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How to windows activate server 2012 VM

I have a Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard running as a hypervisor. Which then has one guest VM running Server 2012 R2 Standard. I have now created a second VM, also running Server 2012 R2 Standard.

I used a iso from my vlc. I know that the host OS licence covers the two guest VMs too.

The new VM will not activate, When I click to activate I get ask for a licence key. I didnt install hyper V server myself and dont have any licence key documentation.

How can I get this machine activated?

Cliff Galiher

If you have a volume license, the key is in the VL portal. While a standard license does indeed cover two VMs, you still need to use keys in the portal to activate the VMs. The host does not do so automatically on standard.

roy_batty

ASKER

OK I only used the VLSC to download the media. The key I have is for someone else.

So I used this https://nedimmehic.org/2017/02/17/how-to-find-windows-product-key-allversions-of-windows/

to get the licence key used on the hyper-v server. When I tried to use that on teh new VM it says that it didnt work.

Any suggestions?

Cliff Galiher

If you have legal licenses you have legal keys documented somewhere. Nobody here can tell you where that is. And I don't recommend using key extracters or other random keys. That's legally and ethically pretty much a stretch for me. My only advice is find your legally issued key(s.)

I don't even recommend using VL media to install the OS if it is an OEM license. That's called reimaging and is also illegal as that is not an OEM right.

SOLUTION

Mahesh

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Mahesh

you may use below code and save it in vbs extension and run on host server to find out key
run it from elevated command prompt

Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
MsgBox ConvertToKey(WshShell.RegRead("HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\DigitalProductId"))

Function ConvertToKey(Key)
Const KeyOffset = 52
i = 28
Chars = "BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY2346789"
Do
Cur = 0
x = 14
Do
Cur = Cur * 256
Cur = Key(x + KeyOffset) + Cur
Key(x + KeyOffset) = (Cur \ 24) And 255
Cur = Cur Mod 24
x = x -1
Loop While x >= 0
i = i -1
KeyOutput = Mid(Chars, Cur + 1, 1) & KeyOutput
If (((29 - i) Mod 6) = 0) And (i <> -1) Then
i = i -1
KeyOutput = "-" & KeyOutput
End If
Loop While i >= 0
ConvertToKey = KeyOutput
End Function

Open in new window

original source:
https://www.howtogeek.com/206329/how-to-find-your-lost-windows-or-office-product-keys/

roy_batty

ASKER

OK done that. Mahesh's script gave me same key I had found myself earlier.

Tried using this key via the Slmgr commands mentioned above. I get as far as applying the code and it fails with an error 0XC004F050 The software licensing service reported that the product key is invalid.

Is this happening because I used volume licence media to install the VM when originally the hyper-v host server was an OEM licence?

Mahesh

Then try to activate host with OEM key
Replace VL key with OEM and then try same procedure with guest VMs

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roy_batty

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roy_batty

ASKER

My solution is what actually worked in the end