Filter
Top Products
Volume Activation 2.0 Operations Guide
15
In Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008, RFM is removed from the product
and replaced with a notifications-based experience.
You can return a client to its initial activation state for the current license by using
the Slmgr.vbs script with the /rearm option. This option resets the computer’s
activation timer and reinitializes some activation parameters, including a KMS
client’s client computer ID (CMID).
The number of times you can reset the activation timers is limited and depends on
how many times sysprep /generalize is run to create the distribution media. The
maximum number of possible resets for Windows Vista Business and Windows
Server 2008 is three. You can reset Windows Vista SP1 Enterprise edition five
times.
Recovering from a Non-Genuine State
If a KMS or MAK key is lost or misused, the product key can be marked Non-
Genuine and invalid for activation. In this case, the product key checked during
validation is considered invalid and the system fails validation. A watermark is
added to the desktop and periodic notifications appear to remind the user to
validate the license status of the system. In addition, the computer can be placed in
a 30-day Non-Genuine state grace period. This allows for the time needed to obtain
a new product key.
When evidence of system tampering is detected, the system goes into a Non-
Genuine or tampered state depending on the tamper. If the computer has tampered
files, the best way to recover is to reinstall the operating system and then
reactivate. If a KMS host or KMS client is marked Non-Genuine due to a
compromised product key, you should replace the KMS key on all KMS hosts
configured with that key. You can then force an immediate reactivation of the KMS
clients, using Slmgr.vbs /ato, or allow the clients to reactivate according to the
activation renewal schedule. If the original key is compromised on a MAK-activated
computer, you need to install a new MAK.
Before you can recover from a validation failure, you need to first determine why
the computer failed validation, then you can take appropriate recovery steps. You