5 replies to this topic 2 votes

[+warwagon]

How to Activate an OEM copy of Vista or 7 Over the Internet

This will be a very short guide. I'm creating this guide because of what I saw in a thread regarding, activating an OEM copy of Vista. The general consensus was that you had to Activate via the telephone because Windows Vista and Sometimes 7, told you that the key you are using cannot be activated over the internet.

To Activate an OEM copy of Vista over the internet you simply need to tell the activate wizard that you want to change the product key. Then enter the exact same key off the side or bottom of the machine you used during the setup. For some reason when you enter it a 2nd time, windows will activate without issue. While retyping the key works great, an easier way to do it is to use a program called ..

Jellybean keyfinder.

http://www.magicalje...erInstaller.exe

1) Install Windows Vista OEM
2) Get your network card working http://www.neowin.ne...#entry594035224
3) Open Jellybean keyfinder and copy the Vista key
4) Open the activate wizard and tell it you wish to change the key.
5) Copy and paste in the key from the the keyfinder software.
6) Proceed to activate windows.

[xorangekiller]

warwagon, I also recall a similar thread about activating an OEM copy of Windows Vista a while ago. Would this be the thread you are referring to?

At the end of the thread I just referenced, I posted a tool that is capable of SLP activating OEM Vista and 7 installations, as well as a brief description of why it works. (See my post here.) I use this tool on a regular basis, and it may help others here as well. I attached an updated version of it to this post.

Attached Files

•  OEMCert.zip   690.54K   377 downloads

[JaredFrost]

It wasn't general consensus that you had to activiate via phone, it was general consuses that people didn't copy their OEM certs off the computer before re-installing Windows.
They were basically trying to activate a VLK. The key on the sticker isn't the same key that OEMs use.

If it helps people though, I suppose it's alright.

[Mohammad_Khalid_Hussain]

Thanks a lot for this, saved me a lot of trouble !

To report: It worked on my Asus K43SA with a retail installation.

[Mando]

nice one warwagon, much appreciated, tested it today infact @work after your original post and yep it works on dell oems ) a timesaver, cheers!

[mujjuman]

I actually just did this too on my Windows 7 Home Prem OEM