Windows Server 2019 Activation from Evaluation

Question

Hi,

I've installed on my new server Windows Server 2019 Standard Evaluation and after some days I purchased the licence (OLP) from a reseller and received through VLSC (windows server 2019 standard mak b).

Tried to Activate and changing the edition with the command on Power Shell:
DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula

But received:
Error 1168
The specified product key could not be validated.
Check that the specified product key is valid and that it matches the target edition.

Is there any solution to activate except reinstalling the new ISO (Non-Evaluation)?
If yes what steps should I follow?

Thanks

Answer 1

Just overcame this issue. Here are the notes to get an MAK key working on an evaluation ISO.

Server 2019 Activation Error: Run “slui.exe 0x2a 0xC004F069” to display the error text

This can be worked around by using two DISM commands.

Open an elevated command prompt, and type (or copy) DISM.exe /Online /Get-TargetEditions

Then enter DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:ENTER-YOUR-SERIAL-FROM-TABLE /AcceptEula (use key from below table if this is a MAK/Volume license key)

It may get stuck on the 10% mark for a few

Use one of the below keys first:

Windows Server 2019
Product GVLK
Windows Server 2019 Datacenter WMDGN-G9PQG-XVVXX-R3X43-63DFG
Windows Server 2019 Standard N69G4-B89J2-4G8F4-WWYCC-J464C
Windows Server 2019 Essentials WVDHN-86M7X-466P6-VHXV7-YY726
Windows Server 2019 Azure Core FDNH6-VW9RW-BXPJ7-4XTYG-239TB
Windows Server 2019 Datacenter Semi-Annual Channel (v.1809) 6NMRW-2C8FM-D24W7-TQWMY-CWH2D
Windows Server 2019 Standard Semi-Annual Channel (v.1809) N2KJX-J94YW-TQVFB-DG9YT-724CC
Windows Server 2019 ARM64 GRFBW-QNDC4-6QBHG-CCK3B-2PR88
Windows Server 2016
Product GVLK
Windows Server 2016 Standard Semi-Annual Channel (v.1803) PTXN8-JFHJM-4WC78-MPCBR-9W4KR
Windows Server 2016 Datacenter Semi-Annual Channel (v.1803) 2HXDN-KRXHB-GPYC7-YCKFJ-7FVDG
Windows Server 2016 Datacenter Semi-Annual Channel (v.1709) 6Y6KB-N82V8-D8CQV-23MJW-BWTG6
Windows Server 2016 Standard Semi-Annual Channel (v.1709) DPCNP-XQFKJ-BJF7R-FRC8D-GF6G4
Windows Server 2016 ARM64 K9FYF-G6NCK-73M32-XMVPY-F9DRR
Windows Server 2016 Datacenter CB7KF-BWN84-R7R2Y-793K2-8XDDG
Windows Server 2016 Standard WC2BQ-8NRM3-FDDYY-2BFGV-KHKQY
Windows Server 2016 Essentials JCKRF-N37P4-C2D82-9YXRT-4M63B
Windows Server 2016 Cloud Storage QN4C6-GBJD2-FB422-GHWJK-GJG2R
Windows Server 2016 Azure Core VP34G-4NPPG-79JTQ-864T4-R3MQX
WNCYY-GFBH2-M4WTT-XQ2FP-PG2K9
Finally reboot and enter your purchased key:

• Enter key via GUI
  or
• slmgr.vbs /ipk <your product key>
• slmgr.vbs /ato

Answer 2

Hi,

An evaluation version can only be activated using a retail key, if the key was from volume center then you'll need to use volume distribution media that can be downloaded from volume licensing center over here: https://www.microsoft.com/Licensing/servicecenter/default.aspx

To activate your Windows Server:
1. Enter key via GUI or run the command: slmgr.vbs /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

To get the available editions:
1. Open an elevated command prompt.
2. Run the following command: DISM.exe /Online /Get-TargetEditions

To set your Windows Server to a higher edition:
1. Run the following command: DISM.exe /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula
(Use key from table below if this is a MAK/Volume license key)

Windows Server 2022 - KMS Client Setup Key

Windows Server 2022 Datacenter

• WX4NM-KYWYW-QJJR4-XV3QB-6VM33

Windows Server 2022 Standard

• VDYBN-27WPP-V4HQT-9VMD4-VMK7H

Windows Server 2019 - KMS Client Setup Key

Windows Server 2019 Datacenter

• WMDGN-G9PQG-XVVXX-R3X43-63DFG

Windows Server 2019 Standard

• N69G4-B89J2-4G8F4-WWYCC-J464C

Windows Server 2019 Essentials

• WVDHN-86M7X-466P6-VHXV7-YY726

Windows Server 2016 - KMS Client Setup Key

Windows Server 2016 Datacenter

• CB7KF-BWN84-R7R2Y-793K2-8XDDG

Windows Server 2016 Standard

• WC2BQ-8NRM3-FDDYY-2BFGV-KHKQY

Windows Server 2016 Essentials

• JCKRF-N37P4-C2D82-9YXRT-4M63B

Note: It may take some time for the command to complete.

---

If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote and/or accept as answer, thank you!

Best regards,
Leon

Answer 3

Just to check if the above reply could be of help, if yes, you may mark useful reply as answer, if not, welcome to feedback.

Best regards,
Sylvia

Answer 4

Is the trail version of Windows 2019 standard to Standard version of Windows 2019 with all the functionality is possible on the activation of Windows key?

Answer 5

Hi team,

Is any method available to activate the sql server 2019 also, because we are using sql server 2019 as evalution on windows server 2019 evaluation? And we bought the license but its VLSC.