Problems with Windows Server 2016 license expiration reactivation

Question

As shown in the figure below, the device's license has expired and needs to be activated.

I plan to activate it using the following command.

slmgr /ipk NPPR9-FWDCX-D2C8J-H872K-2YT43 

slmgr /skms kms.03k.org 

slmgr /ato 

However, the error code 0x80070422 (see below) always appears, even after making sure that the Windows Update service is running.

Answer 1

Hello,

You have an evaluation version installed, you have to convert it to retail. This is not simplify a change of Product key

See this link : Upgrade and conversion options for Windows Server | Microsoft Learn

the section "Convert an Evaluation version to a retail version " would be the applicable section.

this needs to happen first

Darrell

Answer 2

Hello Jack Smith Wllen,

thank you for posting on the Microsoft Community Forums.

Regarding this issue:

Ⅰ. The KMS client key you used is for Windows 11 Enterprise or Windows 10 Enterprise. Since your system is Windows Server 2016 Standard, the correct key is WC2BQ-8NRM3-FDDYY-2BFGV-KHKQY. Key Management Services (KMS) client activation and product keys for Windows Server and Windows | Microsoft Learn

Ⅱ. The error code 0x80070422 indicates that the Windows Update service is not running, or there is a problem with the service. Here are steps to troubleshoot and resolve this issue:

1. Check Windows Update Service:
   • Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
   • In the Services window, scroll down to find Windows Update.
   • Ensure that its status is Running and its startup type is set to Automatic. If it’s not running, right-click and choose Start. If it’s not set to automatic, right-click, select Properties, and set the startup type to Automatic.
2. Check Other Related Services:
   • In the Services window, also check the following services:
     • Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)
     • Cryptographic Services
     • Software Protection
   • Ensure these services are running and set to automatic.
3. Run Windows Activation Troubleshooter:
   • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation.
   • Click on Troubleshoot to let Windows try to resolve the issue on its own.
4. Restart Network List Service:
   • In the Services window, find the Network List Service.
   • Right-click and select Restart. Sometimes, issues with the network list service can cause activation errors.
5. Run the Command in Elevated Command Prompt:
   • Make sure you are running the command prompt as an administrator.
   • Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run as administrator.
   • Re-run your commands:
   slmgr /ipk WC2BQ-8NRM3-FDDYY-2BFGV-KHKQY slmgr /skms kms.03k.org slmgr /ato
6. Check Firewall Settings:
   • Ensure that your firewall is not blocking the activation process.
   • You might need to temporarily disable the firewall to test if it’s causing the issue.
7. Use Command to Manually Trigger Windows Update:
   • Open Command Prompt as administrator and run:
   net stop wuauserv net start wuauserv
   • After stopping and starting the service, try your activation commands again.

Hope it helps.

Best regards,

Lei

Answer 3

Thank you very much for your reply! But the service shown cannot be enabled, and using the following command also reports an error:

C:\Users\Administrator>net start sppsvc

System error 1058 has occurred.

The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it.

Answer 4

You try changing the startup type of the service from Disabled to Manual or Automatic. Here are the steps:

1. Press 'Win + R' to open the run dialog, type 'services.msc' and press 'Enter'.
2. Find the 'Software Protection' service in the list of services.
3. Right-click on the service and select "Properties".
4. In the Startup Type drop-down menu, select Manual or Automatic.
5. Tap "Apply" and then tap the "Launch" button to start the service.
6. Click OK to save the changes and close the window.

Once you've completed the above steps, try again with the command 'net start sppsvc' to start the service and see if that resolves.

Please note that administrator privileges are required to manage these settings, and be cautious with operating system service settings so as not to affect system operation.

Answer 5

Can't be set at all