Windows Server 2012 R2 Activation Crack: How to Avoid It and Activate Legally
Windows Server 2012 R2 Activation Crack: What You Need to Know
Windows Server 2012 R2 is a specialized operating system designed for server applications. It provides a wide range of features and capabilities that can enhance the performance, security, and reliability of your server infrastructure. However, to use Windows Server 2012 R2 legally and fully, you need to activate it with a valid product key. Otherwise, you may face some limitations or problems with your server operation.
Windows Server 2012 R2 Activation Crack
Some people may try to use a Windows Server 2012 R2 activation crack to bypass the activation process and use the operating system without paying for a license. But is this a good idea? What are the risks and consequences of using an activation crack? And what are the alternatives to using an activation crack? In this article, we will answer these questions and help you make an informed decision about activating your Windows Server 2012 R2.
What is Windows Server 2012 R2 and why do you need to activate it?
Windows Server 2012 R2 is the sixth version of the Windows Server operating system, released by Microsoft in October 2013. It is based on the same core as Windows 8.1, but with many enhancements and improvements for server scenarios. Some of the main features and benefits of Windows Server 2012 R2 are:
Server virtualization: Windows Server 2012 R2 supports Hyper-V, a hypervisor-based technology that allows you to create and manage virtual machines on your server. Hyper-V offers many advantages, such as increased scalability, availability, performance, and security for your virtualized workloads.
Storage: Windows Server 2012 R2 provides various storage solutions, such as Storage Spaces, which allows you to create flexible and resilient storage pools from multiple disks; Data Deduplication, which reduces the storage space required for duplicate data; ReFS, a new file system that improves reliability and resilience; and Storage QoS, which enables you to monitor and control the performance of your storage resources.
Networking: Windows Server 2012 R2 supports software-defined networking (SDN), which enables you to abstract and manage your network resources as virtual entities. SDN offers many benefits, such as increased agility, efficiency, security, and automation for your network infrastructure. Windows Server 2012 R2 also supports other networking features, such as NIC Teaming, IPAM, DNSSEC, DHCP Failover, and DirectAccess.
Server management and automation: Windows Server 2012 R2 simplifies and streamlines the administration of your server environment with various tools and technologies, such as Server Manager, which provides a centralized console for managing multiple servers; PowerShell, which is a powerful scripting language for automating tasks; Desired State Configuration (DSC), which is a new feature in PowerShell that enables you to declare and enforce the desired configuration of your servers; and Remote Desktop Services (RDS), which allows you to deliver virtual desktops and applications to your users.
Web and application platform: Windows Server 2012 R2 supports Internet Information Services (IIS) 8.5, which is a web server that hosts websites and web applications. IIS 8.5 offers many improvements, such as enhanced scalability, security, performance, logging, diagnostics, and management. Windows Server 2012 R2 also supports .NET Framework 4. 5, which is a development framework that supports various languages and technologies, such as C#, VB.NET, ASP.NET, WCF, and WPF.
Identity and access: Windows Server 2012 R2 supports Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), which is a directory service that stores and manages user and computer accounts, groups, policies, and permissions. AD DS offers many features, such as Dynamic Access Control (DAC), which allows you to define and enforce granular access policies based on user and device attributes; Workplace Join, which enables you to register personal devices to access corporate resources; and Web Application Proxy, which provides secure access to web applications from external networks.
Cloud integration: Windows Server 2012 R2 supports Azure Active Directory (AAD), which is a cloud-based identity and access management service that syncs with your on-premises AD DS. AAD offers many benefits, such as single sign-on (SSO), multi-factor authentication (MFA), self-service password reset, and conditional access. Windows Server 2012 R2 also supports Azure Backup, which allows you to backup your server data to the cloud; Azure Site Recovery, which enables you to replicate and recover your server workloads to the cloud; and Azure File Sync, which synchronizes your file servers with Azure Files.
As you can see, Windows Server 2012 R2 is a powerful and versatile operating system that can meet the needs of various server scenarios. However, to use it legally and fully, you need to activate it with a valid product key. Activation is a process that verifies that your copy of Windows Server 2012 R2 is genuine and not used on more devices than allowed by the license terms. Activation also helps prevent software piracy and protect your rights as a customer.
There are different methods and requirements for activating Windows Server 2012 R2, depending on the type of license you have. The most common types of licenses are:
Volume License (VL): This is a license that allows you to install and activate multiple copies of Windows Server 2012 R2 on your organization's devices using a single product key. VL licenses are usually purchased through Microsoft Volume Licensing programs, such as Open License, Select Plus, or Enterprise Agreement.
Retail License: This is a license that allows you to install and activate one copy of Windows Server 2012 R2 on one device. Retail licenses are usually purchased from online or physical stores, such as Microsoft Store or Amazon.
OEM License: This is a license that comes preinstalled on a device that you buy from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), such as Dell or HP. OEM licenses are tied to the device and cannot be transferred to another device.
The activation method and requirement for each type of license are different. For example, VL licenses use either Key Management Service (KMS) or Multiple Activation Key (MAK) for activation; retail licenses use online activation or phone activation; and OEM licenses use System Locked Preinstallation (SLP) for activation. You can find more details about each activation method and requirement in the following sections.
What is a Windows Server 2012 R2 activation crack and how does it work?
A Windows Server 2012 R2 activation crack is a software tool or technique that attempts to bypass or modify the activation process of Windows Server 2012 R2 and make it appear as if it is activated without using a valid product key. There are different types of activation cracks, such as:
KMS Emulator: This is a tool that mimics the behavior of a KMS host server and responds to activation requests from KMS client devices. A KMS emulator can be installed on a device or hosted on a network or online server. A KMS emulator can activate multiple KMS client devices with any KMS client product key.
MAK Emulator: This is a tool that generates fake MAK product keys and activates them online or by phone. A MAK emulator can activate multiple devices with any MAK product key.
Loader: This is a tool that modifies the boot sector or the boot loader of a device and injects code that tricks Windows Server 2012 R2 into thinking that it is activated. A loader can activate any device with any product key.
Patch: This is a tool that modifies the system files or the registry of a device and removes or changes the activation checks or flags. A patch can activate any device with any product key.
The main purpose of using an activation crack is to avoid paying for a license and use Windows Server 2012 R2 for free. However, this is not a good idea for several reasons. Using an activation crack is illegal, unethical, and risky. Here are some of the risks and consequences of using an activation crack:
Legal risk: Using an activation crack is a violation of the Microsoft Software License Terms and the intellectual property rights of Microsoft. This can expose you to legal actions, such as lawsuits, fines, or criminal charges. Microsoft has the right to audit your devices and check if you are using genuine software. If you are caught using an activation crack, you may have to pay damages or penalties, or face other legal consequences.
Ethical risk: Using an activation crack is a form of software piracy, which is unfair and dishonest to the software developers and the legitimate customers. Software piracy deprives the software industry of revenue and resources that could be used for innovation and improvement. Software piracy also harms the customers who pay for their licenses, as they have to bear the higher costs and lower quality of the software. By using an activation crack, you are contributing to the problem of software piracy and undermining the value and trust of the software industry.
Security risk: Using an activation crack can compromise the security and integrity of your device and your data. Activation cracks are often distributed by malicious actors who may embed malware, such as viruses, trojans, worms, ransomware, spyware, or keyloggers, in the cracks. These malware can infect your device and cause various problems, such as stealing your personal or financial information, encrypting or deleting your files, displaying unwanted ads or pop-ups, slowing down your device performance, or crashing your system. Activation cracks can also prevent you from receiving security updates and patches from Microsoft, which can expose your device to more vulnerabilities and threats.
Functional risk: Using an activation crack can affect the functionality and reliability of your device and your server applications. Activation cracks can cause compatibility issues, errors, glitches, or crashes with your device hardware or software. Activation cracks can also interfere with the normal operation of your server applications, such as virtualization, storage, networking, management, web, identity, or cloud services. Activation cracks can also limit or disable some features or capabilities of Windows Server 2012 R2, such as personalization, support, or online services.
As you can see, using an activation crack is not worth the risk and consequence. You may end up paying more in terms of legal fees, damages, repairs, or replacements than what you would have paid for a license. You may also jeopardize the security and functionality of your device and your server applications. You may also lose your reputation and credibility as a professional or an organization.
What are the alternatives to Windows Server 2012 R2 activation crack?
The best alternative to using an activation crack is to use a valid product key and activate Windows Server 2012 R2 legally and properly. Depending on the type of license you have, there are different ways to obtain and use a product key for activation. Here are some of the common ways:
Using a KMS client product key and a KMS host server
If you have a VL license for Windows Server 2012 R2, you can use a KMS client product key to activate your device with a KMS host server. A KMS client product key is a generic product key that is preinstalled on VL editions of Windows Server 2012 R2. A KMS host server is a device that runs a service that activates KMS client devices over the network.
To use this method, you need to have access to a KMS host server that is activated with a KMS host product key for Windows Server 2012 R2. A KMS host product key is a unique product key that is obtained from Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) by VL customers. A KMS host server can activate up to six different editions of Windows Server 2012 R2 with one KMS host product key.
To activate your device with a KMS host server, you need to do the following steps:
Verify that your device has a KMS client product key installed. You can check this by running the command slmgr /dli in an elevated command prompt. You should see the edition and license status of your device.
Configure your device to connect to the KMS host server. You can do this by running the command slmgr /skms <KMS_host_name_or_IP_address> in an elevated command prompt. You should see a message that says "Key Management Service machine name set to <KMS_host_name_or_IP_address> successfully."
Activate your device with the KMS host server. You can do this by running the command slmgr /ato in an elevated command prompt. You should see a message that says "Product activated successfully."
Once your device is activated with a KMS host server, it will remain activated as long as it can communicate with the KMS host server at least once every 180 days. If your device cannot contact the KMS host server for more than 180 days, it will enter a grace period of 30 days, during which it will try to reconnect to the KMS host server and reactivate. If your device cannot reactivate within the grace period, it will become unlicensed and lose some functionality.
Using a MAK product key and phone activation
If you have a VL license for Windows Server 2012 R2, you can also use a MAK product key to activate your device by phone. A MAK product key is a unique product key that is obtained from Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) by VL customers. A MAK product key can activate a limited number of devices, depending on the agreement between the customer and Microsoft.
To use this method, you need to have a MAK product key for Windows Server 2012 R2 that has not been used up. You can check the remaining activation count of your MAK product key by logging in to VLSC or by calling the Microsoft Activation Center. You also need to have access to a phone that can dial the Microsoft Activation Center number for your region.
To activate your device with a MAK product key by phone, you need to do the following steps:
Install the MAK product key on your device. You can do this by running the command slmgr /ipk <MAK_product_key> in an elevated command prompt. You should see a message that says "Installed product key <MAK_product_key> successfully."
Initiate the phone activation process on your device. You can do this by running the command slui 4 in an elevated command prompt. You should see a dialog box that asks you to select your country or region.
Select your country or region and click Next. You should see another dialog box that shows you a toll-free or toll number for the Microsoft Activation Center and an installation ID for your device.
Call the Microsoft Activation Center number and follow the voice prompts. You will be asked to enter or speak the installation ID for your device. You will also be asked to confirm that you are using the MAK product key for activation.
Receive the confirmation ID from the Microsoft Activation Center. You will be given a confirmation ID, which is a set of numbers that validates your activation.
Enter the confirmation ID on your device. You can do this by typing or speaking the confirmation ID in the dialog box that shows on your device. You should see a message that says "Activation was successful."
Once your device is activated with a MAK product key by phone, it will remain activated permanently, unless you change the hardware configuration of your device significantly. If you do so, you may have to reactivate your device by phone again.
Purchasing a retail license and online activation
If you do not have a VL license for Windows Server 2012 R2, you can purchase a retail license and activate your device online. A retail license is a license that allows you to install and activate one copy of Windows Server 2012 R2 on one device. Retail licenses are usually purchased from online or physical stores, such as Microsoft Store or Amazon.
To use this method, you need to have a retail product key for Windows Server 2012 R2 that has not been used before. You also need to have access to an internet connection that can connect to the Microsoft activation servers.
To activate your device with a retail product key online, you need to do the following steps:
Install the retail product key on your device. You can do this by running the command slmgr /ipk <retail_product_key> in an elevated command prompt. You should see a message that says "Installed product key <retail_product_key> successfully."
Initiate the online activation process on your device. You can do this by running the command slui 3 in an elevated command prompt. You should see a dialog box that asks you to enter your product key again.
Enter your product key and click Activate. Your device will connect to the Microsoft activation servers and verify your product key.
Receive the activation status from the Microsoft activation servers. You should see a message that says "Activation successful" or "Windows is activated". You can also check the activation status by running the command slmgr /xpr in an elevated command prompt. You should see a message that shows the edition and the expiration date of your activation.
Once your device is activated with a retail product key online, it will remain activated permanently, unless you change the hardware configuration of your device significantly. If you do so, you may have to reactivate your device online again.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed what Windows Server 2012 R2 is and why you need to activate it with a valid product key. We have also explained what a Windows Server 2012 R2 activation crack is and how it works. We have also highlighted the risks and consequences of using an activation crack. Finally, we have suggested some alternatives to using an activation crack, such as using a KMS client product key and a KMS host server, using a MAK product key and phone activation, or purchasing a retail license and online activation.
We hope that this article has helped you understand the importance of activating your Windows Server 2012 R2 legally and properly. We also hope that you will avoid using an activation crack and choose one of the legitimate methods for activation. By doing so, you will not only comply with the law and the ethics, but also protect the security and functionality of your device and your server applications. You will also enjoy the full features and capabilities of Windows Server 2012 R2 and get the best value for your money.
FAQs
Q: How can I find out what type of license I have for Windows Server 2012 R2?
A: You can find out what type of license you have by running the command slmgr /dli in an elevated command prompt. You should see the edition and the license status of your device. The license status will show whether you have a VL, retail, or OEM license.
Q: How c