How do I get the Activation Key in Windows 2003 Server

Question

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?

score 15 · Accepted Answer · answered May 01 '09 at 15:07

15

You could try Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder.

answered May 01 '09 at 15:07

Chris Shaffer

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This tool has never let me down. – tomfanning May 01 '09 at 15:12
+1 - This tool is one of the "must have's" on my USB thumb-drive – Rob May 01 '09 at 15:33

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered May 01 '09 at 15:07

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

answered May 01 '09 at 15:07

ceejayoz

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score 1 · Answer 3 · answered May 01 '09 at 17:29

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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.

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.

answered May 01 '09 at 17:29

C. K. Young

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It worked just fine for one of the servers. As it turns out, the second server didn't ask for a key. It did ask to re-activate but it worked just fine the way it was. – Jay R. May 01 '09 at 18:24

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered May 01 '09 at 15:14

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

answered May 01 '09 at 15:14

Jay R.

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How do I get the Activation Key in Windows 2003 Server

4 Answers4