Microsoft Product Activation

1) Windows 7
a) Ask if there is internet access
i) If yes, continue. If not proceed to 1b
ii) Attempt online activation via System Properties or slui.exe
(1) If activation shows an error, lookup code in vKB
(a) Follow Steps and/or send WPA manifest to the customer
(2) If slui.exe (Activation Window) doesn’t open, proceed to 1b
b) Activate by phone using slui.exe 4
i) Walk through offline activation
ii) If this doesn’t open, (from elevated command prompt) use slmgr.vbs –dti
(1) Then give (for US customers) 1-888-725-1047
(2) The customer will use the Installation ID in the IVR
(3) The customer will have to write down the confirmation ID
(4) Then from the elevated command prompt, use slmgr.vbs –atp <confirmation ID>
(a) If there is an error here, look it up in vKB
(5) Check activation in System Properties
(6) Reboot. Confirm.
iii) If IVR is unavailable, proceed to 1c
c) This should be used as a last resort all commands in Elevated Command Prompt
i) In ECP, slmgr.vbs –rearm OR slmgr.vbs –upk (-rearm if outside grace period)
ii) (Elevated Command Prompt) slmgr.vbs –ipk <Product Key Here w/ dashes>
(1) If there is an error here, look up in vKB
iii) In ECP, slmgr.vbs –ato
(1) If successful check in System Properties, reboot, and check again.
2) Windows Vista
a) Internet access
i) Yes, continue. No, proceed to 2b
ii) Attempt online activation using System Properties or slui.exe
(1) If activation shows an error, lookup in vKB
(a) Follow Steps and/or send WPA manifest to the customer
(2) If slui.exe (Activation Window) doesn’t open, proceed to 2b
b) Via Phone use slui.exe 4
i) Walkthrough offline activation process
ii) If this doesn’t open, proceed to 2c
c) Last resort if all else fails
i) From elevated command prompt, run slmgr.vbs –rearm OR slmgr.vbs –upk (-rearm if
outside grace period)
ii) Then slmgr.vbs –ipk <Product Key Here w/dashes>
(1) If there is an error, lookup in vKB
iii) Run slmgr.vbs –ato
(1) If successful check System Properties, reboot, and check again.
NOTES:

Elevated Command Prompt is opened via

Start > cmd > Right Click on cmd.exe > Run as Administrator > UAC prompt select Yes/Continue
Start > cmd > Ctrl+Shift+Enter > Alt+Y <<<best while in Easy Assist