Change KMS to MAK key on Windows 2008 server

If you ever need to change a Windows 2008 to MAK key then do the following (requires reboot and a valid MAK key):

  1. Start an elevated CMD prompt
  2. slmgr /rearm
    NOTE: the rearm command can only be done 3 times on an Win2008 server
  3. Reboot the server
  4. On next logon enter the valid MAK key (and activate)
    If activation doesn’t work logoff/login and run the slmgr /ato (from a cmd prompt)

To verify your license run slmgr /dli or slmgr /dlv in a cmd prompt

slmgr /dli (licence information)

slmgr /dlv (detailed license information)

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I need to change from MAK to KMS 8 Physical 2 of which are Win2k8 running Exchnage 2007 SCC.

RikardStrand said...

To change MAK clients to KMS clients, run the following command:
slmgr.vbs /ipk [KmsSetupKey]

Volume Activation Deployment Guide

Unknown said...

Hi,

Have you any idea how I would license/activate 3x 2008R2 server's if I only have KMS keys? I think I need 5 or more servers to use the KMS keys. Is that right?

Thanks,
Paul

novitaliang said...
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