Update adds support for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 clients to Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8, and Windows Server 2012 KMS hosts

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Introduction

This update extends the Key Management Service (KMS) for Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8, and Windows Server 2012 to enable the enterprise licensing of Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2.

KMS provides support for the following KMS client activations:

Windows Vista
Windows Server 2008
Windows 7
Windows Server 2008 R2
Windows 8
Windows Server 2012
Windows 8.1
Windows Server 2012 R2

KMS uses a KMS host key to activate itself on a KMS host and to establish a local activation service in your environment. This update extends support for KMS to provide activation for Windows 8.1 and for Windows Server 2012 R2.

Note: If this update is not installed, the follow error will occur when attempting to activate a Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2 system:

Error: 0xC004F050 The Software Licensing Service reported that the product key is invalid

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More Information

Update information

Microsoft Download Center

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Operating system	Update
All supported x86-based versions of Windows Vista and of Windows Server 2008	Download the package now.
All supported x64-based versions of Windows Vista and of Windows Server 2008	Download the package now.
All supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2008	Download the package now.
All supported x86-based versions of Windows 7	Download the package now.
All supported x64-based versions of Windows 7	Download the package now.
All supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2	Download the package now.
All supported IA-64-based versions of WindowsServer2008 R2	Download the package now.
All supported x86-based versions of Windows 8	Download the package now.
All supported x64-based versions of Windows 8	Download the package now.
All supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2012	Download the package now.

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Prerequisites

To apply this update, you must be running one of the following operating systems:

Windows Vista Service Pack 2
Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2
Windows 7 Service Pack 1
Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1
Windows 8
Windows Server 2012

Installation instructions

If you have a KMS host that is running Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8, or Windows Server 2012, follow these steps to perform an upgrade:

Install this update (update 2885698).
Restart the computer when you are prompted to do so.
To install a new KMS host key for Windows 8.1 activation or for Windows Server 2012 R2 activation, run the following command:
```
cscript %windir%\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk  <KMS host key> 
```
Note In this command, "<KMS host key>" is a placeholder for the new KMS host key for Windows 8.1 activation or for Windows Server 2012 R2 activation.

Important Every KMS host key is associated with a group of Windows editions. Additionally, a KMS host key that is associated with Windows client operating systems cannot be installed on Windows server operating systems, and vice-versa. This is true for all Windows operating systems except for Windows Server 2003. If you install a KMS host key on a Windows operating system that is not associated with that host key, you receive the following error message:
0xc004f015: The Software Licensing Service reported that the license is not installed.
SL_E_PRODUCT_SKU_NOT_INSTALLED

For example, you may receive this error message in the following situations:
- You try to install a Windows 7 KMS host key (CSVLK) on a Windows Server 2008 R2 KMS host.
- You try to install a Windows 8 KMS host key (CSVLK) on a Windows Server 2008 R2 KMS host or a Windows Server 2012 KMS host.
- You try to install a Windows 8.1 KMS host key (CSVLK) on a Windows Server 2008 R2 KMS host or a Windows Server 2012 KMS host or a Windows Server 2012R2 KMS host.
To activate the new KMS host key on the host computer, run the following command:
```
cscript %windir%\system32\slmgr.vbs /ato 
```
On an existing Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 KMS host, restart the service by running the following command:
```
net stop slsvc && net start slsvc 
```

Note For information about which operating systems can be activated by a Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2 KMS host, see the "Plan for Key Management Services activation" section of the following Microsoft TechNet webpage:

Volume activation methods