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Windows Server 2016: install steps from a Microsoft Partner ISO

Setting up Windows Server 2016 for the first time from a Microsoft Partner ISO — bare metal or VM, the process isn’t complicated once you know the sequence.

For bare metal, turn the ISO into bootable media, usually a USB stick. For a VM, either reuse that same USB or just point your hypervisor (Hyper-V, VMware) to boot straight from the ISO.

Boot up, and you’ll be asked to pick an edition:

Windows Server 2016 edition selection screen
Desktop Experience, Core, or Datacenter — pick based on what the box is for.

Desktop Experience comes with the full OS UI; the core option is command-line only. If the server’s going to host multiple VMs, go Datacenter edition.

  1. Accept the licence terms.
windows-server-2016-install-02-accept-terms
  1. Choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced) for a clean install.
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  1. Pick your install drive — worth splitting into more than one if you want OS and data kept separate.
Selecting the install drive during Windows Server 2016 setup
Picking the install drive — worth splitting OS and data if you have the space.
  1. Let the install run — recent Windows installs have been reliably hands-off.
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  1. Set the local administrator password when prompted, click Finish.
Local administrator account setup at the end of Windows Server 2016 install
The local administrator setup screen — the last step before you’re done.
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That’s it — pretty fast and breezy, a real step up from older Windows Server versions. Hoping the trend continues with future releases.

Peripheral vision, in this pillar