are available as ISO files that you can burn to a DVD or create a bootable USB drive with. In this article, we will show you how to download Windows Server 2016 Standard ISO from the Microsoft Evaluation Center, how to create a bootable USB drive with it, and how to install it on your computer.
How to Download Windows Server 2016 Standard ISO from Microsoft Evaluation Center
The Microsoft Evaluation Center is a website that allows you to download free trial or evaluation versions of various Microsoft products, such as Windows, Office, SQL Server, Exchange Server, SharePoint Server, and more. You can access the Microsoft Evaluation Center here. To download Windows Server 2016 Standard ISO from the Microsoft Evaluation Center, follow these steps:
- Go to the Microsoft Evaluation Center page and select Windows Server 2016 from the list of products.
- Choose the ISO option and the language you prefer from the drop-down menus. You can also choose between the full installation or the Nano Server installation option. The full installation option includes the Server with Desktop Experience and the Server Core installation options, while the Nano Server option is a minimalistic version of Windows Server that is optimized for cloud environments.
- Fill out a form with your information, such as your name, email address, company name, country, and job role. You may also need to answer some questions about your intended use of Windows Server 2016. Click Continue when you are done.
- Click the Download button and save the ISO file to your computer. The file size is about 6.5 GB, so it may take some time depending on your internet speed.
How to Create a Bootable USB Drive with Windows Server 2016 Standard ISO
Once you have downloaded the Windows Server 2016 Standard ISO file, you can create a bootable USB drive with it using some command-line tools. This will allow you to install Windows Server 2016 Standard on any computer that supports booting from USB devices. To create a bootable USB drive with Windows Server 2016 Standard ISO, follow these steps:
- Insert a USB drive with at least 8 GB of space into your computer and note its drive letter. For example, if your USB drive is assigned as E:, then use E: in the following steps. Make sure you backup any important data on your USB drive before proceeding, as it will be erased during this process.
- Open an elevated command prompt by right-clicking on the Start menu and selecting Command Prompt (Admin). Alternatively, you can press Windows + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.
- Run Diskpart to format and partition your USB drive by typing the following commands one by one and pressing Enter after each one:
- diskpart
- list disk
- select disk X (where X is the number of your USB drive)
- clean
- create partition primary
- select partition 1
- active
- format fs=ntfs quick
- assign
- exit
- Copy the boot sector from the ISO file to your USB drive by using Bootsect. Bootsect is a tool that is included in the ISO file and can be found in the boot folder. To use Bootsect, type the following command and press Enter:
- E:\boot\bootsect /nt60 E: (where E: is your USB drive letter)
- Copy all the files from the ISO file to your USB drive by using Xcopy. Xcopy is a tool that can copy files and folders with various options. To use Xcopy, type the following command and press Enter:
- xcopy E:\*.* /s /e /f E:\ (where E: is your USB drive letter)
- Wait for the copying process to finish. You should see a message saying «X files copied» when it is done.
Congratulations, you have successfully created a bootable USB drive with Windows Server 2016 Standard ISO. You can now use it to install Windows Server 2016 Standard on any compatible computer.
How to Install Windows Server 2016 Standard from the USB Drive
Now that you have a bootable USB drive with Windows Server 2016 Standard ISO, you can use it to install Windows Server 2016 Standard on your computer. To install Windows Server 2016 Standard from the USB drive, follow these steps:
- Connect the USB drive to the computer where you want to install Windows Server 2016 Standard. Make sure the computer is turned off or restarted.
- Boot from the USB drive by pressing the appropriate key during the startup process. The key may vary depending on your computer model and BIOS settings, but it is usually F12, F10, F9, F8, F2, or Del. You should see a message saying «Press any key to boot from USB» or something similar.
- Follow the installation wizard that appears on the screen. You will need to choose the edition, language, and installation type you want. For this article, we will assume you want to install Windows Server 2016 Standard with Desktop Experience in English.
- Accept the license terms and select the destination drive where you want to install Windows Server 2016 Standard. You can also create or delete partitions if you need to.
- Wait for the installation to complete and restart your computer when prompted. You may need to remove the USB drive before restarting.
Congratulations, you have successfully installed Windows Server 2016 Standard from the USB drive. You can now configure and use your server as you wish.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to download Windows Server 2016 Standard ISO from the Microsoft Evaluation Center, how to create a bootable USB drive with it, and how to install it on your computer. We hope you found this article helpful and informative. Windows Server 2016 Standard is a powerful and versatile server operating system that can meet your business or organizational needs. If you want to learn more about Windows Server 2016 Standard, you can visit the official website here.
Here are some tips or recommendations for using Windows Server 2016 Standard:
- Make sure you activate your server within the trial or evaluation period if you want to use it beyond that time.
- Keep your server updated with the latest patches and security updates to ensure its stability and security.
- Use the built-in tools and features of Windows Server 2016 Standard to manage and monitor your server, such as Server Manager, PowerShell, Event Viewer, Task Manager, Performance Monitor, and more.
- Explore the different roles and features that Windows Server 2016 Standard offers, such as File and Storage Services, Remote Desktop Services, Hyper-V, Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, and more.
- Backup your server regularly and have a recovery plan in case of any disaster or failure.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Windows Server 2016 Standard:
Q1: What are the system requirements for Windows Server 2016 Standard?
A1: The minimum system requirements are:
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Processor | 1.4 GHz or faster, compatible with x64 instruction set. |
| Memory | 512 MB (2 GB for Server with Desktop Experience installation option). |
| Disk space | At least 32 GB. |
| Network adapter | An Ethernet adapter capable of at least gigabit throughput. |
| Other requirements | DVD drive (if you intend to install from DVD media), Internet access (for activation and updates). |
Q2: What are the differences between Windows Server 2016 Standard and Datacenter editions?
A2: The main differences are:
| Difference | Standard | Datacenter |
|---|
Windows Server 2016 Standard allows up to two virtual machines or two Hyper-V containers per license, while Windows Server 2016 Datacenter allows unlimited virtual machines or containers per license. Windows Server 2016 Datacenter also includes some additional features that are not available in Windows Server 2016 Standard, such as Software-defined Networking, Storage Spaces Direct, Storage Replica, Shielded Virtual Machines, and Host Guardian Service.
Q3: How can I activate Windows Server 2016 Standard after installation?
A3: You can activate Windows Server 2016 Standard by using a product key, a digital license, or a Volume Activation Service. You can also use an Automatic Virtual Machine Activation (AVMA) key if you are installing Windows Server 2016 Standard as a guest on a host that runs Windows Server Datacenter. You can find more information about activation methods here.
Q4: How can I update Windows Server 2016 Standard after installation?
A4: You can update Windows Server 2016 Standard by using Windows Update, Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), or other tools. You can also download and install the latest servicing package from the Microsoft Update Catalog. You should always keep your server updated with the latest security patches and bug fixes.
Q5: How can I get support for Windows Server 2016 Standard?
A5: You can get support for Windows Server 2016 Standard by using online resources such as Microsoft Docs, Microsoft Tech Community, Microsoft Learn, or Microsoft Support. You can also contact a Microsoft partner or a certified professional for technical assistance.
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