Activators

Source
6. Advanced stuff
A. How activators work?
Activators, also known as loaders, add a script on the boot partition (Linux Grub boot loader (GRLDR)) which will put OEM information (SLIC 2.1) into memory before Windows starts. This way Windows thinks that the SLIC 2.1 come from the BIOS (which is false). Activators also install a certificate and an OEM SLP key to activate Windows.
B. What about the other method: modifying the BIOS?
To get activated with an OEM certificate and an appropriate OEM SLP key, Windows 7 checks if the computer is OEM branded. To do so, it checks if there is OEM information (SLIC 2.1) coming from the BIOS. Modifying the BIOS imply that we add OEM information (SLIC 2.1) to the BIOS for real.
C. Dual-boot: Windows Vista and Windows 7
If after activating Windows 7, your Windows Vista got deactivated then you might reactivate it in a second:

Reactivate Windows Vista

1. First thing first: get your Windows 7 activated.
2. Go back to Vista, if it is deactivated, then continue the steps below.
   
   
   
   
   • Windows 7 activated with Daz's activator:
     
     
     
     • Apply Daz's activator on Vista.
   • Windows 7 activated with Hazar's activator:
     
     
     
     • Apply Hazar's activator on Vista.
   • Windows 7 activated with nononsence's activator:
     
     
     
     • Launch OpaTool on Vista, type "B" and press ENTER, then type "DELL" and press ENTER again.
   • Windows 7 activated with a modded BIOS:
     
     
     
     • Launch OpaTool on Vista, type "B" and press ENTER, then type the brand name of your SLIC and press ENTER again.

Note that you can also do this process manually if you wish, to do so follow the tiny tutorial in section 6-F-a.

D. Extend the initial 30 days trial period up to 120 days
You can renew the initial 30 days period 3 times for a total of 120 days. Here's a tutorial to renew the activation grace period to 120 days.
E. How to check the activation status?
You can use OpaTool or do it manually:

Manually check the activation status of your Windows

1. Type cmd in Start menu.
2. Right-click on the first result (cmd.exe) and click on Run as administrator (confirm by clicking Yes if required).
3. Type
   
   
   
   Code:

   slmgr -dli

   Code:

   slmgr -xpr

   Code:

   slmgr -dlv

   Press ENTER after each command.

F-a. Install a certificate
You can use OpaTool or do it manually:

Manually install a certificate

1. First, be sure to have SLIC 2.1 in your BIOS (you can use the SLIC DUMP ToolKit to check its presence).
2. Download certificates — Link is broken? Try Mirror 1, Mirror 2.
3. Put in C:\ the certificate that belong to your SLIC's brand.
4. Type cmd in Start menu.
5. Right-click on the first result (cmd.exe) and click on Run as administrator (confirm by clicking Yes if required).
6. Type (Important: Replace "NAME" with the name of your certificate)
   
   
   
   Code:

   slmgr -ilc C:\NAME.xrm-ms

7. Press ENTER and wait until a message confirms that the certificate has been correctly installed.

Note: Change C by the letter of your Windows 7's partition.

F-b. Install a key
You can use OpaTool or do it manually:

Manually install a key

1. Type cmd in Start menu.
2. Right-click on the first result (cmd.exe) and click on Run as administrator (confirm by clicking Yes if required).
3. Type (Important: Replace the XXXXX with a valid OEM SLP product key — Pick one here)
   
   
   
   Code:

   slmgr -ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

4. Press ENTER and wait until a message confirms that the key has been correctly installed.

G. How to deactivate Windows and go back to the trial period?
Follow this brief tutorial:

Deactivate Windows and go back to the trial period

1. Type cmd in Start menu.
2. Right-click on the first result (cmd.exe) and click on Run as administrator (confirm by clicking Yes if required).
3. Type
   
   
   
   Code:

   slmgr -rilc

   Code:

   slmgr -cpky

   Code:

   slmgr -upk

   Press ENTER after each command.
   
4. Type (Important: Replace the XXXXX with the trial key that belong to your edition of Windows — Here is a list of the default keys)
   
   
   
   Code:

   slmgr -ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

H. Repair startup issues
If you have used an activator and for some reason it broke your system boot partition, you might be stuck at BIOS and Windows won't start anymore. No worry, it can be fixed easily:

• If you used an activator from Daz, Hazar or nononsence:
  
  
  
  1. Hold the "R" key on your keyboard during startup, if nothing appear try again with the "C" key.
  2. When you see the loader menu, select "Windows without loader".
  3. Once on Windows, uninstall the loader and try another one.
• Otherwise follow these steps:

Repair startup issues

1. Put the Windows 7 installation disc in the disc drive, and then start your computer.
2. Press a key when you are prompted.
3. Select a language, a time, a currency, a keyboard or an input method, and then click Next.
4. Click Repair your computer.
5. Click the operating system that you want to repair, and then click Next.
6. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Command Prompt.
7. Type (these commands are safe - more information)
   
   
   
   Code:

   Bootrec.exe /FixMbr

   Code:

   Bootrec.exe /FixBoot

   Code:

   Bootrec.exe /RebuildBcd

   Press ENTER after each command.
8. Restart your computer.

That should do the trick! However if you still can't start Windows, then follow step 1 to 6 again and type this command (more information about this command):

Code:

Bootsect.exe /nt60 all /force

Press ENTER and restart your computer.

I. My Windows shows an expiration date and/or says that key is invalid

If you get this on the final RTM of Windows 7, this is because you have used Toolkit 1.8 from Orbit or because you have installed a modified version of Windows 7 (e.g. Wzor modified version). It replaced some system files with files from the RC, which was designed to expire on March/June 2010. This can be fixed by making Windows reinitialize those files. To do so you can use the "Repair activation" feature from Hazar's activator, or do it manually if you wish:

Restore original tokens

1. Type cmd in Start menu.
2. Right-click on the first result (cmd.exe) and click on Run as administrator (confirm by clicking Yes if required).
3. Type
   
   
   
   Code:

   slmgr -rilc

   Code:

   net stop sppsvc

   Code:

   cd %windir%\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwareProtectionPlatform

   Code:

   rename tokens.dat tokens.bar

   Code:

   cd %windir%\system32

   Code:

   net start sppsvc

   Press ENTER after each command.
4. Restart your computer 2 times.

K. Other loaders available
Here a short list of the main loaders available. They all have more or less the same features, and work similarly.

• Windows 7 Loader By Daz — Proprietary ✕
  
• Open Source 7 Activator By Hazar — Open Source ✔
• [DEPRECATED] Open Source Windows 7 Activator by nononsence
  
  Activators created from the Open Source project initially started by nononsence:
  
  
  • Vista7 Slic Loader By omdhar — Proprietary ✕
  • Open 7 Activator revised by HotCarl — Proprietary ✕