How to Install Windows Server 2019 Step by Step
Windows Server 2019 is Microsoft’s server operating system built on the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) model, offering stability, extended support through January 2029, and features like Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection, Storage Migration Service, and System Insights. This guide walks through a clean bare-metal installation of Windows Server 2019 Standard or Datacenter edition.
Prerequisites and Hardware Requirements
Before starting the installation, verify your server meets the minimum hardware requirements. Windows Server 2019 requires a 64-bit processor running at 1.4 GHz or faster, 512 MB of RAM minimum (2 GB recommended for Desktop Experience), and at least 32 GB of disk space. For production environments, plan for significantly more: 16 GB or more RAM, and storage appropriate for your workload. Ensure your hardware is listed on the Windows Server Catalog at microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/Windows-Server-Catalog.
Download the Windows Server 2019 ISO from the Microsoft Evaluation Center or Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC). Create bootable media using the Microsoft Media Creation Tool or Rufus for USB drives, or use the ISO directly in a virtual machine environment such as Hyper-V, VMware, or KVM.
Booting from Installation Media
Insert your USB drive or mount the ISO, then restart the server. Enter the BIOS/UEFI firmware settings (commonly F2, F10, F12, or DEL during POST) and set the boot order to prioritize your installation media. Save and exit. The server will boot from the media and load the Windows Setup process.
When the Windows Setup screen appears, select your language, time and currency format, and keyboard input method, then click Next. Click “Install Now” to proceed. You will be prompted to enter a product key. If you are evaluating, choose “I don’t have a product key” to continue with a 180-day evaluation.
Selecting the Edition and Installation Type
The edition selection screen presents several options. Choose one of the following based on your licensing and requirements:
Windows Server 2019 Standard — For physical or minimally virtualized environments. Includes two Hyper-V virtual machine licenses.
Windows Server 2019 Standard (Desktop Experience) — Standard edition with the full graphical user interface.
Windows Server 2019 Datacenter — For highly virtualized datacenters. Unlimited Hyper-V VM licenses included.
Windows Server 2019 Datacenter (Desktop Experience) — Datacenter with full GUI.
Server Core (without Desktop Experience) is the recommended option for most production deployments due to its reduced attack surface and lower resource consumption. Desktop Experience adds the familiar GUI for ease of management during initial configuration.
Disk Partitioning and Installation
Accept the license terms and on the installation type screen, select “Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).” This performs a clean installation. On the disk selection screen, you will see your available drives and partitions.
For a clean disk, click “New” to create a new partition, enter the desired size in MB, and click Apply. Windows will automatically create required system partitions including the EFI System Partition (100 MB), Microsoft Reserved Partition (16 MB), and your primary partition. Select the primary partition and click Next to begin installation.
If your storage controller requires drivers not included in the Windows Server 2019 installation media, click “Load driver” and provide the driver from USB or another source before the drive appears in the list.
Post-Installation Initial Setup
After installation completes, the server reboots and prompts you to set the Administrator password. Use a strong password meeting complexity requirements: at least 8 characters including uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. After setting the password, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete (or the equivalent in your VM console) to log in.
The Server Manager application launches automatically on first login when Desktop Experience is installed. For Server Core, you will see a command prompt. Run the following command to launch the Server Configuration tool:
sconfigUsing SConfig for Initial Configuration
SConfig is a text-based menu tool that covers the most important initial configuration tasks. The menu presents numbered options:
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Server Configuration
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1) Domain/Workgroup: WORKGROUP
2) Computer Name: WIN-XXXXXX
3) Add Local Administrator
4) Configure Remote Management Enabled
5) Windows Update Settings: DownloadOnly
6) Download and Install Updates
7) Remote Desktop: Disabled
8) Network Settings
9) Date and Time
10) Telemetry settings: Unknown
11) Windows Activation
12) Log Off User
13) Restart Server
14) Shut Down Server
15) Exit to Command Line (PowerShell)
Enter number to select an option:Begin by setting the computer name (option 2) and joining a domain or workgroup (option 1). Then configure network settings (option 8) to assign a static IP address appropriate for a server. Use option 7 to enable Remote Desktop if needed for remote management.
Applying Windows Updates
One of the first tasks after installation is applying the latest cumulative update. Use option 6 in SConfig, or run the following PowerShell commands to trigger Windows Update from the command line:
Install-Module PSWindowsUpdate -Force
Import-Module PSWindowsUpdate
Get-WindowsUpdate
Install-WindowsUpdate -AcceptAll -AutoRebootAlternatively, from the Desktop Experience GUI, go to Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Always reboot after applying cumulative updates and verify the installed update version using:
Get-HotFix | Sort-Object InstalledOn -Descending | Select-Object -First 5Activating Windows Server 2019
Activate your installation using a Multiple Activation Key (MAK), Key Management Service (KMS), or Active Directory-Based Activation. For KMS activation in a domain environment, run:
slmgr.vbs /skms kmsserver.yourdomain.com:1688
slmgr.vbs /atoTo check activation status:
slmgr.vbs /dliFor MAK activation with a specific key:
slmgr.vbs /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
slmgr.vbs /atoEnabling Remote Management with PowerShell
Windows Remote Management (WinRM) enables PowerShell remoting, which is essential for managing Server Core installations and for automation. Verify WinRM is running and configure it:
Enable-PSRemoting -Force
Set-Item WSMan:localhostClientTrustedHosts -Value "*" -Force
Restart-Service WinRM
Test-WSMan -ComputerName localhostTo connect remotely to the server from another machine:
Enter-PSSession -ComputerName SERVER01 -Credential (Get-Credential)Installing Windows Features
After installation, you can add server roles and features using PowerShell or Server Manager. To list all available features:
Get-WindowsFeature | Where-Object {$_.InstallState -eq "Available"}To install a role, such as IIS Web Server:
Install-WindowsFeature -Name Web-Server -IncludeManagementToolsWindows Server 2019 is now installed and ready for role configuration. The next steps depend on your intended use: domain controller, file server, web server, Hyper-V host, or another specialized role. Each of these is covered in subsequent tutorials in this series.
