How to convert and activate Windows Server 2012 evaluation to fully licensed

I have downloaded the evaluation version of Windows server 2012 R2 from MSDN/Technet link. After downloading, I have installed the same to a virtual machine using vmware player. The installation was smooth, and the minimum required memory for Server 2012 R2 is 512MB. So the performance was awesome during the initial booth from virtual machine.

Once boot into the desktop, there was a message at the bottom which says license expired. In normal case (starting the 180 days evaluation), we can using slmgr /rearm from the elevated command prompt. But in my case, I have MSDN product key. So I have followed the below steps to activate my license:

We have to use the command line Since Microsoft have taken away the ability to alter product keys through Control Panel -> System.

At first we need to identify the exact version of the product installed. From an elevated command prompt, run the following command:DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition

There will be a list of information loaded into the screen, it will tell you your current edition (in my case ServerStandardEval). Note this, but remove the “Eval” at the end.

Using the license key you have, run following command:

For Standard edition:

DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula

For DataCenter Edition:

DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerDataCenter /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula

Replace “XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX” with your license key.  The /AcceptEula switch allows the system to silently accept the Microsoft license agreement.

The system may restart 1 or 2 times. After that (if it doesn’t happen automatically) you can activate with your newly provided key from Control Panel -> System or using the slmgr tool, and now enjoy licensed copy 🙂