In-place upgrade works best in virtual machines where specific OEM hardware drivers are not needed for a successful upgrade.įor step-by-step guidance and more information on upgrading, review the Windows Server upgrade content and Upgrade and migrate roles and features in Windows Server. However, not every older operating system has a pathway to every newer one and some roles or features don't support this or need you to take extra steps. For example, if your server is running Windows Server 2019, you can upgrade it to Windows Server 2022. In-place upgrade enables you to keep the same hardware and all the server roles you have set up without wiping and reinstalling the operating system, by which you go from an older operating system to a newer one, keeping your settings, server roles and features, and data intact. There are a few things to be aware of, such as hardware requirements, so be sure to check the details for Windows Server.
Clean installĬlean install is simplest way to install Windows Server, where you install on a blank server or overwrite an existing operating system, but you will need to back up your data first and plan to reinstall your applications. To download Windows Server 2022, see Windows Server Evaluations.
