Forum Discussion
Windows Server 2019 install product key not working
- May 23, 2018
Did you install, choose NOT to enter the product key, then after the install was done, try to enter and activate the key? if so, that does not appear to work. I ran into the same issue on 2 of my 2019 servers. I wiped them out and this time entered the key during install, and it successfully activated. if I were to guess, they made something in the install to take into account these testing keys, but the Activation function within Settings, has not been updated to reflect that, so it thinks you are activating a live version of Windows, and that is not a valid key there. That is entirely a guess on my part. I didn't bother running a wireshark or anything to see what kind of response I was getting when trying to activate from Settings.
Just as an FYI, based on the earlier response, the 2 machines I was seeing this issue on, were not upgrades, they were brand new installs on a blank hard drive. I have not gotten around to trying the in-place upgrade yet. I don't know if this will help your situation, but I can say that I saw exactly what you were describing, and if you enter the key during the actual install, it appears to work. I have not looked into the release notes to see if there is something that says Activation from Settings is not set up to work yet.
So why that same exact thing doesnt work here is just crazy. It does however recognize that it is a Insider Build 17713 and it seems to run great. I just wish it would let me sign into my Microsoft account somewhere or at least let me Activate it using the Standard key that was given to everyone. I can't even find a Feedback Hub to give feedback as it tells me I need to install it. Jeez
Oh well... I should have just dumped Server and used Ubuntu Server, that is soooooooo much easier.
Rod