windows server 2012R2 re-activation

Question

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.

Answer 1

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--

Answer 2

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 (jakob@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.

Answer 3

hi @JoyDutt , thanks for the reply, i though it can be activated buy simply re-entering the previous license key which was a VLS product, and now expired, so in my case, does it means i need to purchase a new license again to have it activate?

Answer 4

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

What happens when you try?

Answer 5

hi @Dave Patrick , it gives an error, something like "not a valid license key" I am trying to get in touch with microsoft support, still waiting for their call though....