Volume activation management tool for windows 7

[techy32]

I have inherited a school with no Volume activation tool and activation is pain.....

 

We are a windows 7 school and no plan to go windows 10 soon after hearing horror stories here on EduGeek.

 

Which version of VAMT should we download? Server version is 2012 R2.

[SHimmer45]

Install a KMS Host and change the keys on the clients.

VMAT V2.0 i think is the version for W7.

although you dont need it for KMS activation

[3s-gtech]

You want the latest version of VAMT - 3.1. You'll need the WADK pack to get it - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=39982. Designed for Windows 8.1 Update 1, works fine with 7 (and 10 I think, but not tested that much).

[techy32]

Install a KMS Host and change the keys on the clients.

VMAT V2.0 i think is the version for W7.

although you dont need it for KMS activation

@SHimmer45 how do I activate without KMS server?

[tmoon-mint]

By using MAK keys from your volume licence agreement.

[GuyJD]

You can enter MAK keys in to VAMT and activate the clients through the tool

[Joanne]

What I did for Windows 7 KMS activations, I created a VM on my DC, installed Windows 7, activated using the KMS key and then checked counts via command line. All the slui stuff. Once it has had 25 clients ask for a key it will activate them all.

 

Alternatively, you could have another 2012 R2 VM and activate it with the Server and Windows 10 KMS, because that will still serve the Windows 7 machines and activate them. I personally would do this so if you ever do decide to try Windows 10, your activation is already in place.

 

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff793409.aspx

[sted]

if you have a windows 10 compatible key (be it straight win 10 or server 2012/win 10 id use that you may not plan on doing windows 10 but as that will activate windows 7/8/10 you may as well vm a kms server back it up occasionally and basically forget it exists. As long as its running you dont need to worry about it again and its a pain if you ever do go win 10 having to get past the 25 activations before it works threshold

[SHimmer45]

use the vmat tool its what it is designed for (i havent really used it)

as others have said KMS is pretty much a one time setup and forget task and in the long run makes it sooo much easier to manage licensing & keys

[DavR]

I always found VAMT a right pain, although I can see it would be a good way to get an overview on a new network.

 

I'm on KMS now, but in a previous job we used MAK keys and an activation script as part of the WDS install process.

 

These are the commands to install and activate a MAK license key:

 

"cscript C:\Windows\System32\Slmgr.vbs /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX"

 

"cscript C:\Windows\System32\Slmgr.vbs /ato"