Remotely Change a License Key on a Windows Server 2008 Box

If you ever need to change the License Key on a Windows Server 2008 box that you don't have RDP or an IP KVM for, there's a CLI method which works remotely.

• If you want to remove all installed license keys
  • slmgr.vbs -upk

This is useful remove licenses used for testing purposes, before handing a server over to a client who is going to use their own licenses.

• Add new the license key
  • slmgr. vbs -ipk <license key>
• Activate Windows
  • slmgr.vbs -ato
• Check to make sure the activation succeeded
  • slmgr.vbs -dli