https://www.quora.com/When-the-Windows-server-2012-trial-version-expires-will-it-affect-the-functionality-Will-it-affect-the-group-policy-and-users-and-what-not
All evaluation versions are fully functional during the evaluation period, although booting to Safe mode is not available. The Windows Server 2012 Standard and Windows Server 2012 Datacenter editions come with the activation key pre-installed. After the 180-day evaluation period elapses, the server warns you in various ways depending on the edition:
Windows Server 2012 Standard; Windows Server 2012 Datacenter:
- The following warning appears on the Desktop: Windows License is expired
- When you log on to Windows, you are prompted with the following options:Activate nowAsk me later
- The system shuts down every hour.
- The only updates that can be installed are security updates.
- Event ID 100 from source WLMS “The license period for this installation of Windows has expired. The operating system will shut down every hour.” appears in the Application log.
Windows Server 2012 Essentials: you receive warnings on the Desktop and on the dashboard, but the server does not shut down.
Same issue, I've disabled windows software protection service and that's it.
HKLM/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Services/sppsvc
Change value of Start from 2 to 4