windows server 2012R2 re-activation

lovel echiverri 26 Reputation points
2020-12-29T12:29:54.883+00:00

Hi, Our company need to reformat our 2 servers with hyper V, done with the 1st server, how can we registered or activate it again using our previous license key? I have the screenshot of computer properties it needed.

Windows for business | Windows Server | User experience | Other
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  1. Anonymous
    2020-12-29T14:25:03.887+00:00

    Since you're using volume license product keys you should have also used volume center download so the channels line up. As a work around you can try using kms keys as intermediate step.
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/kmsclientkeys#windows-server-2012-r2

    (below assumes 2012 R2 Standard)

    Dism /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /AcceptEula /ProductKey:D2N9P-3P6X9-2R39C-7RTCD-MDVJX

    then after reboot

    (below using your volume product key)

    slmgr /ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx
    slmgr /ato

    --please don't forget to Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

    2 people found this answer helpful.

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  2. JoyDutt 831 Reputation points
    2020-12-29T13:31:01.303+00:00

    Hi @lovel echiverri

    Seems you missed to pull the product key from machine 1 before rebuild...

    From machine 2 :command prompt as administrator --- wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey

    slmgr /ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

    slmgr /ato

    above commands should tell you original licenses /product keys


    Frm machine 2 ---

    Open Notepad.
    Copy and paste the following text into the notepad window

    function Get-WindowsKey {
    ## function to retrieve the Windows Product Key from any PC
    ## by Jakob Bindslet (******@bindslet.dk)
    param ($targets = ".")
    $hklm = 2147483650
    $regPath = "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion"
    $regValue = "DigitalProductId"
    Foreach ($target in $targets) {
    $productKey = $null
    $win32os = $null
    $wmi = [WMIClass]"\$target\root\default:stdRegProv"
    $data = $wmi.GetBinaryValue($hklm,$regPath,$regValue)
    $binArray = ($data.uValue)[52..66]
    $charsArray = "B","C","D","F","G","H","J","K","M","P","Q","R","T","V","W","X","Y","2","3","4","6","7","8","9"
    ## decrypt base24 encoded binary data
    For ($i = 24; $i -ge 0; $i--) {
    $k = 0
    For ($j = 14; $j -ge 0; $j--) {
    $k = $k * 256 -bxor $binArray[$j]
    $binArray[$j] = [math]::truncate($k / 24)
    $k = $k % 24
    }
    $productKey = $charsArray[$k] + $productKey
    If (($i % 5 -eq 0) -and ($i -ne 0)) {
    $productKey = "-" + $productKey
    }
    }
    $win32os = Get-WmiObject Win32_OperatingSystem -computer $target
    $obj = New-Object Object
    $obj | Add-Member Noteproperty Computer -value $target
    $obj | Add-Member Noteproperty Caption -value $win32os.Caption
    $obj | Add-Member Noteproperty CSDVersion -value $win32os.CSDVersion
    $obj | Add-Member Noteproperty OSArch -value $win32os.OSArchitecture
    $obj | Add-Member Noteproperty BuildNumber -value $win32os.BuildNumber
    $obj | Add-Member Noteproperty RegisteredTo -value $win32os.RegisteredUser
    $obj | Add-Member Noteproperty ProductID -value $win32os.SerialNumber
    $obj | Add-Member Noteproperty ProductKey -value $productkey
    $obj
    }
    }

    Save the text above into a file with the ".ps1" extension on the Desktop. Example key.ps1

    Open the Powershell console as administrator and type in Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

    Next type in Import-Module C:\users\"username"\desktop**key.ps1**; Get-WindowsKey

    =====

    (If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote and/or accept as answer, Thank You)

    Regards,
    J.D.

    Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees, and confers no rights.

    1 person found this answer helpful.

  3. Anonymous
    2020-12-29T14:01:00.433+00:00

    i though it can be activated buy simply re-entering the previous license key

    What happens when you try?


  4. Jenny Feng 14,246 Reputation points
    2020-12-30T07:58:12.947+00:00

    @lovel echiverri
    Hi,

    You could try the following steps:

    1. Find the suitable generic key for your operating system from the below link
      https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj612867.aspx
      You could pick the windows server 2012 R2 KMS key from the above link
    2. Use the key in the following command. Make sure you are running the below command from elevated command prompt. 
      DISM /Online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:D2N9P-3P6X9-2R39C-7RTCD-MDVJX /AcceptEula
      reboot the server when prompted
    3. Once the server is rebooted, try the volume license key from system properties or use SLUI 3 command 

    Hope above information can help you.

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