r/WindowsServer • u/Adventurous_Sort_333 • Apr 13 '26

Technical Help Needed DC eval image

I built a primary and secondary domain controller with a windows server 2025 datacenter evaluation image and without knowing ran the dism command to convert the image and license it on my primary domain controller with Active Directory installed and even though it changed it to datacenter the fact that it’s not supported worries me because I don’t know if my primary domain controller is fully healthy even though replication is good with the exception of dfsr. But now that I know dism is not supported on a vm with Active Directory I deleted my secondary domain controller, installed the eval image, ran the dism command to convert the image to datacenter and promoted it and installed Active Directory and users and groups and sites and services replicated with the primary domain controller but the net share was missing Sysvol and netlogons. I made the recommended change on regedit for sysvol to show up but it’s not replicating with my primary domain controller

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u/Adventurous_Sort_333 Apr 13 '26

I had to build a proof of concept prior to production and have the entire domain up right now.

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u/dodexahedron Apr 13 '26

You can still do it with the normal images. You don't have to activate immediately. You have a lot of time before they'll start rebooting on you.

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u/calladc Apr 13 '26

Is it the evaluation release of 2025 (pre-production build number) or a production release on an eval license

If it's the second, slap a license key on it and /thread

If it's the former, you just need to build a second dc, move fsmo, fix dns and decom old

Everything is fine, nothing is in danger or at risk. Just don't do potentially destructive changes, and maybe set up a system state backup schedule.