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How to Backup and Restore Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 Activation Status (Activate Offline On Reinstall)

Saturday, January 30th, 2010

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, similar to Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, requires user to perform activation in order to activate the Windows operating system to be used without interruption. Activation of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, except for users who bought branded OEM computer or activate via KMS host, is normally performed online to validate against Microsoft’s activation server, or via phone activation.

One inconvenience brought by activation is that Microsoft limits and restricts the number of time that online activation can be done. Anything more than that will require user to call Microsoft activation hotline to go through manual hectic process to activate via phone.

Besides, not many people will like to “contact” Microsoft every time after reinstalling or reformating the PC or computer for a fresh and clean start. So it would be great if the “activated” activation status of Windows OS can be preserved, or backed up and restored after re-installation so that Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 can be activated offline or without connecting to Microsoft’s activation server.

Try the following trick to backup activation files for Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2, which has been previously been activated, prior to reinstallation. Note that the workaround should only be tried by users who want to clean install Windows, as if user (i.e. want to upgrade to bigger hard disk) makes a clone image of physical hard disk with Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image, all application programs, data, resources together with activation status will be automatically preserved.

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:

%SystemDrive%\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetWorkService\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwarePlatform\Tokens.dat

and,

%SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\pkeyconfig.xrm-ms

Note: For 64-bit (x64) OS, %SystemDrive%\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.

Tip: If you can’t remember the product key used, there is plenty of product key viewers available to help.
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
5. Navigate to the following folder:

%SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\

Note: In 64-bit (x64) operating system, also perform the action in %SystemDrive%\Windows\SysWOW64\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\ folder.
6. Take ownership and give user full control permissions (alternatively add grant full control right click menu item) to pkeyconfig.xrm-ms file.
7. Delete the original default pkeyconfig.xrm-ms file, and replace with the backup copy.
8. Navigate to the following folder:

%SystemDrive%\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetWorkService\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwarePlatform\
9. Take ownership and give user full control permissions (alternatively add grant full control right click menu item) to tokens.dat file.
10. Delete the original default tokens.dat file, and replace with the backup copy.
11. Restart the Software Protection Service in Services.msc or with the following command (run in elevated command prompt):

net start sppsvc
12. 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.
13. 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

Note that the ability to backup and restore old activation status in order to pre-activate or ready-activate a machine after re-installation must be on the same hardware without any hardware change, else user will need to activate online again. Besides, the product key used must be the same serial code too. The hack also does not apply to OEM branded computer which has Windows pre-activated and KMS host activated Windows system.

Windows Registry hack to Disable Cached Logins to Domain Controller (taragana.com)
How to Use XP Mode in Windows 7 (helpdeskgeek.com)
Windows 7 Guides: The Best Of [Windows 7] (gizmodo.com)

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Tags: Acronis True Image, Add new tag, Microsoft, Microsoft Windows, Operating system, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista
Posted in Computers | 2 Comments »

How to Disable and Turn Off UAC in Windows 7

Monday, January 25th, 2010

The user interface of User Account Control (UAC) settings in Windows 7 has changed to reflect the move to make UAC less annoying, more user control and more user friendlier approach. In Windows 7, the UAC has a slider bar which allows users to configure and select which level of notification (and hence protection against unauthorized and malicious access) they want. With the fine-tuning of UAC, the wording ‘disable’ or ‘turn off’ is no longer available. So how can you disable UAC? Or at least, how can you turn off the notification prompt or pop-up so that they appear less regularly?

In fact, the steps to disable UAC is Windows 7 is similar to steps to disable UAC in Windows Vista, only with slight user interface change, and there is plenty of methods to turn off UAC too.

Method 1: Disable or Turn Off UAC (User Account Control) in Control Panel

To user Control Panel to disable UAC in Windows 7, there are several methods to access the User Account Control settings page:
1. Go to Start Menu -> Control Panel -> User Accounts and Family Safety -> User Account.
2. Go to Start Menu -> Control Panel -> System and Security -> Action Center.
3. Click or right click on Flag icon in notification area (system tray), and then Open Action Center.
4. Type “MsConfig” in Start Search to start System Configuration, then go to Tools tab, select Change UAC Settings, then click on Launch button.
Click on User Account Control settings link.
Slide the slider bar to the lowest value (towards Never Notify), with description showing Never notify me.
Click OK to make the change effective.
Restart the computer to turn off User Access Control.

Method 2: Disable UAC with Registry Editor ( RegEdit)

Run Registry Editor (RegEdit).
Navigate to the following registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
Locate the following REG_DWORD value:EnableLUA
Set the value of EnableLUA to 0.
Optional step to suppress UAC consent prompt dialog, locate the following REG_DWORD value:ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin
Set the value of ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin to 0 (optional).
Exit from Registry Editor and restart the computer to turn off UAC.

Method 3: Turn Off UAC Using Group Policy

For Windows 7 Ultimate, Business or Enterprise edition which has Local Group Policy, or computer joined to domain and has Active Directory-based GPO, the group policy can be used to disable UAC for local computer or many computer across large networks at once.

Enter GPedit.msc in Start Search to run Local Group Policy editor. (Or gpmc.msc to run Group Policy Management Console for AD-based domain GPO editor).
Navigate to the following tree branch:Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security OptionsIn GPMC, browse to the required GPO which is linked to the domain or OU where the policy wants to apply.
Locate the following policy in the right pane:User Account Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for administrators in Admin Approval ModeSet its value to Elevate without prompt.
Locate the following policy in the right pane:User Account Control: Detect application installations and prompt for elevationSet its value to Disabled.
Locate the following policy in the right pane:User Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin Approval ModeSet its value to Disabled.
Locate the following policy in the right pane:User Account Control: Only elevate UIAccess applications that are installed in secure locationsSet its value to Disabled.
Restart the computer when done.

Method 4: Using Command Prompt to Disable User Account Control

The command line option can also be used in batch script command file, i.e. .bat and .cmd files, providing greater convenient to advanced technical user. In actual, the commands,, which are also used to disable or enable UAC in Vista, are just doing the same thing as directly modifying the registry.

Open an elevated command prompt as administrator.
To disable the UAC, run the following commands:%windir%\System32\cmd.exe /k %windir%\System32\reg.exe ADD HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v EnableLUA /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /fand optionally, the following comand to suppress all elevation consent request and notification:
%windir%\System32\cmd.exe /k %windir%\System32\reg.exe ADD HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Tip: To re-enable UAC, the command is:

%windir%\System32\cmd.exe /k %windir%\System32\reg.exe ADD HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v EnableLUA /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

and to turn on prompt for consent UI:

%windir%\System32\cmd.exe /k %windir%\System32\reg.exe ADD HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f

Disable UAC may cause gadget not working in Windows 7. User who facing the issue can use another workaround to suppress User Account Control.

Windows 7 Non-Genuine Activation Errors (lockergnome.com)
How to Turn Off Secure Desktop in Windows 7 (helpdeskgeek.com)
5 Ways to Print Folder and Directory Contents in Windows (makeuseof.com)
Stop UAC From Dimming The Desktop [Windows 7] (ghacks.net)

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Tags: Add new tag, Control Panel, Group Policy, Microsoft, Start Menu, User Account Control, Windows 7, Windows Registry, Windows Vista
Posted in Computers | 1 Comment »

Configure Legacy Devices to Run on Windows 7

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

: Image via CrunchBase

The Windows 7 driver store includes a small collection of drivers for legacy devices, mostly older printers, modems, scanners, infrared ports, PCMCIA controllers, and other oddball devices that don’t use Plug and Play connections. As you might suspect, Windows will not automatically set up such devices, and you’re rolling the dice if you find one of these old but still worthwhile devices and try to install an old driver.

But what if the device in question is valuable to you and can’t be easily replaced by a newer, supported one? Then by all means give it a try. Download the most recent hardware drivers you can find (ideally, for Windows XP or Windows Server 2003), and then use the Add Hardware wizard to complete the hardware setup process. Follow these steps:

1. If you’ve found a downloadable driver package or a CD that came with the device, look for a Setup program and run it. This option places the driver files on your hard disk and simplifies later installation steps.

2. Connect the new hardware to your computer. In the case of an internal device such as an add-in card, turn off the computer, add the device, and then restart.

3. Open Device Manager, select any item in the list of installed devices, and then click Add Legacy Hardware on the Action menu.

4. Click Next to skip past the Welcome screen. On the next wizard screen, choose how you want to select the device to be installed.

For printers, network cards, modems, and other devices that can be detected mechanically, choose Search For And Install The Hardware Automatically (Recommended). After you click Next, the wizard quickly runs a detection module that searches for anything on its list of non–Plug and Play devices. If it finds the new device, it installs the driver automatically, and your work is finished. If the wizard doesn’t find any new hardware, you’ll be prompted to click Next and look manually.
If you have a driver on a disc, skip the detection process. Choose Install The Hardware That I Manually Select From A List (Advanced) and click Next.

5. From the Common Hardware Types list, select a hardware category (or the inclusive Show All Devices category) and click Next.

6. From the master list of available drivers, select the device manufacturer and the correct model. Click Next to continue. Follow the prompts to complete the wizard.

From the Microsoft Press book Windows 7 Inside Out by Ed Bott, Carl Siechert, and Craig Stinson.