Windows Server 2019 Activation from Evaluation

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Denis-1277 asked Aug 4, '20 JoelHook-9489 commented Mar 25, '22

Windows Server 2019 Activation from Evaluation

Hi,

I've installed on my new server Windows Server 2019 Standard Evaluation and after some days I purchased the licence (OLP) from a reseller and received through VLSC (windows server 2019 standard mak b).

Tried to Activate and changing the edition with the command on Power Shell:
DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula

But received:
Error 1168
The specified product key could not be validated.
Check that the specified product key is valid and that it matches the target edition.

Is there any solution to activate except reinstalling the new ISO (Non-Evaluation)?
If yes what steps should I follow?

Thanks

windows-server-2019

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IsaacGonzalez-0941 · Jan 07, 2021 at 03:53 AM

worked beautifully for me...big thanks...the reinstall method would have been a deal breaker for me...

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yourcooltechsupport-2448 · Sep 28, 2021 at 03:11 PM

Worked for me as well. Thanks for the detail!

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Answer 1 · 2020-08-04T09:18:35.423Z

LeonLaude answered Aug 4, '20 Manos-1128 published Feb 28, '22

Hi,

An evaluation version can only be activated using a retail key, if the key was from volume center then you'll need to use volume distribution media that can be downloaded from volume licensing center over here: https://www.microsoft.com/Licensing/servicecenter/default.aspx

To activate your Windows Server:
1. Enter key via GUI or run the command: slmgr.vbs /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

To get the available editions:
1. Open an elevated command prompt.
2. Run the following command: DISM.exe /Online /Get-TargetEditions

To set your Windows Server to a higher edition:
1. Run the following command: DISM.exe /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula
(Use key from table below if this is a MAK/Volume license key)

Windows Server 2022 - KMS Client Setup Key

Windows Server 2022 Datacenter
- WX4NM-KYWYW-QJJR4-XV3QB-6VM33

Windows Server 2022 Standard
- VDYBN-27WPP-V4HQT-9VMD4-VMK7H

Windows Server 2019 - KMS Client Setup Key

Windows Server 2019 Datacenter
- WMDGN-G9PQG-XVVXX-R3X43-63DFG

Windows Server 2019 Standard
- N69G4-B89J2-4G8F4-WWYCC-J464C

Windows Server 2019 Essentials
- WVDHN-86M7X-466P6-VHXV7-YY726

Windows Server 2016 - KMS Client Setup Key

Windows Server 2016 Datacenter
- CB7KF-BWN84-R7R2Y-793K2-8XDDG

Windows Server 2016 Standard
- WC2BQ-8NRM3-FDDYY-2BFGV-KHKQY

Windows Server 2016 Essentials
- JCKRF-N37P4-C2D82-9YXRT-4M63B

Note: It may take some time for the command to complete.

If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote and/or accept as answer, thank you!

Best regards,
Leon

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ThetNaingAung-1671 · May 18, 2021 at 10:41 AM

Hi, one question, So If i want to change server version from 2019 standard evaluation to standard, I have to use retail license key?
Retail License Key will work with It

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VictorS-7838 · Sep 14, 2021 at 05:13 PM

Thanks

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Manos-1128 · Feb 28 at 05:44 PM

Greetings, what we do after we get stuck at 10%? We wait??

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Answer 2 · 2020-08-07T02:59:38.943Z

RyanL-3550 answered Aug 7, '20 JoelHook-9489 commented Mar 25, '22

Just overcame this issue. Here are the notes to get an MAK key working on an evaluation ISO.

Server 2019 Activation Error: Run “slui.exe 0x2a 0xC004F069” to display the error text

This can be worked around by using two DISM commands.

Open an elevated command prompt, and type (or copy) DISM.exe /Online /Get-TargetEditions

Then enter DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:ENTER-YOUR-SERIAL-FROM-TABLE /AcceptEula (use key from below table if this is a MAK/Volume license key)

It may get stuck on the 10% mark for a few

Use one of the below keys first:

Windows Server 2019
Product GVLK
Windows Server 2019 Datacenter WMDGN-G9PQG-XVVXX-R3X43-63DFG
Windows Server 2019 Standard N69G4-B89J2-4G8F4-WWYCC-J464C
Windows Server 2019 Essentials WVDHN-86M7X-466P6-VHXV7-YY726
Windows Server 2019 Azure Core FDNH6-VW9RW-BXPJ7-4XTYG-239TB
Windows Server 2019 Datacenter Semi-Annual Channel (v.1809) 6NMRW-2C8FM-D24W7-TQWMY-CWH2D
Windows Server 2019 Standard Semi-Annual Channel (v.1809) N2KJX-J94YW-TQVFB-DG9YT-724CC
Windows Server 2019 ARM64 GRFBW-QNDC4-6QBHG-CCK3B-2PR88
Windows Server 2016
Product GVLK
Windows Server 2016 Standard Semi-Annual Channel (v.1803) PTXN8-JFHJM-4WC78-MPCBR-9W4KR
Windows Server 2016 Datacenter Semi-Annual Channel (v.1803) 2HXDN-KRXHB-GPYC7-YCKFJ-7FVDG
Windows Server 2016 Datacenter Semi-Annual Channel (v.1709) 6Y6KB-N82V8-D8CQV-23MJW-BWTG6
Windows Server 2016 Standard Semi-Annual Channel (v.1709) DPCNP-XQFKJ-BJF7R-FRC8D-GF6G4
Windows Server 2016 ARM64 K9FYF-G6NCK-73M32-XMVPY-F9DRR
Windows Server 2016 Datacenter CB7KF-BWN84-R7R2Y-793K2-8XDDG
Windows Server 2016 Standard WC2BQ-8NRM3-FDDYY-2BFGV-KHKQY
Windows Server 2016 Essentials JCKRF-N37P4-C2D82-9YXRT-4M63B
Windows Server 2016 Cloud Storage QN4C6-GBJD2-FB422-GHWJK-GJG2R
Windows Server 2016 Azure Core VP34G-4NPPG-79JTQ-864T4-R3MQX
WNCYY-GFBH2-M4WTT-XQ2FP-PG2K9
Finally reboot and enter your purchased key:
- Enter key via GUI
or
- slmgr.vbs /ipk <your product key>
- slmgr.vbs /ato

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mmarquis · Oct 18, 2020 at 02:16 PM

very clear and concise (including the great tip about stuck at 10%)
Thank you for this great post!

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KevinHoisington-5210 · Oct 28, 2020 at 11:13 AM

Thank you for this, worked perfectly saving me the hassle of recreating this VM!!

~Kevin

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KevinHoisington-5210 KevinHoisington-5210 · Oct 28, 2020 at 11:24 AM

Screen shot of activation after converting from retail install.

~Kevin

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screenshot-4.jpg (45.0 KiB)

VineeshBabu-8668 · Nov 04, 2020 at 05:46 PM

Thank you team its worked and saved lots of hours for the installation and creation of new server.

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JustinVS-2493 · Nov 09, 2020 at 12:00 AM

Thank you! This worked perfectly and saved me a ton of extra work.

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JoeRod · Dec 01, 2020 at 08:32 PM

This worked for me thanks!

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Answer 3 · 2020-08-12T09:49:43.037Z

sylviachen-MSFT answered Aug 12, '20

Just to check if the above reply could be of help, if yes, you may mark useful reply as answer, if not, welcome to feedback.

Best regards,
Sylvia

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Answer 4 · 2020-11-04T17:27:52.307Z

VineeshBabu-8668 answered Nov 4, '20 VladimirNekic-2182 commented Jan 6, '21

Hi team,

Is any method available to activate the sql server 2019 also, because we are using sql server 2019 as evalution on windows server 2019 evaluation? And we bought the license but its VLSC.

sqlactivationerror.png (132.3 KiB)

windows-activation-error.png (220.6 KiB)

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VladimirNekic-2182 · Jan 06, 2021 at 01:56 PM

VineeshBabu, you might want to post elsewhere for SQL as this is thread is for the Operating System. Others might think you are trying to HIJACK this thread for your own purposes and many people don't like that.

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Answer 5 · 2021-10-29T05:01:36.557Z

SAKTHIMURUGANARUMUGAM-6336 answered Oct 29, '21

Is the trail version of Windows 2019 standard to Standard version of Windows 2019 with all the functionality is possible on the activation of Windows key?

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