While building my lab, I was not able to activate my copy of Windows Server 2012 R2 Evaluation. Here is the solution.
I did like most of you guys, I went on Microsoft website to get a copy of Windows Server 2012 R2 to host my servers. Obviously Microsoft doesn’t give away unlimited versions of its products, but evaluation versions which are limited to 180 days. See below.

Then I purchased official licenses from Microsoft and I tried to activate one of them.

To fix it, you need to follow the procedure below :

You need to use the DISM command:
1 2 |
dism /online /get-targeteditions dism /online /set-edition:serverStandard /productkey <YOUR KEY> /acceptEULA |
Then reboot your server. Windows will reconfigure itself.

The edition will change from Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard Evaluation to Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard.

If you license is genuine and your server is connected to the internet, you should be able to validate your license.

That’s it. Hope it helped.
thank you bro,,, for your tutorial, very helpfull
Many thanks.
Only one add.
Right version of edition change command:
dism /online /set-edition:serverStandard /productkey:YOUR KEY /acceptEULA
thx
Hi,
Is this working even if the Active Directory is runing on my server 2012 R2 standard evaluation?
I purchase OPEN Licence for 2012 R2 standard.
Thank’s for your help.
Thank you So much for sharing the valuable post which was very helpful for me when we stuck during production roll out 🙂
hi, Just want to ask how long it will take to finish? I tried the same procedure and after restart, it showing ” Keep you PC on until this is done Installing update 13 of 17.