Windows Server 2022 Standard activation

Question

I installed Windows Server 2022 Standard (180 days free trial). Decided to purchase it since it works perfectly with our applications. However, when I try to change the Product Key with my newly purchased Product Key that came with the copy of my Windows Sever 2022 CD, I get the error: "The product key you entered didn't work. Check the product key and try again, or enter a different one. (0X80070032)"
I tried deleting the existing product key and activating using the new product key using slmgr.vbs commands, I get the same results.
Any idea how I can activate the 180 free trial Windows Server 2022 without re-installing it using the CD, since I already have all my Dental Management applications installed and working on there?

Answer 1

Hi, What edition you did buy, is it a Standard too ?

I suggest to open a command prompt in admin mode, and do a slmgr /ipk PRODUCT_KEY, slmgr /ato

If you did buy another edition than standard let me know, you can switch from version before dooing the activation, but in such case you are limited in your choice.

The command in such case are more;

DISM /Online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx /AcceptEula

Answer 2

Problem solved. I had to convert my installed edition (Eval) to Standard edition first using a GVLK (General Volume License Key). Why? I don’t know. I thought my Eval edition was Standard, since that’s what I had downloaded. Your comment about the Standard edition vs. my installed edition, definitely pointed me in the right direction.
The GVLK key for Windows Server 2022 Standard is: VDYBN-27WPP-V4HQT-9VMD4-VMK7H.
Then I was able to activate Windows using the product key that came with the CD. So, the following commands in Administrator Command Prompt solved the problem:
DISM /online /set-edition:serverstandard /productkey:GVLKkey /accepteula

slmgr /ipk PRODUCT_KEY

slmgr /ato

Answer 3

Hopefully not a domain controller since converting an evaluation to full is not supported.

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

Answer 4

I don't tend to write comments in these forums, but I'll admit openly that I use them from time to time to glean an answer to a pressing question.

Thank you AAH-1099! (and the previous entries as well, as they all converged on the proper solution)

Everywhere else I had read that I needed to demote my DC to convert from eval to a proper license, but apparently in 2022 server (Standard, in my case) I was able to run the DISM command successfully and then rebooted. After that, I applied the proper product key and activated and all was well. No need to demote/promote in my case, so I'm hoping it was something MS decided was an unnecessary restriction in previous versions and actually did the right thing!

In my case, I was pressed for time and needed to keep moving on building out the DC and migrating files, roles, etc and just figured I would "get to it" on the proper license activation once the dust had settled and the VM was in production. I am very happy I didn't have to play games with transferring roles, demotion, etc just to activate it.

Answer 5

Thank you for this thread. I was building myself up to do a full server rebuild as we got a HPE ROK key and wasn't sure this would work.

Tried the above steps and worked straight away once I'd passed the SMBIOS to the VM via VMware.