Not sure on why I am having this issue as I wanted to setup a server through TechNet first and get it up and running while we were purchasing the license. When I went into the activation center I received this message from the server 

The product key you have entered will not work with this edition of Windows Server 2012.

you must either run Windows server 2012 setup or enter a windows server 2012 standard Eval product key.

My problem is that a programmer completed his project on this server and its ready for product. I went onto the knowledge base and found this.

1. Read the license terms.
2. From an elevated command prompt, determine the current edition name with the command DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition. Make note of the edition ID, an abbreviated form of the edition name. Then runDISM /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.

When I get the info it show me

PS C:\Windows\system32> dism /Online /Get-CurrentEdition

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 6.2.9200.16384

Image Version: 6.2.9200.16384

Current edition is:

Current Edition : ServerStandardEval

The operation completed successfully.
PS C:\Windows\system32>

Should I complete the instruction and will this work. I can't make a mistake as I need to put this into product.

No you are wondering why didn't I just purchase a copy. Where I work the process is to slow. We wanted to get a jump on it.

Need help

Ralph

I guess you are struggling because the documentation is a bit vague on this.

You are wanting to change the edition from "ServerStandardEval" to be "ServerStandard", as this is what converts from evaluation to licensed.

So do this:

DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula

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

thank you sir it worked.

Yes worked here too. Question well worded and complete by OP.

Didn't work for me(

C:\Windows\system32>DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx /AcceptEula

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 6.2.9200.16384

Image Version: 6.2.9200.16384


Error: 0x8a010101

The specified product key could not be validated.
Check that the specified product key is valid and that it matches the target edi
tion.

The DISM log file can be found at C:\Windows\Logs\DISM\dism.log

C:\Windows\system32>DISM /online /get-targeteditions

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 6.2.9200.16384

Image Version: 6.2.9200.16384

Editions that can be upgraded to:

Target Edition : ServerDatacenter
Target Edition : ServerStandard

The operation completed successfully.

C:\Windows\system32>DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 6.2.9200.16384

Image Version: 6.2.9200.16384

Current edition is:

Current Edition : ServerStandardEval

The operation completed successfully.

Key is new and official from Microsoft

Didn't work for me(

C:\Windows\system32>DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx /AcceptEula

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 6.2.9200.16384

Image Version: 6.2.9200.16384


Error: 0x8a010101

The specified product key could not be validated.
Check that the specified product key is valid and that it matches the target edi
tion.

The DISM log file can be found at C:\Windows\Logs\DISM\dism.log

C:\Windows\system32>DISM /online /get-targeteditions

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 6.2.9200.16384

Image Version: 6.2.9200.16384

Editions that can be upgraded to:

Target Edition : ServerDatacenter
Target Edition : ServerStandard

The operation completed successfully.

C:\Windows\system32>DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 6.2.9200.16384

Image Version: 6.2.9200.16384

Current edition is:

Current Edition : ServerStandardEval

The operation completed successfully.

Key is new and official from Microsoft

if the key is new, are you sure it is WS2012 and not WS2012R2 ?

It seems to me that your server version is WS2012 (v6.2), and, a new key would most likely be WS2012R2 (v6.3) ?

Don,

You were right! It was key from 2012 R2

THX

Many thanks for the info worked just fine me

Works fine. Thank you

This works, thanks for the helpfull response. MS should reword the technet article as it had me wondering as well.

I am running the eval version of R2 right now. Can I buy a retail copy from an online store and simply use the key that came with it to convert from running eval copy?

I am running the eval version of R2 right now. Can I buy a retail copy from an online store and simply use the key that came with it to convert from running eval copy?

Yes, just follow the linked instructions (use DISM)

was a bit scared.  the eval machine had 4 production applications being served off it and i was not looking forward to redoing the server!!!1