I activated Windows 7 incorrectly (Using ABR) and now I need to remove the activation files.
I recently got a large shipment of Dell OptiPlex 3090 machines that are Windows 8 Pro ready, but come pre-imaged with Windows 7 Pro from the factory. These newer machines don't have the COA stickers anymore, since the product keys are embedded in the BIOS and the hard drive holds the cert file.
The standard procedure after unboxing a OptiPlex 3020 machine is to make a backup of the Windows Activation files using Activation Backup & Restore (ABR), wipe the drive clean, and install our approved version of Windows 7 Pro that's been security hardened and optimized, and reactive windows using ABR. So far these process has worked flawless until today.
I had to image a PC for a client. I was given a Dell OptiPlex 390. I mistook it for a 3020 series and imaged it using the steps I outlined above. I had no trouble activating this machine using the activation files from a 3020.
This will go out to a client, so I don't want the possibility that this PC will become deactivate at some point in the future. The 390 series machine does have a COA sticker with a valid license and Windows product key. Normally changing product keys would be trivial. Just right-click on My Computer, click Properties, scroll to the bottom, and click Change Product Key.
Problem is, after installing the product key using ABR, Windows says it's Genuine and does not allow me to change the key. ABR does not include the ability to remove a product key, only to back up the activation files and restore them at a later time.
If looking for a quick and easy utility that will let me remove the activation files (and all the registry settings that get enabled during activation). Only thing that comes to mind is to re-image a PC. Which I might end of doing, unless I can find a better way.
Thanks in advanced for any and all suggestions
submitted by
Reloader45ACP to
techsupport
My girlfriend is worried that she'll lose files after activating windows
My girlfriend has been using an unactivated copy of windows 10 for a good while now because she lost the activation disk. She recently found the disk and is ready to activate windows, but is worried that she'll lose all her files. Will she lose her files when she activates windows or will she be okay?
submitted by
Bman_Boogaloo to
windows
