How to backup and restore Windows 7 activation files
It is possible to backup and restore the activation status of Windows 7
Backing up the activation files
To backup the activation status, backup the following files. Administrator access rights are required. Make sure you have the Windows activation key.
- %SystemDrive%\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetWorkService\AppData \Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwarePlatform\Tokens.dat
- %SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\pkeyconfig.xrm-ms (for 32 and 64 bits editions)
- %SystemDrive%\Windows\SysWOW64\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\pkeyconfig.xrm-ms (only for 64 bits edition)
Restoring the activation files
To restore the activation status, restore the backup files. Administrator access rights are required. Make sure you have the Windows activation key.
- Re-install Windows 7. Nevertheless, do not supply the activation key when asked for.
- Stop the Software Protection Service with the following command net stop sppsvc. This command must be run as Administrator.
- Replace the activation files with the one backed up. Prior to do so, you must take ownership of the existing files.
- Start the Software Protection Service with the following command net start sppsvc. This command must be run as Administrator.
- Register the product key for Windows 7 with the following command (as Administrator): slmgr.vbs -ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx
- Check the activation status with the following commands:
slmgr.vbs -dlv slmgr.vbs -dli slmgr.vbs -ato