Learning has never been so easy!
While completing a Server 2012 setup I went to activate the OS and kept getting errors. Window luckily show you the last set of characters in the activation key (so how they were not even close to what they were suppose to be.
The odd thing was that windows did not allow me to change the key from any of the GUI's
A: Windows Server 2012 R2 introduces a new feature, AVMA, which allows VMs running Windows Server 2012 R2 to automatically activate, provided the Hyper-V host they're running on is Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter and is itself activated. To tell the VM to use AVMA, you need to give the VM a specific key (this acts very similar to the keys.
So out came the Powershell....
2 Steps total
Step 1: Clear The Current Key
Open Powershell with admin rights then enter:
slmgr -upk (this removes the current Product Key)
Step 2: Add The New (or Correct Key)
Now that the key is cleared you can either stay in Powershell and enter the new key with the following:
slmgr -ipk XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX (with the X's of course being the Key )
or
Go the the activation GUI and you will now be able to enter a Key
There you have it! Quick, simple and it gets the job done
19 Comments
- Macemolan Feb 25, 2013 at 06:14pmThanks for Sharing! Windows 8 has the exact same issue I don't know why Microsoft thought it would be a good idea to remove the ability to type in a new key via the GUI. What a pain in the butt!
- Sonoralitefoot_tech Feb 25, 2013 at 06:46pmI also had this issue when installing 2012. At the time I did a quick Google search and discovered that it didn't have the correct key. Used the Power-shell commands and put in the correct key and kabooom.. it worked! Its crazy the GUI doesn't let you enter a different key.
- HabaneroTwon of An Feb 27, 2013 at 04:00amGreat! Glad it isn't too different from previous versions.
- JalapenoMze_Geek Mar 7, 2013 at 08:11pmWorks great! Used on one of my 2012 servers. Add on question: how do I reveal a product key?
- ChipotleThe Immortal Aug 23, 2013 at 10:05pmThank you! This helped.
It seems that Microsoft if heading toward phasing out the GUI for servers. It probably won't be too long before you won't have a choice for a GUI or core install - you'll just get a core install with PowerShell to do everything. - HabaneroSW-Desperado Jan 11, 2014 at 02:52pmthanks Brad - great and simple! I agree this was a dumb way of MS to manage this though
- SonoraEuler4121 Jan 28, 2014 at 02:34pmWorks fine on windows 2012 data center edition, thank you
- JalapenoBiotech Feb 14, 2014 at 05:12pmThank you so much, great tip and worked like a charm.
- Pimientosharonbarnard Feb 21, 2014 at 09:20pmI did run the PS command slmgr -upk to remove the activation key but when I tried to enter the key I was given by our tech team, I received an error.
The error gave me a command that lets me get to the GUI to enter the product key.
If you run the PS command 'slui.exe', the GUI will open with a button that says 'add product key' - Jalapenooutsourceitmx Jun 18, 2014 at 11:38pmThis worked just as you said! Great work, thank you!
- SonoraVanya8080 Jul 4, 2014 at 04:12pmHi, you can bring up the GUI to change the product key by typing 'slui 3' in the Run window....
- Pimientosys2k6862 Oct 6, 2014 at 07:49pmfor those who are interested in doing through GUI. Open 'Server Manager', click 'Local Server' from the left panel. In the 'Properties' window look for 'Product ID' click the blue hyper link. It will open 'Windows Activation' where you can enter new product key and activate.
- PimientoRobert7193 Aug 17, 2015 at 03:07pmI ran across some different directions when activating a 2012 R2. I was having some issues with the above solution so hopefully the below directions will help some other poor soul out there at some point.If you are having issues with activating your installation, here is an alternative solution:
1. From an elevated command prompt, determine the current edition name with the command 'DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition'. Make note of the edition ID, an abbreviated form of the edition name.
Then run 'DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula', providing the edition ID and a retail product key. The server will restart twice. - Thai PepperDan8422 Oct 6, 2015 at 03:12pmAwesome. Thanks. Just what I needed to get this going.
- PoblanoWade H Nov 12, 2015 at 01:14pmJust had to use this method to make it eat my Open License up from the EVAL of 2012R2 Thanks so much!!! it Worked!Robert7193 Aug 17, 2015 at 9:07amI ran across some different directions when activating a 2012 R2. I was having some issues with the above solution so hopefully the below directions will help some other poor soul out there at some point.If you are having issues with activating your installation, here is an alternative solution:
1. From an elevated command prompt, determine the current edition name with the command 'DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition'. Make note of the edition ID, an abbreviated form of the edition name.
Then run 'DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula', providing the edition ID and a retail product key. The server will restart twice.
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