I downloaded  Windows 2012 R2 (x64) from MSDN and installed the Standard version (with the associated product key) onto ESXi 5.5. Installation went fine and it ran good without problem. When try activating the windows, I can't find the activation option using phone as I don't have internet access inside the VM.

I tried installing Windows 2008 and can activate by phone in the same environment.

How can I activate Windows 2012 R2 by phone?

Appreciate any help on this!

Thanks,

Ken

OK, I found the answer myself!

Run "slui 4" from the command prompt to bring a GUI, select a region and you will find the installation ID there. Call the Activation Center to get the Confirmation ID and enter it into the next screen. Then, your windows will be activated.

I am wondering why Microsoft makes Windows 2012 so difficult to activate:( In the past, the activate by phone is right in the Activation Windows GUI.

Sigh!

• Marked as answer by Dharmesh SMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Monday, January 27, 2014 3:21 AM

Hi,

Im glad to hear that you resolved your issue. 

Thank you for sharing your experience here. It will be very beneficial for other community members who have similar questions. 

If you want any more solution in future, kindly place your post in Forum.

Regards,
Dharmesh

hi i'm glad to read your problem and you resolve it

but my problem is i can resolve, i try to type "slui 4" from command prompt

but nothing gonna happen, 

it is not recognized an as internal and external command, can help me to fix this problem, i dont no how to activate by phone

Make sure you run "slui 4" from an elevated/admin command prompt.  Works like a charm on 2012 r2.

Here is for anyone who try activate over phone on machine that has no internect connection.

Here is the trick I finally figured out.

You can't activate windows by phone because you have not put in the correct product key number. Here are the steps and I was able to activate over the phone. I have not see any one post these steps yet. I spent 4 days with Microsoft trying to get some helps. With other user's input and I was able to put together the complete steps.

1. To Change Product Key Number in a Command Prompt Open an elevated command prompt. In the elevated command prompt, type in the command below and press enter.

NOTE: Substitute XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX in this command below with your actual product key number with dashes instead. slmgr.vbs /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

2. type slui.exe 4 to access the phone activation screen and follow the steps to activate over the phone.

• Proposed as answer by k cra 5 hours 23 minutes ago

Here is for anyone who try activate over phone on machine that has no internect connection.

Here is the trick I finally figured out.

You can't activate windows by phone because you have not put in the correct product key number. Here are the steps and I was able to activate over the phone. I have not see any one post these steps yet. I spent 4 days with Microsoft trying to get some helps. With other user's input and I was able to put together the complete steps.

1. To Change Product Key Number in a Command Prompt Open an elevated command prompt. In the elevated command prompt, type in the command below and press enter.

NOTE: Substitute XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX in this command below with your actual product key number with dashes instead. slmgr.vbs /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

2. type slui.exe 4 to access the phone activation screen and follow the steps to activate over the phone.

• Proposed as answer by k cra Sunday, February 08, 2015 6:02 AM

Was having a heck of a time until I finally found the above post from Killachang. He's right on the money.

Do it exactly like that and it works.

My situation was with Server 2012 R2, from Dreamspark, on VM Wworkstation. Tried all kinds of stuff....called Microsoft...lol...I  know, but I was trying everything. Other posts left out small bits here and there, etc.

Hy there....

also having the same problem.. i have windows server 2012 std.. the slui.exe 04 command does not allow me to choose region, but on my pc it does allow me, what could be the problem with the server here??

plis help