How to deactivate Windows 10 and change the product key. G-ek.com

In this Windows 10 guide, you'll learn five ways to run the Windows Activation Tool to change the product key on your computer.

How to Change Windows 10 Product Key Using Settings
How to Change Windows 10 Product Key Using Control Panel
How to Change Windows 10 Product Key Using Command Prompt
How to Change Windows 10 Product Key Using SLUI 3
How to change Windows 10 product key using CHANGEPK

Why activate Windows 10

The “shareware” (non-activated) version of Windows 10 almost does not limit the functionality of the OS. Externally, it differs from the activated version only in that at the bottom of the desktop, above the taskbar, a “watermark” always hangs - a reminder of Windows activation. In addition, the user of the non-activated version is deprived of the opportunity to personalize the system, that is, change the desktop wallpaper, icons, loading screens, color themes, and so on. There is nothing critical for work in this, but still, these seemingly insignificant restrictions can sooner or later begin to irritate. In this case, it makes sense to activate Windows using one of the methods described below.

The “watermark” can be removed using third-party utilities, but restrictions on system personalization settings will still remain

Getting the Education Edition of Windows

There are several editions of Windows specifically for educational institutions. They differ from the usual ones in more advanced functionality, programs for conducting tests, and changed default settings. And, of course, there is a separate version of Windows 10 Enterprise created specifically for educational institutions.

Such products are subject to a special licensing system, as well as separate prices. However, you will have to officially confirm that you are an educational institution to receive these benefits. The purchase procedure itself must take place through official Microsoft intermediaries.

There is a convenient system for selecting a supplier for your educational institution

Otherwise, the process of activating such operating systems does not differ from activating other versions. You can also activate Windows yourself through system settings or use third-party activation programs.

How to activate Windows 10 without a license key

So, you have decided to activate your version of Windows 10. If you have an activation key, then there is nothing complicated about it. But what if there is no key? In this case, there are also ways to legally activate the OS. Microsoft offers two proven and secure methods to choose from:

Digital Entitlement method;
Activating Windows 10 by phone.

Digital Entitlement Method

In the Russian translation, the method of activating Digital Entitlement is called “Digital Resolution”. It was originally intended only for users participating in the Windows Insider program, created by Microsoft for preliminary testing and evaluation of Windows. Then the “digital resolution” became available to everyone during the free upgrade promotion period from versions 7 and 8.1 to Windows 10.

You can get a “digital license” on a PC by linking a Microsoft account to the installed OS through the “Activation” setting in the “Update and Security” settings, after which you will forever no longer need to activate Windows 10. But you will still need to enter at least once on your PC Windows license key.

After creating a Microsoft account, a corresponding entry will appear in the activation settings.
To become a Windows Insider user and receive the coveted “digital permission”, you must:

Go to the “Start - Control Panel - Update and Security” menu. Go to the Windows Insider Program section and click Get Started. You can also open the settings window by finding the required parameter through the Windows search window
In the window that appears, you need to log in to your Microsoft account (if you don’t have one, then you will be asked to create one). You can also create a Microsoft account on the official website of the corporation
Then the user will be offered a choice of one of three Windows Insider build packages, which differ in the “rawness” of system components. These packages accordingly allow:
receive updates only after an initial performance check;
receive updates only after the pre-official release for all Windows 10 users. For more stable operation of Windows 10, it is recommended to select build number 3
After selecting the Windows Insider build package, you must restart your PC. You can restart your PC later
The next time you boot your system, you need to go into the Update & Security setting, then open the Windows Update window and click the Check for Updates button to download the required Windows Insider package. Sometimes the required Windows Insider build is downloaded automatically immediately after the PC is restarted
Done, you now own the "digital resolution" of Windows.

Video: How to become a Windows Insider

When you hover over the watermark, a message will appear with information about using the Windows Insider Program

Activating Windows 10 by phone

This is another official way to activate Windows 10 offered by Microsoft. You need to do the following:

Press the WIN+R key combination to open the Windows command line, enter the slui 4 command and press Enter. You can also launch the Windows command line by right-clicking on the “Start” icon and selecting the appropriate menu
In the “Windows Activation Wizard” window that appears, after selecting your region of residence, an information window will open with the phone number to call and the installation code. You need to click on the “Enter confirmation code” button only after the answering machine confirms that the installation code you entered is correct.
Call the provided toll-free number, then follow the step-by-step instructions from the answering machine. At the end you will be asked to enter the installation code on your phone.
After entering the installation code, the answering robot will dictate a Windows activation confirmation code to you. You will need to enter it in the confirmation window. If the confirmation code is entered correctly, then after clicking the “Windows Activation” button, a window will appear confirming the completion of the activation process
After entering the appropriate code, hang up, click the “Windows Activation” button, and then “Done”. After completing the Windows 10 activation process by phone, a corresponding entry will appear in the “Activation” settings
Restart your PC. Your version of Windows 10 is now activated.

Video: Activating Windows 10 by phone

Security level of Windows 10 activation by phone

This method of activating Windows 10 is one of the safest, since the entire process is confidential, without the participation of any third parties (the activation is carried out by an answering robot). In addition, you do not transmit any personal data or information that threatens the security of your PC and operating system. It is worth remembering only one rule: call only the numbers specified in the “Windows Activation Wizard by Phone” .

Problems activating Windows 10 by phone

Sometimes the activation method by phone may not work. The most common problems that arise are:

"Data not recognized." Or the Windows activation confirmation key was entered incorrectly - check and enter it again. Or the key is not suitable for the installed version of Windows - then you need to contact Microsoft technical support).
"Call reset." The reason may be faults on the line or technical work of the Microsoft call center. It is best to call on weekdays from 9:00 to 20:00 Moscow time.
"Synchronization error." Occurs when Windows time and date settings fail. If the time and date are set correctly, try synchronizing via the Internet through the bottom “Date and Time” control panel.

Delay activation of Windows 10

As you know, the non-activated version of Windows 10 is available for use only for 30 calendar days . After this period expires, the system will simply stop booting, displaying only a window with a message about the need to activate the OS. However, in reality, Windows 10 can run for as long as 90 days without activation. To do this, you need to use the deferred activation feature provided by Microsoft.

You need to do the following:

How to activate Windows 10 via the command line

use the WIN+R key combination to launch the command line console, enter the command slmgr /rearm and press Enter; It is best to carry out an extension operation when the previous period comes to an end
After this, a window will appear with information about the successful execution of the command;
Reboot your PC and you will again be given a trial period of 30 calendar days.

Video: How to extend the trial period for Windows 10 through the command line console

The best programs for activation (activators) of Windows 10

You can activate Windows 10 for free and without unnecessary difficulties using special software. The most reliable programs will not noticeably slow down your computer, attach annoying advertisements to the system, and do other similar nonsense.

KMSAuto Net is perhaps the best program for activating Windows 10. Among its advantages is a neat and effective bypass of all the obstacles of the OS itself and constant improvements from its creators. In addition, the developer regularly releases more and more new posts on his blog on one of the thematic forums, intended for all users interested in his brainchild.

Activating windows 10 via kms activator

KMS, or KMS activator, whose task is to ensure trouble-free activation of Windows 10 pro, may include the presence of the .NET Framework among its system requirements; Many machines already have this software, but it’s worth checking before using the activation software.

Instructions in many languages (including Russian), the presence of simple and advanced modes and absolute freeness are the main advantages of the program for the user. Also among its useful characteristics is support for OS from Vista to the tenth version and server variations, and in addition, checking for activation in case it has been present for a long time, and the user is simply not aware.

In addition, this software can also activate MS Office of all current variations; and one more argument for using this particular software - it uses many tools as a means of bypassing, and it will automatically select the best one.

After downloading and installation (or downloading the portable version, which does not require installation), you should:

run the program as administrator
optionally, view data on the degree of activation required by clicking on the “Information” button;
click on the “Activation” button and wait for the entire process to complete – the software will inform you about this under the buttons in a special field;
To configure activation bypass in automatic mode, click the “Install KMS-Service” button in the “System” tab and wait for the command to complete again.

Instead of the last item in the list, you can configure the Windows Scheduler so that, if necessary, everything is activated independently after a user-specified period. This is done by clicking “Create task” in the same “system” tab; if the program issues a warning that a task will be created in its folder, you should allow it.

The advanced mode of operation of this software, named “professional” in the “About the program” tab, provides additional setting tabs. The average user does not need them, but if there is a desire to delve into the intricacies, they are quite suitable.

Other programs to activate Windows 10

In addition to the above-mentioned KMS, there are many well-known programs. An example of another good activator is Re-Loader Activator : it interacts with the system just as well, understands Office activation and works in the presence of .NET on the computer. Despite the fact that it is as simple for the average user as KMS, its Russification is still lame, but this does not bother everyone.

Activating Windows 10 after replacing PC components

If you had a licensed version of Windows 10 installed and you decided to replace components on your computer, this may lead to the OS activation key being reset. In this case, it will be impossible to reuse the current license. Most often, this problem occurs when replacing the motherboard . To reactivate the OS, do the following:

In Windows Settings, go to the Update & Security console and open the Activation window. Select the Troubleshoot menu. When you change a hardware component, an entry will appear in the activation section warning that your OS version is not activated
The activation system will display a message like: “Windows could not be activated on this device.” Click on the line “Hardware changes have recently been made to this device.” You will also be prompted to go to the Windows Store to purchase the new version of the OS.
You will then be asked to sign in using your personal Microsoft account. If you are already logged in, this step will be automatically skipped.
A window will appear asking you to select the hardware component that was replaced on your PC. After checking the appropriate box, click the “Activate” button. If you changed several hardware components at once, then you must select them all from the list presented.
Ready. Your version of Windows 10 is activated again. After troubleshooting, a message will appear in the settings indicating that Windows 10 activation was successful.

Digital license for ready-made computer systems

A major obstacle to the reactivation of the operating system is likely to be encountered by laptops and desktop stationary personal computers, which were originally manufactured in a single, complete, ready-to-use design (hardware version) from

,
Dell
,
HP
,
Samsung
and others. For a long time, manufacturers printed product activation keys on special stickers attached to the case of personal computers.

But since the release of Windows 8

, the key location system was changed, and manufacturers began to store activation keys in the
"BIOS"
or
"ACPI"
(via the Extensible Firmware Interface
"UEFI"
) located on the motherboard.
And if users, for any reason, need to reinstall the operating system, the responsible Windows 10
will immediately receive this key during activation.

The transition to this system activation option was dictated by the desire of Microsoft

protect against pirated use of licenses.
Microsoft
wants to eliminate the situation where the same
Windows
is used by clients on multiple computers.
The company initially referred to this one-key-per-device method as
"
digital entitlement
" , but later began using the term
"digital license

"
in the
Windows 10 Anniversary Update
.
Microsoft
user account .

However, reactivating the Windows 10

may experience certain difficulties if users have manually forcibly replaced the motherboard in a pre-assembled case model of a personal computer.
The built-in key is lost, and a request to Microsoft
to confirm the hardware change.

It may also be useful to call the support service of the company that supplied the computer with the “OEM version”

Windows 10
software , if users initially registered the product, and explain the problem.
However, Windows 10
for
OEMs
is usually tied to a specific hardware build of the computer, is not distributed separately from the computer hardware, and cannot be transferred to other computers, even if only the motherboard has been updated.

Ways to purchase a Windows 10 license key

There are several ways to purchase a license key to activate Windows 10. Let's look at the most popular ones.

Microsoft Digital Store

This is the fastest and safest way . Once your purchase is complete, you will receive a digital key to activate your version of Windows 10. To purchase:

Go to the official Microsoft website. In the Windows section, click on the “Buy Windows 10” button. To quickly navigate the site, you can use the search bar
You will be offered a choice of purchasing two versions of the OS: “Home” and PRO (“Professional”). The difference between them is that the PRO version has expanded functionality and an improved data protection system. Click on the “Buy Windows 10” button. By clicking on the “Buy” button, you will be redirected to a page with a detailed description of the functions and capabilities of each OS version
On the next page, where the advantages of the new OS will be described in detail, you must click on the “Add to cart” button, and then on “Checkout”. The cost of the order automatically includes VAT tax
After selecting the payment method, click on the “Place order” button. Only credit/debit cards are available as payment methods.
Ready. The license key will be sent to your email, which is used in your Microsoft account. This key will need to be entered in the Activations settings of the Update and Security console.

Other ways to purchase a key

There are other, quite convenient, but differing in price and degree of reliability methods for purchasing a Windows 10 activation key.

Boxed version of Windows 10

A reliable, but less cheap way to purchase a licensed version of the OS. When using it, the benefit can be about 1–2 thousand rubles. You cannot purchase the boxed version on the official Microsoft website; you need to buy it in digital stores.

The kit includes:

Bootable USB device with Windows 10 OS;
digital activation code;
paper instructions for installing the system.

Before purchasing the boxed version, check for license certificates of authenticity

Purchasing equipment with Windows 10 installed

The most expensive way to purchase an OS. In this case, Windows 10 will, in fact, be just an addition to the components. Most often, this method is used by users who decide to completely update their PC hardware. In this case, a system unit pre-assembled in a store with Windows 10 installed will cost less than purchasing kits and the OS separately.

Usually in the characteristics of the system unit assembly there is a record of the presence of Windows installed

Purchasing through third party marketplaces

The least expensive way to purchase a Windows license, but the most unreliable . You can buy a Windows 10 digital key on any well-known trading platform, for example, eBay.com. There are different risks with such a purchase. They may sell you a non-working key or an “OEM version” of it (a key that is already tied to specific equipment). The seller can replace the OS version (for example, sell a 32-bit version instead of a 64-bit one). Even if a site (like, say, eBay) has a 30-day refund function, this still does not guarantee the safety of the transaction .

All prices on the eBay trading platform are immediately automatically converted into rubles at the current exchange rate

There are quite a lot of legal ways to activate Windows 10 so as not to resort to illegal methods. Any user can register for Microsoft's Windows Insider program with an appropriate digital license, or activate the OS over the phone. In addition, there is always the opportunity to buy both a digital and physical (boxed) version of Windows 10 or purchase it complete with an already assembled system unit. And if you need to save as much as possible, you can buy a key on third-party trading platforms, however, only at your own peril and risk.

How to legally activate Windows 10: tips and instructions with photos and videos

“Your Windows license is about to expire” and “Windows build is about to expire” messages appear in Windows 7, 8/8.1 and 10 as a reminder to update your system. You can update, purchase a license, use an activator, or extend the license for free (upgrade to Windows 10). In Windows 10, you can either use the activator or simply remove the information message by disabling the corresponding service.

In Windows 7 and 8, you can upgrade to version 10 for free - the license will last for a year. An alternative option is to use the KMS Auto activator. Windows 10 offers free license renewals for people with disabilities. This feature can be used by any user as no verification or confirmation is required.

Windows 10 universal key for upgrading from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro

Please remember that these keys can be used to evaluate, test, and install the following editions of Windows 10.

New computers with Windows 10 installed for end consumers are usually available in two versions: Home and Pro. Home version - the home edition, of course, is inferior in its capabilities to the Pro version - it also includes a Group Policy Editor, Remote Desktop, Internet Explorer in Enterprise Mode, Restricted Access Mode, Hyper-V. and etc.

If you decide to use the Universal Key to upgrade your Windows 10 operating system from Home to Pro.

The process of switching from Home edition to Professional edition is very simple and even fast: during the update process, all your files, installed applications and programs remain untouched.

How to update.

Windows Settings / Update & Security / Activation. Click “Change product key”.

After the update, when you activate your OS, you will need to change the shared product key to the actual key that you purchased.

By entering the keys below or your own key, you can change the edition of Windows 10:

Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro
Windows 10 Pro to Windows 10 Education
Windows 10 Pro to Windows 10 ProfessionalEducation
Windows 10 Pro to Windows 10 Enterprise
Windows 10 Enterprise to Windows 10 Pro
Windows 10 Education to Windows 10 Pro

Currently available keys for updating Windows 10 between editions:

Windows 10 Home: - TX9XD-98N7V-6WMQ6-BX7FG-H8Q99

Windows 10 Pro: - VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T

Windows 10 Home Single Language - 7HNRX-D7KGG-3K4RQ-4WPJ4-YTDFH

Windows 10 Enterprise: - NPPR9-FWDCX-D2C8J-H872K-2YT43

You can also pick up a key for yourself in this collection: windows_10_keys

Activating Windows is a fairly simple and straightforward procedure (well, at least more less so) than what we are going to look at later in this article. What if you want to do something more advanced and complex with the license, for example, things like how to remove/change a product key, perform online activation or extend the activation time. It's not as simple as simple activation, which is performed using standard OS tools with a convenient graphical interface, but it's not that complicated either. In this article I will give you information on how and with what help this can be done.

License update for Windows 7 and 8/8.1

You can check the license status on Windows 7/8/Server and earlier versions through the command line as an administrator. To do this, go to the Start menu -> All Programs -> System Tools, find and run Command Prompt (Administrator) .

On the command line enter:

slmgr.vbs /dli and press Enter - a window will appear with information about whether Windows is activated, the license status and part of the product key.
slmgr.vbs /dlv and press Enter - detailed information about the license will appear, including activation and installation ID.

Before choosing a system activation option, you should determine the reason for the message “Your Windows license is about to expire”:

The license key has expired.
Windows was previously activated using pirated keys, but after the next update the license disappeared. Needs to be reactivated .
A distribution for developers (under MSDN subscription) or for programs for university students (Dreamspark) was used. In this case, you need to contact the system administrator, as advised in the message.
A commercial Windows license is used. As in the previous case, the issue is resolved through the administrator, and the message will disappear.
Windows has been reinstalled. slmgr.vbs /upk into the command line (as an administrator) . This command will reset the license; after rebooting the PC, the Windows version will become inactivated - you can reactivate the key on another device. The second command slmgr.vbs /cpky will remove information about the key from the registry so that it cannot be restored (for example, if the computer is sold and the key is activated on a new device).
Technical problems: the computer is set to the wrong time, date and time zone, or the connection to Microsoft servers is blocked by antivirus or other protection.

If the message starts appearing for no reason on your home computer, the reason is Windows 7 itself, which they constantly want to stop supporting in favor of Windows 10. There are two options - actually upgrade to version 10 (the license will be given for a year), or use the KMS Auto activator. Detailed instructions for use are already in the article about Microsoft Office activation failure.

Additional console commands for licenses:

How to activate a laptop yourself?

slmgr.vbs /ipk #####-#####-#####-#####-##### , where instead of hash marks is the product key. If the key is not working, you will receive error code 0xc004f050 - The Software Licensing Service has reported that the product key is not valid. You need to generate another GVLK key in the activator.
slmgr.vbs /ato - activates the operating system online, connecting to Microsoft servers for testing. Displays a message about successful activation or an error, depending on the validity of the key.
slmgr.vbs /dti - allows you to get the installation identifier (ID), which is needed to activate Windows offline (by phone). For offline activation, you will have to call Microsoft by phone (current numbers can be found at support.microsoft.com) and follow the robot’s instructions (you won’t have to communicate with people).
slmgr.vbs /atp ACTIVATIONID - when activating offline, you will need to enter the received ID .
slmgr.vbs / Rearm - updates the 30-day trial period in any version of Windows except 10th. During the trial period, the message about the lack of a license will not bother you, but you won’t be able to do this forever - the team works from 3 to 5 times (hence, 3-5 months). To check how many times you can delay system activation, just enter the command slmgr.vbs /dlv . You must restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

After the system accepts the key, it would be a good idea to enter the slmgr.vbs /dli or slmgr.vbs /dlv to check the current license status. When activating via KMS Auto, you need to re-activate the key every 10 days to avoid a message indicating that you do not have a license. The bad thing about theme activators (besides being illegal) is that every system update or connection to Microsoft servers can lead to the license being revoked.

In summary, if the message “your license is about to expire” appears on any Windows (except 10), you have the following options:

Update to version 10.
Correct errors, reactivate the key, contact the administrator - if Windows is not home.
Use KMSAuto Net and the instructions from the article, only choose to activate Windows, not Microsoft Office products.
Get the key in the KMSAuto activator and renew the license yourself via the command line if the program does not do this automatically.
Enter the command slmgr.vbs / Rearm to delay activation for 30 days and think about what to do next.

It should be understood that even a system activated through KMS Auto remains unlicensed - a pirated version. At a minimum, it’s a matter of time before the message appears again. At the most, it may not disappear anywhere, reminding you of itself every day and every time you launch or update.

In addition, pirated versions of the system often have problems with security and functionality. If you want to renew your license, it is better to do this on initially official builds of Windows, and not on “images” downloaded from dubious sites. If this is not possible, it is better to switch to Windows 10 - there will be much fewer problems with this issue.

Activating a free Windows 10 license

There are three options to get rid of the message:

Buy a license.
Activate/renew the key via KMSAuto Net.
Renew your key for another year for free.

The most interesting option is a free license renewal for a year. In this case, you don’t have to spend money or deal with the KMS Auto program - just activate the function built into Windows 10 for people with disabilities.

Note: if Windows 10 has already been activated, this method is not suitable. But this is a great way to get a free license for a year for users of Windows 7 and 8, and also if Windows 10 has not been activated previously.

As Microsoft promises, the offer of a free system update to the latest version will be valid indefinitely for people with disabilities. Anyone can take advantage of this offer, since Microsoft does not check the actual presence of restrictions in any way. You can take advantage of the offer by clicking “Update Now” and selecting the appropriate option, or download the files from the Microsoft website (installation files weigh about 3 GB).

If you don’t like Windows 10, you can always roll back:

Open Settings > Update & Security > Recovery .
Go to the section Return to a previous version of Windows 10, Return to Windows 8.1 or Return to Windows 7.
Click the Get Started to begin restoring the previous version.

If this method does not help, or the one-year trial period has already expired in Windows 10, there are two options left: also use KMSAuto Net or simply disable the service causing the message to appear.

How to remove the activation requirement message

In Windows 10, you can remove the “Your license is about to expire” message by disabling the Windows License Manager service. The service is disabled via Services.msc . You can open Services.msc in the Control Panel, or simply use the Command Prompt (as an administrator) and the Run window.

How to remove messages from Windows License Manager:

Run cmd.exe as an administrator: right-click on the Start menu and select Command Prompt (Administrator).
Enter the command slmrg -rearm and press Enter.
Open the Run window (shortcut WIN+R).
Enter the command Services.msc and press Enter - a window with all the computer services will open.
Find the Windows License Manager and double-click on it.
In the window that opens, find Startup Type and select Disabled .
Click Apply, then OK. To restart a computer.

After restarting the computer, the Windows License Manager service will not start and will not send notifications. This will remove the information message, but it will not eliminate the need to activate the license.

Activation using KMS Auto Net

The program is very simple, but you should know about the main modes of its operation:

Hacktool is a universal solution for the average user. The program itself selects the activation method that suits a particular PC and system, and then saves it and uses it further by default. If everything is done correctly, the license message will no longer bother you.
Hook is a working but outdated option. In this mode, KMSAuto replaces the files needed to activate the system and then puts them back in place. The method is outdated, since new versions of the program do this automatically, and the replacement occurs in RAM.
NoAuto - manual configuration mode. It is advisable to have at least a general understanding of what is happening on the screen. Incorrect program settings can harm the entire system.
WinDivert - in this mode, an additional routine is installed in Windows, which connects to KMS servers to obtain the necessary data, and only then is activated by Microsoft.
TAP - installs a special interface and two adapter drivers so that activation occurs in just a couple of clicks. An option for those cases when the license key is constantly reset, the program does not work automatically, and everything has to be done manually in a circle.

To be fair, KMS Auto servers have been working flawlessly for many years. The program works in such a way as to deceive Windows: the point is not only and not so much in the key, but in the settings and physical location of the activation servers - they should not be on the same computer with the operating system.

Usually it is enough to click “Activate Windows” and select the desired version of the system for activation to take place automatically. It would be a good idea to set automatic activation every couple of weeks so that you don’t have to do it manually (for more details, see the instructions for activating Office).

There is a command line tool called Slmgr.vbs that comes with Windows that provides capabilities not available in the standard activation interface, which is found in the Update & Security window, accessible by opening the Start menu and selecting Settings.

Why activation is needed

Windows 10 downloaded and installed.
Now you need to move on to activation, that is, to confirm the authenticity of the installed version of the operating system, without which its full operation is impossible. But why is this procedure necessary? Firstly, a user with a non-activated OS will not be able to install the background they like on their desktop. The selected picture will be reset and replaced with a black canvas.

Secondly, a notification constantly appears in the corner of the screen about the need to activate the OS.

Message that Windows 10 is not activated

Finally, the computer randomly restarts after several hours of operation, which can lead to the loss of important data.

Note! Without activating the operating system, the user will not be able to appreciate its capabilities and functionality. That is why this procedure is mandatory.

First: Open a command prompt with administrator rights

This is required to use Slmgr.vbs. In Windows 10 or 8, right-click the Start button (or Win + X) and select Command Prompt (Admin). In Windows 7, find Command Prompt in the Start menu, under All Programs > System Tools. Right-click on it and select “Run as administrator.”

Windows 10 will not activate - what to do

If the user has used the Windows 10 activation key or another of the methods described above, but the system, after working properly for a little while, produces an error - for example, “0x8007007b” when Windows 10 activation seems to have been completed - it is worth finding a list of common errors on the Internet and contacting to the support service of the creators of the OS itself.

If the normal operation of the system was supported by the activator, you need to repeat the entire procedure for starting it again. If the antivirus is interfering with this action, you can even disable it for a short while until the process is finally completed.

View activation/license information

To display basic license and activation information, run the command below, which will tell you what version of Windows you have, part of the product key for you to identify, and will show you whether the system is activated.

slmgr.vbs/dli

To get more detailed information about the license, including activation ID, installation ID, and other detailed information, enter the following command:

slmgr.vbs/dlv

View the license expiration date

To find out the current system activation period, use the command below. Since retail licenses for, say, home computers are activated on a perpetual basis, which will never expire, the command will be useful for commercial KMS organizations and servers. However, you can check the expiration date of your license to make sure it is permanent.

Managing startup programs in Windows

slmgr.vbs/xpr

How to remove a product key

With Slmgr.vbs you can also remove the product key of your current Windows system. After running the command below, restart your computer and your operating system will not have a product key, which means Windows will become inactive - without a license.

This allows you to transfer the license to another computer if necessary. For example, if you want to give an old computer to a friend, but want to keep the license for yourself. However, as you know, Windows activation will be “tied” to the hardware of the computer on which it is installed, so it won’t be possible to simply transfer it, but it is still possible, but that’s not about that now (that will be in the next articles).

To remove a license key, enter the following command at the command prompt:

slmgr.vbs/upk

However, the command does not remove the activation completely. Windows also stores the product key in the registry because it is sometimes necessary when setting up your computer, and also to prevent malware from stealing the key and accessing the registry. In addition, the future owner of the computer (if he is more or less computer savvy) can easily remove the key from the registry, so you must also be sure to remove it from the registry with the following command:

slmgr.vbs/cpky

Product keys for custom assembly of computer systems

Computer device assemblers purchase “product keys”

to activate the
Windows 10
directly from retailers, including
Amazon
,
Microsoft
,
Newegg
and others.
This licensing method involves using the so-called boxed version of Windows 10
, when the key is printed inside the purchased product, or using an electronic key received by email or saved in an online account.

Customers enter the license key value in the appropriate field during the installation process of the Windows 10 operating system.

.
As is the case with keys for “OEM versions”

“Microsoft”
accounts .

The main difference is that re-activation is less problematic since the product key is not built into the specific motherboard, and subsequent replacement will not cause such difficulties as in the case of using a ready-made case assembly of a computer device. And since Microsoft

does not fully explain the term
"significant hardware change"
, then it is difficult for users to be sure that any hardware replacement will not entail a reset of
Windows 10
.

Replacing a single built-in component, such as a memory card or upgrading a discrete GPU, will generally not lock Windows 10.

on the user's device. But a major change that involves a major update to the computer's internal hardware and involves replacing multiple components at once can make the computer unlicensed.

Good news when using this Windows 10

Windows 10
Update Troubleshooter to unassign a product key from a previous PC configuration and reassign the key for the new build. But the number of such activations is limited. In other words, users can transfer their license to another computer without being tied to one, possibly outdated or faulty, model, but the number of such transfers is limited.

How to set or change your product key

Using slmgr.vbs you can enter a new product key. If the Windows system is already activated, using the command below you can replace the old key with a new valid one (instead of #####-#####-#####-#####-##### enter the new one key). After this, it is recommended to restart your computer.

This can also be done in the Activation Settings screen in Computer Settings, but the following command allows you to do this from the command line:

slmgr.vbs /ipk #####-#####-#####-#####-#####

Windows activation

Activate Windows online

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Using the following command, you can try to activate Windows via the Internet.

slmgr.vbs /ato

Activate Windows offline

To get the installation identifier (ID) for offline activation, run the following command:

slmgr.vbs/dti

Now you need to receive a system activation confirmation code by phone. Go to the official Microsoft Windows Activation Help page. Following the instructions given, call the Microsoft Product Activation Center (there is nothing wrong with that, you will follow the instructions of the robot) and provide the installation ID received above and you will receive an activation code (if everything is confirmed successfully). This may help you activate Windows without an Internet connection.

Instead of ACTIVATIONID, enter the activation ID. which you received:

slmgr.vbs /atp ACTIVATIONID

After that, to make sure that your OS is activated, you can use the following commands:

slmgr.vbs /dli or slmgr.vbs /dlv

How to extend activation

Take Windows 7 for example, which has a 30-day trial period before it starts asking you for a product key. You can extend the trial period, i.e. reset this trial period back to 30 days by running the command below.

slmgr.vbs/Rearm

However, you will not be able to extend the trial period over and over again and indefinitely - the command can only be used a few times. If you want to know how many times, enter the command slmgr.vbs /dlv. I don’t remember exactly, but for each version, it seems, there is a different “number of times”. In Windows 7, if I'm not mistaken, 3 times, and 5 times on Windows Server 2008 R2. With the exception of Windows 10, the option works in all earlier versions.

Using Slmgr.vbs for remote computers

Slmgr typically runs on the current computer, but you have the ability to remotely administer computers on your network if you have access to them. For example, the first command below applies to the current computer, and the second applies to the remote computer. You just need to know the Computer name, username and password.

Troubleshooting Windows Installer service errors

slmgr.vbs /option

slmgr.vbs computername username password /option

With the Slmgr.vbs command, you can use other commands related to system activation. See Slmgr.vbs Parameters for more details.