Forum Discussion
Server 2019 Volume licensing activation key not working
I have a server that I am trying to install Server 2019 Standard. The Volume Licensing activation key is not working. The product was downloaded from the Volume Licensing portal along with the license key. The activation pane shows a product ID, and on the product key space the last (5) digits are already populated. The server had a previous Server 2016 evaluation running on it before it was reformatted before attempting to install Server 2019.
Might also try;
slmgr /ipk #####-#####-#####-#####-#####
slmgr /ato
Might also try;
slmgr /ipk #####-#####-#####-#####-#####
slmgr /ato
Dave Patrick Thanks. I tried it and got the following errors: 0xC004F050 The Software licensing service reported the product key is invalid.
Veronica
Also try phone activation;
slui 4
Solution
Find available target editions
DISM.exe /Online /Get-TargetEditions
Change your target editionDISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula
Works on MS Server 2019 Trial 05/09/2019
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-server-2019
We had a similar issue as the OP and tried these commands among others. However, they appear not to work on the Server 2019 Standard Evaluation edition if you have a VLSC MAK key. Googling around indicates that you need a retail key for the commands to work.
The question for me is how to extract a retail key from a VLSC MAK key. Is that even possible at all?
Cheers,
Tony G
tonymoo wrote:
However, they appear not to work on the Server 2019 Standard Evaluation edition if you have a VLSC MAK key.
That's correct, the technet evaluation cannot be activated using a volume key. The correct distribution media can be downloaded from the volume center.
Hi.
I had the same panic but I still had 56 days to go, but realized how many other places I did the same eval setup and thought oh no. I muddled through some of the suggestions below, but they didn't work.
However, I did get it resolved and i really want to share it with you or anyone else who gets stuck in this issue.
When you try to activate Windows server 2019 from evaluation version, you always get an error message “the product key you entered didn’t work. Check the product key and try again, or enter a different one.
The issue is that the Eval wants to be activated with a Retail key and NOT a Volume License key or a MAK.
Open a command prompt as administrator and enter the following:
DISM /Online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx /AcceptEula
I used the key below in the command line above from the site: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/kmsclientkeys to complete the upgrade.
Windows Server 2019 Standard N69G4-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
After you run the command line you will see a window like below. Wait for it to complete (15mins) and then reboot.
After the reboot, open the Cmd again as an Administrator and enter the following:
slmgr /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX (your OWN VLSC MAK key)
You will see this:
Apparently, you can type this:
slmgr /ato
I actually didn’t know that and went to activate it from the Windows Properties screen and hit troubleshoot and then Activate after the troubleshoot completed.
I rebooted and its Activated with my own key now.
- Thank you so much!
- Thank you! Your solution worked perfectly.
Open Command Prompt
c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk PRODUCT_KEY
hit ENTER
Sample: c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk 12345-12345-12345-12345-12345
It did not work for me for the Version Win SRV 2019 STD Core
but I called MS and they told me to use this
Run CMD as Administrator
slmgr.vbs -ipk YOUR PRODUCT KEY.
this one helped and windows was activated
Worked.I wonder why the license manager tool worked within command prompt, but doesn't in Settings-> Activation?
Hope this helps.
Open command prompt as admin and run c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk <product_key>
Good luck!
