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Activate windows server 2012 evaluation standard version with a product key OEM

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    Very good morning.
    Microsoft technical manual is not very clear.

    You know if you can activate windows server 2012 evaluation standard version with OEM key registry?

    Greetings.
    JuanMa

    Monday, November 25, 2013 8:47 PM
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    Hi,

    As per my research, we can able to use OEM key for Windows Server Essential edition and for standard version we need to follow below path:

    DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula

    More information is already provided in previous link. In addition also refer beneath for additional details.
    Windows Server 2012 Evaluation – convert & activate to fully licensed

    Hope it helps!
    Thanks.
    Wednesday, November 27, 2013 2:02 AM
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    Hi,

    In respect for you, here providing some basic information.

    For Windows Server 2012 Essentials: You can convert to the full retail version by entering a retail, volume license, or OEM key in the command slmgr.vbs.

    If the server is running an evaluation version of Windows Server 2012 Standard or Windows Server 2012 Datacenter, you can convert it to a retail version as follows: 

    1.  If the server is a domain controller, you cannot convert it to a retail version. In this case, install an additional domain controller on a server that runs a retail version and remove AD DS from the domain controller that runs on the evaluation version. For more information, see http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh994618.aspx.

    2.  Read the license terms.

    3.  From an elevated command prompt, determine the current edition name with the command DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition. Make note of the edition ID, an abbreviated form of the edition name. Then run DISM /online /Set-Edition:<edition ID> /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula, providing the edition ID and a retail product key. The server will restart twice.

    For the evaluation version of Windows Server 2012 Standard, you can also convert to the retail version of Windows Server 2012 Datacenter in one step using this same command and the appropriate product key.

    Meanwhile like to share the article with you.
    Evaluation Versions and Upgrade Options for Windows Server 2012

    Hope it helps!
    Thanks.
    Tuesday, November 26, 2013 10:08 AM
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    Hi,

    In respect for you, here providing some basic information.

    For Windows Server 2012 Essentials: You can convert to the full retail version by entering a retail, volume license, or OEM key in the command slmgr.vbs.

    If the server is running an evaluation version of Windows Server 2012 Standard or Windows Server 2012 Datacenter, you can convert it to a retail version as follows: 

    1.  If the server is a domain controller, you cannot convert it to a retail version. In this case, install an additional domain controller on a server that runs a retail version and remove AD DS from the domain controller that runs on the evaluation version. For more information, see http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh994618.aspx.

    2.  Read the license terms.

    3.  From an elevated command prompt, determine the current edition name with the command DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition. Make note of the edition ID, an abbreviated form of the edition name. Then run DISM /online /Set-Edition:<edition ID> /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula, providing the edition ID and a retail product key. The server will restart twice.

    For the evaluation version of Windows Server 2012 Standard, you can also convert to the retail version of Windows Server 2012 Datacenter in one step using this same command and the appropriate product key.

    Meanwhile like to share the article with you.
    Evaluation Versions and Upgrade Options for Windows Server 2012

    Hope it helps!
    Thanks.
    Tuesday, November 26, 2013 10:08 AM
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    Thanks for your answer.

    I know the technical information of microsomal and says: "For Windows Server 2012 Essentials: You can convert to the full retail version by entering a retail, volume license, OEM or key"

    But the question is: Can you use a OEM key to activate Windows Server 2012 Standard, using the procedure described .. DISM / online / Set ....?

    Best regards:
    JuanMa

    Tuesday, November 26, 2013 2:05 PM
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    Hi,

    As per my research, we can able to use OEM key for Windows Server Essential edition and for standard version we need to follow below path:

    DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula

    More information is already provided in previous link. In addition also refer beneath for additional details.
    Windows Server 2012 Evaluation – convert & activate to fully licensed

    Hope it helps!
    Thanks.
    Wednesday, November 27, 2013 2:02 AM
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    Moderator
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    Hi,

    Do you need any other assistance? If there is anything we can do for you, please let us know.

    Thanks.
    Friday, November 29, 2013 1:34 AM
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    no thanks.
      Regards:
    JuanMa
    Friday, November 29, 2013 2:22 PM
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    i download the windows server 2012 r2 essential evaluation 180 days but i dont get the key for install it, people from microsoft suport told me i need download it again and the key will be send to my email, but its the second time i donwload it and i still dont have a key, can someone help me please?
    Thursday, December 05, 2013 10:51 PM
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    In the description above, how does Microsoft define "full retail version"?  Would it include volume licenses?  I want to install the Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard evaluation and later convert it to a volume license.  The article explicitly states that I can do this with the Essentials version.  For the standard version it only says "full retail version".  Does this mean I cannot go from Server 2012 R2 Standard evaluation to Server 2012 R2 Standard volume license?

    Thank you.

    Thursday, February 13, 2014 1:16 AM
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    Good morning.

    For allthework I'vedone andthe hours I've spent,I recommend youusethe trial versionto testthe productand thenbuythe retail versionandyou doa clean install.

    Regards:
    JuanMa

    • Proposed as answer by zigandzag Monday, December 18, 2017 11:00 PM
    Thursday, February 13, 2014 10:20 AM
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    I have tried all of this, with elevated permissions - even calling MS and nothing will work for me.

    I get this with DISM 

    Check that the specified product key is valid and that it matches the target edition.
     [hrError=0x8a010001]

    But I know for sure that I have to correct version.

    I called Microsoft Activation twice with the long ID number and twice I was told to call back in an hour.

     

    Thursday, April 03, 2014 1:07 PM
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    Hello.

    If you do not want to waste time like I did, it is best that you reinstall the system with the new key.

    The trial versions of the system are literally tryouts. To move to production you need to install the system with the final version.

    Regards ..
    Sunday, April 06, 2014 2:50 PM
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    I have the same exact issue. I have the Standard Server Eval on a few machines. One the 180 day trial ran out and the others did not. I bought 2 retail Standard Server software at about $700 each and the Product Keys do not work on the eval. I have spent time installing and configuring many things like SQL and RDP with bought licenses and now I believe one of the commenters is unfortunately for me right. I have to reinstall from scratch. Unreal! Does anyone have a solution? Its not a domain controller. maybe because I have a feature installed like HyperV or something that it wants a datacenter product key?
    Tuesday, August 12, 2014 3:20 PM
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    Hello

    Open and elevated cmd prompt and run slmgr /DLV

    Post the output. that will tell us what product and edition you have installed.

    This will have to match the product and edition that you purchased the key for

    Thanks, Darrell Gorter [MSFT] This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

    Wednesday, August 13, 2014 1:00 AM
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    Hi Guys

    i have the same issue with an evaluation edition and i have already installed Active Directory (DC1), i have put up additional DC (DC2) installed with retail server 2012 Standard and configured it, transferred all FSMO role to DC2 and made it a DNS Start of Authority and Name Server left it overnite to replicate, run netdom query FSMO and returned that all roles are on DC2. when i switch off DC1 i cant access Active Directory Users and Computers.

    when i switch it back on everything works fine, is there anything i am missing or evaluation is hard coded and ADDS and DNS cant be transferred to another server, what other ways do you recommend that i solve this issue

    Regards

    Monday, September 15, 2014 11:00 AM
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    try this. it worked for me on a domain controller running exchange server. Even though it is not a good idea to use evaluation products on production environments, Microsoft should put into consideration that these scenarios may occur with inexperienced IT admins and people should have a way out. 

    DISM /online /Set-Edition:<edition ID> /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula

    change <edition ID> to the edition you have the licence for eg.

    DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula

    • Proposed as answer by Joel Coehoorn Monday, March 16, 2015 2:02 PM
    Wednesday, November 05, 2014 11:16 AM
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    This worked perfect. Please add this solution in gui form to the windows UI. 

    Please contact me with a status update when this is completed.

    thanks~

    Thursday, March 10, 2016 10:06 PM
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    Will this also work with a Volume License key? 
    Friday, August 18, 2017 6:59 PM
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    thanks <g class="gr_ gr_11 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" data-gr-id="11" id="11">its</g> working

    Monday, August 28, 2017 1:32 PM
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    I am calling this the correct answer as stated by JuanMa, i.e. give up and reinstall with legit from scratch-never use the evaluation version. 

    15 days ago I downloaded (from Microsoft) the evaluation version of Server Standard 2012 R2, installed, drivers check, raids drivers check etc, prepare for customer.  An oem product key (the expensive 650$ legit kind) was ordered but, I couldn't wait.  10 day later, I first tried "change key" thinking like a Windows 7 fanboy (error -this key cannot be used with this version of ...).  Then I read here the same question from JuanMa and chosen responses from the Microsoft Moderator.   Wrong.  JuanMa seems to be correct and I will start over with the server tomorrow as a clean install.   I tried the DSIM get/set/yourscrewed options and they do not seem to work.  Big, Huge, Waste of time. 

    Word to the wise, order your legit copy of Server software and wait the 2-5 days for it to show up before ever attempting to install an evaluation copy.

    Monday, December 18, 2017 11:18 PM
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