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PGomersall's avatar
PGomersall
Brass Contributor
Apr 28, 2021

Windows Server Preview Build 20344 requesting product key

Mary Hoffman 

Running setup, Windows Server Preview Build 20344 is requesting a product key and no way to continue without entering one.

Previous PK's do not work; how are we supposed to install and test?

Pete

  • PGomersall 

    This one got me for a few minutes too. After looking again, in the announcement post, it says to skip putting in a product key. I did so using the old school way of using an ei.cfg, and it worked.

     

    To do so, extract the contents of the iso to a folder, go to the sources folder, make a new text file called ei.cfg and put this in it:

    [Channel]Retail[VL]0

     Then running setup shouldn't ask you about a product key.

  • Dimitri-K's avatar
    Dimitri-K
    Brass Contributor

    Thanks a lot for information about new key.
    Provided key work fine, did upgrade of the Server2022 without option to keep anything,
    however all my files and server settings remains in current state, no issues or losses of data.

    • Karl-WE's avatar
      Karl-WE
      MVP

      Zeitas we now have a legitimate source for your proposal of a key for Build 20344 or newer
      cc PGomersall 

      KMS client setup keys | Microsoft Docs

      Windows Server LTSC/LTSB versions

      Windows Server 2022


      Operating system edition                 KMS Client Setup Key
      Windows Server 2022 DatacenterWX4NM-KYWYW-QJJR4-XV3QB-6VM33
      Windows Server 2022 StandardVDYBN-27WPP-V4HQT-9VMD4-VMK7H
    • 007pcservice's avatar
      007pcservice
      Copper Contributor
      I put this key VDYBN-27WPP-V4HQT-9VMD4-VMK7H but I receive the message that I must connect to my organization server. What I have to do. I don't have any organization server?
      • Mary Hoffman's avatar
        Mary Hoffman
        Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft
        That is a GVLK key which will not work on this build. The server is not connected to a KMS host so hence the message "I must connect to my organization server." A KMS host will only activate your server if it has been configured to activate Windows Server 2022.
    • Mary Hoffman's avatar
      Mary Hoffman
      Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft

       If you start from an existing OS, the option to skip pkey may not show up. This is how it looks on a fresh install. Note the "I don't have a product key" option.

       

       

      • Karl-WE's avatar
        Karl-WE
        MVP
        That's exactly it
        the option to skip pkey >may not< show up.
        they do not show up on inplace upgrades of previous 2022 versions.

        Here are the keys though
        Server Standard: MFY9F-XBN2F-TYFMP-CCV49-RMYVH
        Server Datacenter: 2KNJJ-33Y9H-2GXGX-KMQWH-G6H67
  • JonathanKay's avatar
    JonathanKay
    Iron Contributor

    PGomersall 

    This one got me for a few minutes too. After looking again, in the announcement post, it says to skip putting in a product key. I did so using the old school way of using an ei.cfg, and it worked.

     

    To do so, extract the contents of the iso to a folder, go to the sources folder, make a new text file called ei.cfg and put this in it:

    [Channel]Retail[VL]0

     Then running setup shouldn't ask you about a product key.

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