Improvements on: Backup and restore Windows 7 activation status (Offline activation after reinstall)



This post is an elaboration of the necessary steps in order to backup Windows 7 activation status before doing a clean re-install and then restoring it back, with the command lines instructions to do the tricky parts. Note that a valid key is required; this does not support piracy, it just saves you from increasing the activation count on a valid key just because you are doing a clean install.
  1. Copy and save or backup the following activation-related files to external storage medium such as USB flash drive or portable hard disk drive: C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetWorkService\
    AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwareProtectionPlatform\Tokens.dat
    and,C:\Windows\System32\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\pkeyconfig.xrm-ms
    Note: For 64-bit (x64) OS, C:\Windows\SysWOW64\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\pkeyconfig.xrm-ms have to be backed up too.
  2. Retrieve and record the product key used to install and activate the current Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2.
  3. Reinstall Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2. When installation wizard prompts for a product key for activation, leave it blank (do not enter anything).
  4. In the newly installed Windows operating system, stop the Software Protection Service in Services.msc or with the following command (run in elevated command prompt): 
net stop sppsvc
  1. Navigate to the following folder:C:\Windows\System32\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\
  2. Take ownership and give user full control permissions (alternatively add grant full control right click menu item) to pkeyconfig.xrm-ms file.
cd C:\Windows\System32\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\
    takeown /f *
      cacls * /g users:f
        1. Delete the original default pkeyconfig.xrm-ms file, and replace with the backup copy.
        2. Note: In 64-bit (x64) operating system, also perform the above  actions in C:\Windows\SysWOW64\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\ folder.
        cd C:\Windows\SysWOW64\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\

         takeown /f *
          cacls * /g users:f
          1. Navigate to the following folder:C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetWorkService\
            AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwareProtectionPlatform\ 
          2. Take ownership and give user full control permissions (alternatively add grant full control right click menu item) to tokens.dat file.
          cd C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetWorkService\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwareProtectionPlatform\
          takeown /f *.dat
            cacls *.dat /g users:f
               

              1. Delete the original default tokens.dat file, and replace with the backup copy.
              2. Restart the Software Protection Service in Services.msc or with the following command (run in elevated command prompt):
               net start sppsvc
              1. Register the product key for Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 with the following command (run in elevated command prompt): slmgr.vbs -ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx
                Replace xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx with the actual product key.
              2. Windows will activated instantly, off-line. To check activation status, uses of of the following commands: 
                • slmgr.vbs -dlv
                • slmgr.vbs -dli
                • slmgr.vbs -ato

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