Is there a way to change the activation code for a Windows Server 2003 and not reinstall the system again?

1. Crack Windows Server 2003 Activation Key
2. Ophcrack
3. How To Crack Windows 7

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The 'official' way to do this is to insert the original product CD and perform an in-place upgrade, i.e., reinstall Windows on top of itself. You'll need to re-apply all service packs and hotfixes after you do this. You can also call Microsoft directly and ask for help in this regard. They are usually very helpful.

There is another method which I have not tested, which involves hacking the Registry, and which does not seem to be well-supported in Windows 2003 Server:

1. In the Registry, go to the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMICROSOFTWINDOWS NTCURRENT VERSIONWPAEVENTS.
2. Edit the key OOBETIMER. Change at least three of the binary values therein.
3. Close REGEDIT.
4. Go to Start Run, and type c windowssystems32oobemsoobe.exe /a
5. This will launch the Product Activation screen. You should be able to specify a new product key on the second screen by selecting 'Change Product Key.'

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I have a machine that I'm migrating from physical hardware to a VMWare server. It is Windows 2003 and the license key fell off the machine and is gone. I know when I start up the virtualized version of that machine, it will ask me to Activate. I know this because it did that for other machine I migrated. For that machine I have the key because the sticker is still on it.

So how can I get the activation key from the OS? Or am I stuck having to call Microsoft or Dell to get an new key?

4 Answers

A quick Google finds this article that may help. I haven't tried it personally.

Crack Windows Server 2003 Activation Key

If your product key is from the COA attached to the server, it's likely to be an OEM product key and thus not generally transferable. In that case, it won't work for activating your virtual server.

Ophcrack

I don't know the details of Windows Server 2003 licensing, however, for Windows Server 2008, I'm pretty sure that virtual guests are not considered the same machine as the host, for licensing purposes.

I just used CD Key Reader and it seemed to work ok.

How To Crack Windows 7

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