Where do you obtain the product key information? 

for the .iso download version to be functional

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj612867.aspx

Windows Server 2012 R2 Server Standard

D2N9P-3P6X9-2R39C-7RTCD-MDVJX

• Proposed as answer by DonleyDoRight Tuesday, April 21, 2015 5:29 AM

Have tried KMS keys for first attempt,

Have same result

"We couldn't verify the product key. Please check your installation media"

Is the evaluation only valid for tech net subscribers?

For Windows 2012 iso download you will be able to use it free for 60days to 180 days. (fully functional)

It shouldn't need any product key to use during the free evaluation period.

check out this link:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj574204.aspx

can you post the link where  you download the iso file?

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/evalcenter/dn205286.aspx

this is downloaded straight from tech net,

and is only affecting me with Win 2012 R2 evaluation edition

To be clear, do have evaluation build of Win 2012 working as expected.

Hi,

According to your description, we did a test for that. We installed the Windows server 2012 r2 from the link you provided in a Hyper-V computer. During the installation, no process asked us to enter the product key and we installed it successfully.

Just as cguan said, it is free for us to download and install it and it dont need any product key to make it functional.

Best regards,

Susie

• Proposed as answer by ENGINEER Wednesday, May 07, 2014 8:01 AM

You don't exactly state what your problem is, so I'll offer a potential solution that might not fit your problem.

Are you trying to activate the installation after it expired on you?  If so, the evaluation copy automatically reaches out to Microsoft and activates.  That means it needs access to the internet.  If it does not have access to the internet, it will expire in 10 days.

If that's not the issue, could you provide the steps you took to try to change the key?  I've upgraded a number of evaluation installations without any problems.

I downloaded the Eval iso and setup a VM. Since I wanted to isolate it, I used an internal network. After 10 days, the VM is expired and I am unable to activate it.

What are my options now?

Why don't they let us know about this critical need for activation when we download the iso?

Tim

problem i'm having here is building clean install of the evaluation edition 2012 r2

environment  is Esx Vm & alternative install is bare metal box.

Steps

Boot from dvd, see gold fish splash screen => click install 

Then immediately prompting to enter product key to activate

Have not be able to progress to where activation has timed out after 10 grace period as you're explaining

phone activation is this still as an alternative option to activate, may suit your scenario of vm that is isolated from internet access

have you tried downloading again the 2012 r2? and burn again the ISO and use that to install.

if you install Evalution Version, expiry of evalution time OS need to Convert version, after converting OS, license work fine

For Convert:

determine the current edition name with the command

DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition

DISM /online /Get-TargetEditions

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

providing the edition ID and a retail product key. The server will restart twice.

Detail info: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj574204.aspx

• Proposed as answer by Zaza Gabaidze Friday, November 01, 2013 10:57 PM
• Edited by Zaza Gabaidze Friday, November 01, 2013 11:38 PM

I agree with cguan - try downloading a different copy.  The evaluation copy should not be asking for a key.  If it is asking for a key, either you do not have an evaluation copy, or the copy you have has something wrong with it.

I downloaded the Eval iso and setup a VM. Since I wanted to isolate it, I used an internal network. After 10 days, the VM is expired and I am unable to activate it.

What are my options now?

Why don't they let us know about this critical need for activation when we download the iso?

When I have had that happen, I created an external virtual switch on a network that had access to the internet.  Gave the VM access to the internet until it activated, then removed the network.

Another option is to use slmgr.vbs to rearm the evaluation copy.  It will rearm for 10 days, and the same thing will then happen.  You can rearm three times, so you could get a total of 40 days.  But if you follow the first steps I gave, you get 180 days and then you can rearm for another 30 days - if you connect it back to the internet.  Again, 3 rearms.

Tim is right. I simply connected it to the internet and after a day, the expired version was automatically activated for 180 days. Problem solved.

In the week was trying to install this.

The link in technet first downloaded win 2012 r2 preview

Second attempt it downloaded Win 2012 R2 std, causing all the frustration.

Finally third download was Win 2012 R2 evaluation edition

iso wasn't corrupt, just couldn't get the correct iso from technet evaluation centre

thanks all for the help

Hi Marz,

You can download Win2012 R2 from mentioned link

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/products/windows-server-2012-r2/default.aspx#fbid=kyb2VoUOHw-

http://blogs.technet.com/b/firehose/archive/2013/06/25/system-center-2012-r2-now-available-for-download.aspx

and key is provided in mentioned link

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj612867.aspx

I have already downloaded it and checked it, it is working fine without issue.

If you have installed Evaulation version and unable to use KMS key then Try mentioned link, it is very helpful

http://www.doitfixit.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=192:upgrade-server-evaluation-version&catid=48:active-directory&Itemid=53

http://workinghardinit.wordpress.com/tag/windows-server-2012-r2/

Steps are

1. check Current Edition

DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition

2. Check Target Edition

DISM /online /Get-TargetEditions

3.

DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:D2N9P-3P6X9-2R39C-7RTCD-MDVJX /AcceptEula

or

DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerDatacenter /ProductKey:W3GGN-FT8W3-Y4M27-J84CP-Q3VJ9 /AcceptEula

Now you can install the new Windows 2012 R2 KMS key. If you run in to any issues here, restarting the KMS Service can help (("net stop sppsvc" and "net start sppsvc") . Try that first.

4.

slmgr.vbs /ipk D2N9P-3P6X9-2R39C-7RTCD-MDVJX

or

slmgr.vbs /ipk W3GGN-FT8W3-Y4M27-J84CP-Q3VJ9

once it done, we can cross check the time period

5

slmgr.vbs /dlv