How to Change Windows Vista Product Key
Windows Vista product key (sometimes also known as CD key or serial number or license key or the highly value and sought after volume license key or VLK) is the most important element in your Windows Vista, in the sense that the produce license key will determine whether your copy of Windows Vista is genuine or counterfeit, or whether you can successfully activate Windows Vista properly. Thus in some circumstances, where you unable to activate or fail WGA validation due to compromised, leaked, blocked or violated product key, you can change Windows Vista product key after installation, without the need to reinstall Windows Vista.
To change Windows Vista product key, use the following steps:
- Run Elevated Command Prompt with administrator rights or privileges. To do so, locate Command Prompt icon in Start Menu, right click on it and select “Run as Administrator”. You can also type in “command prompt” in Vista instant search, and right click on Command Prompt shortcut and then select “Runas Administrator” to enable administrator credentials. Answer yes to any UAC confirmation. You can also turn off UAC.
- In the command prompt window, type the following command:
slmgr.vbs -ipk <insert your product key here>
Replace <insert your product key here> with the 25-digit Windows Vista product key.
- To activate windows after changing the key, run the following command in the command prompt window:
slmgr.vbs -ato
If you don’t prefer to issue commands manually on command prompt, you can use the Vista GUI (graphical user interface) to change product key.
- Go to System Properties window with one of the following method:
- Right click on Computer and select Properties in the right click context menu
- Click on Start button, then Control Panel, and then select “System” (for classic view of Control Panel).
- Click on Start button, then Control Panel, and then System and Maintenance, and then select “System” (for normal view of Control Panel).
- At the bottom of the System Properties window where “Windows activation” section located, click on a blue link named “Change product key” with a small shield icon next to it. Your system might need a second or two to display the change product key dialog after clicking on the link.
If Windows Vista system already in Reduced Functionality Mode, there is an option of “Retype your product key”, which is the same as “Change product key” above and will give you the opportunity to enter a new product key or license key if you want to activate Windows Vista with a new key that is not yet installed on the existing installation of Windows Vista.
Related Articles
- How to Change or Re-Enter Product Key in Windows 7 and Vista
- How to Update and Change Windows XP Product Key Manually
- Easily Change Product Key with Windows Product Key Update Tool Free Download
- View and Retrieve or Change Windows (XP, Vista, 2003, 2000 and more) and Office (XP, 2003, 92) Product Key or CD Key
- WinGuggle Free Download to Get Vista Product Key or Change OEM Logo and Performance Index Score
- Activate Windows Vista RTM 6000 by Phone Activation with CPP Product Key from RC1 or Beta Release
- SLMgr Commands and Options with Windows Vista Product Key Activation
- Windows Vista Brute Force Product Key Keygen for Activation
- Hack to Activate Windows Vista with VLK Product Key with Patched KMS Server
- Switch, Change or Set 64-Bit Windows Media Player 11 (WMP11) in Windows Vista x64 as Default
Entries (RSS)
August 10th, 2009 14:10
Hi
This is Raveesh
I have installed Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC)ultimate edition. And i have received lisence product key. When i entered that product key- Following message has been appeared”’
“” The product key you have entered does not appear to be a valid Windows 7 product key. Please enter valid product key for windows activation”"”
Please let me know how can i change my windows in lisence version without re-install O/S.
Any help will be highly appreciated…
Thanks
Raveesh Katiyar
July 16th, 2009 15:19
Are you using beta? Time to upgrade!
July 16th, 2009 15:19
………my windows7 download from my digitallife website, first 2 months using no problem, now always automatic shut down.
please tell me what to do, where is the problem…………
Your problem is, that you are using the beta version which is expired
Upgrade to RC, this prevent shutdowns until March 2010 (expiration of Win 7 RC
July 16th, 2009 15:10
my windows7 download from my digitallife website, first 2 months using no problem, now always automatic shut down.
please tell me what to do, where is the problem.
July 13th, 2009 02:26
[...] change or re-enter the product key (aka serial key code number or cd-key). It’s possible to change product key installed into Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 20…, although the GUI method to enter or change product key is much easier and straight forward. [...]
August 7th, 2008 01:22
[...] error in order to activate the Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 proper may be just as easy as changing the product key, where steps detail in guide [...]
March 19th, 2007 08:03
[...] applicable, change Windos Vista product key to corresponding generic OEM CD key [...]
March 12th, 2007 02:57
[...] applicable, change Windos Vista product key to corresponding generic OEM CD key [...]
March 2nd, 2007 13:15
[...] Change product key to Windows Vista OEM key if necessary. [...]
February 20th, 2007 22:02
[...] you receive one of these error codes, change the product key to activate Windows Vista. To do this, follow these [...]
January 28th, 2007 12:43
[...] Change the Windows Vista product key. [...]