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Cannot activate Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter RRS feed

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    I am trying to activate Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter and I'm having issues.

    I have installed the software from the ISO file I downloaded from the volume licensing site. I have both KMS and MAK keys for this software but since I'm only installing 5 servers only in Hyper-V environment, MAK makes the most sense to me. I don't have a KMS host running on my network so I need to use MAK client. However, I cannot get my MAK keys to work when I run SLUI 3 then input my Mak keys error comes "That key can't be used to activate this edition of windows.Please try a different key." or even using powershell command such as slmgr.vbs -ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx. I always get the same result which is an error message 0xc004e016 - on a computer running ms windows non-core edition, run slui.exe to display the error text.

    Hoping for Quick reply...

    Thanks,

    Friday, July 25, 2014 6:32 AM

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    Thanks Don for the quick reply..Yes..I am matching the correct keys for 2012 R2 DataCenter..but still this error comes out...

    That is strange :(

    If the ISO media you are using is from VLSC and the correct matching MAK is used, is just works fine for me.

    To diagnose further, would involve validating your product key (and this should not be done in a public forum).

    I recommend that you contact MS VL Activation support, where you can safely discuss your product key and validate it directly with MS staff:
    http://www.microsoft.com/Licensing/existing-customers/activation-centers.aspx

    As an alternative, you could try telephone-based activation?

    (use cscript slmgr.vbs /dlv) (this will display current license type, status, and Installation ID and Activation ID)

    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn502526.aspx

    Don
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    • Proposed as answer by Tim CerlingMVP Friday, July 25, 2014 2:12 PM
    • Marked as answer by Susie Long Thursday, July 31, 2014 12:17 PM
    Friday, July 25, 2014 9:48 AM
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    Thanks Don...it is Okay now...issued this command from the KMS client  slmgr -skms "FQDN of the KMS Host Server" then run again slmgr /ato..now all are activated...

    Thank you very much for all the Help...

    • Marked as answer by Susie Long Tuesday, August 5, 2014 2:32 AM
    Monday, August 4, 2014 6:34 AM

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    0xc004e016 = The product key is invalid.

    Are you correctly matching the Windows Server version (2012R2) and the edition (Datacenter), with the matching key?

    (2012 is invalid for 2012R2) (Datacenter is invalid for Standard)

    Don
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    Friday, July 25, 2014 7:51 AM
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    Thanks Don for the quick reply..Yes..I am matching the correct keys for 2012 R2 DataCenter..but still this error comes out...

    Friday, July 25, 2014 7:59 AM
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    Thanks Don for the quick reply..Yes..I am matching the correct keys for 2012 R2 DataCenter..but still this error comes out...

    That is strange :(

    If the ISO media you are using is from VLSC and the correct matching MAK is used, is just works fine for me.

    To diagnose further, would involve validating your product key (and this should not be done in a public forum).

    I recommend that you contact MS VL Activation support, where you can safely discuss your product key and validate it directly with MS staff:
    http://www.microsoft.com/Licensing/existing-customers/activation-centers.aspx

    As an alternative, you could try telephone-based activation?

    (use cscript slmgr.vbs /dlv) (this will display current license type, status, and Installation ID and Activation ID)

    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn502526.aspx

    Don
    (Please take a moment to "Vote as Helpful" and/or "Mark as Answer", where applicable.
    This helps the community, keeps the forums tidy, and recognises useful contributions. Thanks!)

    • Proposed as answer by Tim CerlingMVP Friday, July 25, 2014 2:12 PM
    • Marked as answer by Susie Long Thursday, July 31, 2014 12:17 PM
    Friday, July 25, 2014 9:48 AM
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    Hi Don... Thank you very much for your help..Now i am thinking to use the KMS activation...but the problem is KMS is new to me...Can you please provide me a clear step by step guide in using the KMS, like how to install the KMS and how the client will connect and activate. Maximum the network will have 8 Windows 2012 server that will use KMS client.

    Awaiting for your reply...Thanks again

    Friday, July 25, 2014 5:33 PM
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    Hi Don... Thank you very much for your help..Now i am thinking to use the KMS activation...but the problem is KMS is new to me...Can you please provide me a clear step by step guide in using the KMS, like how to install the KMS and how the client will connect and activate. Maximum the network will have 8 Windows 2012 server that will use KMS client.

    Hmm, you could use KMS, yes.
    KMS is of much more benefit when you have a lot more computers, and/or are building lots, or rebuilding lots, or you have limited access to internet activation.

    It would be ok for you, but you must always ensure there are at least 5 KMSclient machine at all times.
    The KMShost is not counted as one of those 5.

    Here's a good guide:
    http://blogs.technet.com/b/askcore/archive/2013/03/14/installing-volume-activation-services-role-in-windows-server-2012-to-setup-a-kms-host.aspx

    And here's a reference I wrote (although I think for your scenario you won't need it much):
    http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/22510.volume-activation-kms-mak-adba-avma.aspx

    Don
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    Saturday, July 26, 2014 12:03 AM
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    Hi Don..Thanks again...the guide is only about installing KMS host server, how about the client? how the client will connect to the KMS Host server? Please provide a step by step guide in connecting the client to the KMS Host server.

    Our KMSclients are only Windows server 2012, excluding the KMShost it will be 7 server clients, is this acceptable with KMS??

    Thanks again...awaiting your reply...

    Saturday, July 26, 2014 6:17 AM
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    Client is already installed with volume media.  When you install volume media it automatically searches for a KMS server.  When the KMS server is installed, it places a record in the DNS announcing its availability.  So if you have properly installed the KMS, your volume media servers should automatically activate when they connect to the network.

    . : | : . : | : . tim

    Saturday, July 26, 2014 10:28 PM
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    Hi Tim/Don,

    I finally installed KMS Host server in the Windows 2012 R2 Datacenter following your guide . 5 kms client servers Hyper-v virtual machines in Windows 2012 R2 Datacenter are already activated successfully . But i have a problem Activating the Physical server where these Hyper-v virtual machines are installed, the physical server is also Windows 2012 R2 Datacenter . The error is below;

    "The Software Licensing Service reported that the computer could not be activated.  No Key Management Service (KMS) could be contacted.  Please see the Application Event Log for addition information."

    Below is event log error:

    "License Activation(slui.exe) failed with the following error code:hr=0xC004F074.event id:8198"

    I am just wondering why the servers in Hyper-v were activated but the Physical Server where these Hyper-v virtual machines are installed cannot be activated, they are the same 2012 R2 Datacenter.

    Awaiting your reply.Thanks

    Sunday, August 3, 2014 3:14 PM
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    "License Activation(slui.exe) failed with the following error code:hr=0xC004F074.event id:8198"

    0xC004F074 = "No KMShost could be contacted"

    Have you checked the KMShost server machine, to ensure the firewall rule is opened for inbound KMS traffic ?
    Check also that the relevant DNS record has been created by the KMShost machine.

    nslookup -type=srv _vlmcs._tcp >%temp%\kms.txt

    Don
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    Sunday, August 3, 2014 8:59 PM
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    Thanks Don...it is Okay now...issued this command from the KMS client  slmgr -skms "FQDN of the KMS Host Server" then run again slmgr /ato..now all are activated...

    Thank you very much for all the Help...

    • Marked as answer by Susie Long Tuesday, August 5, 2014 2:32 AM
    Monday, August 4, 2014 6:34 AM