Datasheet
27
Activating Windows
aCtivating WindoWs
Part of getting deployment right is ensuring that the Windows Product Activation
process occurs smoothly. Product activation is a process by which a Windows Product
Key and a hardware identication are registered with Microsoft. Product activation
generally occurs over the Internet, but it is also possible to perform product activa-
tion over the phone. The drawback to performing product activation over the phone
is that it can take a long time, and, if you make an error, you need to start over again.
Systems administrators only perform product activation over the phone if their com-
puters don’t directly connect to the Internet. If you have more than one server that
isn’t connected to the Internet, you should investigate performing activation using
the Volume Activation Management Tool, which you will learn about later in this
chapter.
Windows product activation must usually occur within 30 days of completing the
installation of Windows Server 2008 R2. If activation has not occurred within this
30-day period, Windows Server 2008 R2 enters reduced functionality mode. Dur-
ing reduced functionality mode, the operating system continually prompts you to
perform activation. The functionality of services, applications, and remote admin-
istration are not impacted in reduced functionality mode. You can manually rearm
a computer’s activation clock three times to stave off reduced functionality mode.
Each reset gives you an additional 30 days of use before you must perform activation.
To rearm a computer’s activation clock, issue the command:
slmgr.vbs -rearm
Even after you’ve activated a computer, there are certain circumstances where
activation must be performed again. Reactivation is usually triggered if you change
a substantial number of hardware components on the server, such as changing the
server’s motherboard and the amount of RAM it supports. When reactivation is trig-
gered in this manner, you have three days for reactivation to complete successfully
before the server enters reduced functionality mode.
NO TE You can’t rearm a computer after it has been activated.
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