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Windows Server 2008 Core: Activate the license with a script

Originally published Last updated

Windows Server 2008 Core does not offer the usual graphical controls for activating the server. Use the script below with your own license key.

  1. Open Notepad from a command prompt: notepad license.cmd.
  2. Paste the code below and replace the placeholder with your license key.
  3. Save the file and run the CMD script.
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@echo off

REM Created: [email protected]
REM Windows Server 2008 Core License Script

cscript C:\Windows\System32\slmgr.vbs -ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

 cscript C:\Windows\System32\slmgr.vbs -ato

 cscript C:\Windows\System32\slmgr.vbs -xpf

Windows2008Activate