Backup and Restore Win7 Activation

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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\pkeyc
onfig\pkeyconfig.xrm-ms have to be backed up too.
2. Retrieve and record the product key used to install and activate the curre
nt 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 pr
ompts for a product key for activation, leave it blank (do not enter anything).
4. In the newly installed Windows operating system, stop the Software Protect
ion Service in Services.msc or with the following command (run in elevated comma
nd 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 %System
Drive%\Windows\SysWOW64\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\ folder.
6. Take ownership and give user full control permissions (alternatively add g
rant full control right click menu item) to pkeyconfig.xrm-ms file.
7. Delete the original default pkeyconfig.xrm-ms file, and replace with the b
ackup 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 g
rant full control right click menu item) to tokens.dat file.
10. Delete the original default tokens.dat file, and replace with the backup c
opy.
11. Restart the Software Protection Service in Services.msc or with the follow
ing 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, us
es of of the following commands:
slmgr.vbs -dlv
slmgr.vbs -dli
slmgr.vbs -ato