If your Windows Server license has expired, or your server doesn't have one, the server may automatically shut down every hour. This can disrupt operations and productivity.

You can quickly stop the recurring shutdowns using the PsExec tool from Microsoft.

Here's how:

  1. Download PsExec from the Microsoft site.
  2. Extract the PsExec files to a folder.
  3. Open an elevated Command Prompt.
  4. CD to the PsExec folder.
  5. Run "psexec -i -s cmd.exe"

This will open a new command prompt with SYSTEM privileges.

  1. Type "services.msc" to open the services manager.
  2. Locate the Windows License Monitoring Service.
  3. Right-click and select Properties.
  4. Change the Startup Type to Disabled.
  5. Click OK and restart the server.

Video Guide: Link

This will stop the automatic hourly shutdowns.

Note: While a license is not required for Windows Server to function, running it unactivated does result in a watermark on the desktop. Purchasing a license removes the watermark.

Was this answer helpful? 82 Users Found This Useful (286 Votes)

Most Popular Articles

Static IPv4 Configuration on CentOS 8

Static IP addresses can be a great way to ensure your devices always have the same IP address....
Static IPv4 Configuration on CentOS 7

Configuring a static IP address on your CentOS 7 machine can be a daunting task, but fear not -...
Set up L2TP/IPSec VPN on Windows Server 2019

Establishing an L2TP/IPSec VPN connection on Windows Server 2019 is easier than you can imagine!...
How to install Mozilla Firefox using Powershell

Installing Mozilla Firefox using Powershell is a quick and easy process. With the following...
How to install cPanel on CentOS 7

In this guide, we’ll show you the steps to install cPanel and WHM on a CentOS 7 server. This will...