Installation instructions

If you have a KMS host that is running Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 or Windows 7 SP1, follow these steps to perform an upgrade:

1. Install this update (KB2691586).

2. Restart the computer when you are prompted.

3. To install a new KMS host key for Windows 8 activation, run the following command:

cscript %windir%\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk <KMS host key>

Note In this command, replace <KMS host key> with the new KMS host key for Windows 8 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 receive this error message if you try to install a KMS host key for Windows 7 on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008 R2.

For more information about KMS host keys and about associated groups of Windows editions, see Table 5 in the "Determine Product Key Needs" section of the Volume Activation Planning Guide

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4. To activate the new KMS host key on the host computer, run the following command:

cscript %windir%\system32\slmgr.vbs /ato