Change Product Key On Windows Server 2008

If for some reason you can’t change the product key of your Server 2008 under My Computer Windows Activation option:

Do the following.

Open the command prompt and change working directory to System32 directory
Type in slmgr.vbs -ckms (this clears and KMS entry you may have)
Type slmgr.vbs -upk (this removes any product key installed)
Type slmgr.vbs -ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx (where the x’s is the new product key you want to use )
Type slmgr.vbs -ato (this activates the server)

after doing that, Windows Server 2008 should show up as activated.

Comment by:
nelson

activating windows 2008 has never been easier
Comment by:
Josh

Worked great thank you
Comment by:
someone

I tried this but it installs product key but when i type slmgr.vbs -ato it shows error activating windows.
Comment by:
Murat

Thank you so much, it really easy and worked successfully.
Comment by:
emospy

Worked great for me too. Thank You!
Comment by:
Techy

…. why not just click the change product key button under system?
for example right click computer, click properties. change product key?
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Comment by:
Ben

Thanks for this post, helped out great.
@Techy – that button doesn’t always work.

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