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

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Answer 2

What is the source of installation media?

Answer 3

@Anonymous downloaded from microsoft site, the 2012r2 standard 180 days evaluation ISO

Answer 4

@Anonymous tried your suggestion, and gives an error "invalid key", when i tried this command "slmgr /ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx", I guess once the VLS is expired, it wont work.

Answer 5

@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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