Windows Server 2016 Evaluation activation with 2019 ROK Key

FluffyHyena · August 29, 2019

Hey guys,

I'm trying to activate Windows Server 2016 Evaluation with a 2019 Datacenter ROK Key.

The Server is a VM and I also added the parameter "SMBIOS.reflectHost TRUE" to it. So Windows should be able to see that the OS is running on HPE Hardware. The activation of the ROK-License should work and it already worked with the installation of Server 2019 Datacenter.

I don't have a 2016 Key and the 2019 is not officially supported of the program that is supposed to run on this new server.

I couldn't find any answer for it on the net. The question is now: Is it even possible to activate 2016 Evaluation with a 2019 ROK key? Or maybe it's another problem?

Thanks a lot already

LogicalDrm · August 29, 2019

If Windows servers are anything like desktop OS', then it's nope. Windows keys are per version. With few exceptions. You can have downgrade right, but only to previous version (Server 2018?). And with desktops the upgrade right from Win7/8/.1 to Win10.