PowerEdge: Upgrade and Conversion Options for Windows Server after Making Hardware Changes

When making a hardware change to the server, and reinstalling the Windows server and comes across an activation error: run 'slui.exe 0x2a 0xC004F069'.

Screenshot of the full error:

When a hardware change is made on the server.

1. To check what is the edition of the operating system run the following

   DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition

    

2. Run the following, this applies to the generic volume license key

   DISM /online /Set-Edition:<edition ID> /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula

    
   Note: Make sure to use the generic key from: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/kms-client-activation-keys

   Ex: DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerDatacenter /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula

    

3. Run the following command slmgr.vbs /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX, at this stage you use your own product key and this replaces the generic key with your own product key, but does not activate the operating system.

4. To activate your operating system, you must run command slmgr /ato to activate the license

TIP

If you run in command prompt slmgr, a "windows script host" window appears.
If you press OK at the bottom, it shows you all the slmgr commands/ switches that can be used.