Windows 7 activation

[swordfish215]

We are rolling out windows 7 accros the school, for windows to activate do we need to setup a KMS server or can we use a MAK/VL key.

[powdarrmonkey]

If you're doing more than a handful of machines, it's worth taking the time to set up KMS (IME it Just Works™, as long as DNS is set up correctly). Remember than machines have to re-arm at intervals, so for staff laptops I'm sticking with a MAK and permanent activation.

[Exos]

Use KMS, you can set the interval for the checking so it shouldn't be a problem unless staff who use laptops are likely to be off site for a long period (if i recall its 180 days max)

[riffleman]

Yes 180 is the max time limit. It's also a good way to ensure that staff bring them in to school at regular intervals for updates and such like, especially when you also use NAP/NAC.

[ChrisMiles]

Just remember, if you use MAK, once you use an activation its used forever. The activation servers don't care that a machine has activated before, if you have to reimage/reinstall a mak activated copy of windows 7 for whatever reason, activating it again will use a 2nd activation, therefore you might run out eventually (like I did ). Microsoft will normally give you more but KMS is definitely worth the time to configure.

[eddyc]

KMS is definitley worth it, once it is done you can forget about it, just leave it on it's own VM in the corner!

[tarquel]

KMS is definitley worth it, once it is done you can forget about it, just leave it on it's own VM in the corner!

Works for us.... until someone turns off the KMS VM and doesnt point it out to me

[sukh]

Hi

You can use KMS - Download details: Windows Server 2008 KMS Setup Demonstration

Or you can use productKey setting in the Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup component in the answer file to automate the activation process.


Sukh