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Windows 7: Product Key Number - Uninstall and Deactivate in Windows

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Product Key Number - Uninstall and Deactivate in Windows

How to Uninstall the Product Key Number and Deactivate Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8
Published by Brink
26 May 2011
Published by
Brink's Avatar

How to Uninstall the Product Key Number and Deactivate Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8


information   Information
This will show you how to uninstall the product key number of a local or remote Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8 computer so it will no longer be activated by that product key and left in a unactivated (deactivated/unlicensed) state afterwards.

You will only be able to do this tutorial while logged in as an administrator.

For more details and options using the slmgr.vbs command, see: Slmgr.vbs Options

Note   Note
This will not return the product key to a never before activated state.

This will not permanently deactivate the product key number and prevent it from being able to be used to activate another Windows again later. This only removes the product key from the current computer leaving Windows not activated.

This will not remove the product key from Microsoft activation servers. Microsoft activation servers will still have records of all computers the product key have been activated on.


An OEM product key number is permanently tied to the motherboard of the computer it was first activated on. It can only be used to activate Windows on the exact same computer that it was first activated on.

A retail product key number can be used to activate Windows on any computer as long as the product key has been removed from any other computer first.


If you only wanted to change the product key number instead, then see:

How to Change the Product Key Number in Windows 7


EXAMPLE: Watermark that indicates Windows is not activated
NOTE: This watermark will be at the bottom right corner of your desktop above the taskbar notification area.
Product Key Number - Uninstall and Deactivate in Windows-unactivated_windows_7_watermark.jpg

Product Key Number - Uninstall and Deactivate in Windows-unactivated_windows_8_watermark.jpg
Here's How:

1. Open an elevated command prompt.

2. Do either step 3 or 4 for what computer you want to uninstall the product key on and deactivate Windows on.

3. For a Local Computer
NOTE: This would your computer.
A) In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below and press enter. (see screeshot below)
slmgr.vbs /upk

Product Key Number - Uninstall and Deactivate in Windows-uninstall-1.jpg
B) Go to step 5.
4. For a Remote Computer
NOTE: This would be doing this from your computer (host) to a remote computer (client) on the network.

warning   Warning
You will only be able to do this from either a Windows 8 computer to another Windows 8 computer, Windows 7 computer to another Windows 7 computer, OR from a Vista computer to another Vista computer.

You will not be able to do this from say a Window 7 to Vista computer, or Vista to Windows 7 computer.
A) In the elevated command prompt, type the command below and press enter. (see screeshot below)
Note   Note
  • You would substitute Computer-Name in the command below with the computer name of the remote computer.
  • You would substitute UserName in the command below with a user account's name with required permission on the remote computer.
  • You would substitute Password in the command below with the user account's password of the remote computer.
slmgr.vbs Computer-Name UserName Password /upk

Product Key Number - Uninstall and Deactivate in Windows-remote.jpg
B) Continue on to step 5.
5. Click on OK. (see screeshot below)
Product Key Number - Uninstall and Deactivate in Windows-uninstall-2.jpg
6. The Windows on the selected computer is now in a deactivated unlicensed state with the product key number removed. You will also now have the This copy of Windows is not genuine at the bottom right corner of your desktop until activated again.

7. Every time you restart the selected computer and log in, you will be presented with an option to activate Windows until you do so. (see screeshot below)
Product Key Number - Uninstall and Deactivate in Windows-restart-1.jpg








A) If you Click on the Type your product key Option
  • You will be prompted to enter a valid product key number for that edition of Windows. If successful, it will activate Windows. (see screenshots below)
Product Key Number - Uninstall and Deactivate in Windows-restart-2.jpg

Product Key Number - Uninstall and Deactivate in Windows-restart-3.jpg

B) If you Click on the Ask me later Option
  • Windows will continue to startup into the user account that you logged into, but will still be in a unlicensed state until you activate Windows using step 7A at the next restart or manually activate while still in Windows.
That's it,
Shawn










Related Tutorials
26 May 2011   #1
SIW2

Microsoft Community Contributor Award Recipient

Vista x64 / 7 X64
9,748 posts
 
 
Why would someone want to do that?


My System SpecsSystem Spec
26 May 2011   #2
z3r010

 
 
IT dept making an image for later use?

Let's face it, why do people want to do half the things that they ask to do on here
My System SpecsSystem Spec
26 May 2011   #3
Brink

64-bit Windows 10 Pro
64,291 posts
 
 



...or someone is selling their old computer and plans on installing and activating their Windows 7 or Vista on another computer.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
.

26 May 2011   #4
SIW2

Microsoft Community Contributor Award Recipient

Vista x64 / 7 X64
9,748 posts
 
 
Yes, I suppose so.

At least they know how now.

Quote:
Let's face it, why do people want to do half the things that they ask to do on here
My System SpecsSystem Spec
26 May 2011   #5
Brink

64-bit Windows 10 Pro
64,291 posts
 
 
Added an option to do this on a remote computer as well.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
26 May 2011   #6
brokenstorm

Windows 7 Pro x64
9 posts
 
 
This is great. I can use, this update my hardware and then do a clean install.

thanks
My System SpecsSystem Spec
26 May 2011   #7
Brink

64-bit Windows 10 Pro
64,291 posts
 
 
Hello Brokenstorm,

If you do a clean install (click on link) of Windows 7, then you will not need to do this since the process of reinstalling Windows 7 will wipe it out anyways.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
26 May 2011   #8
brokenstorm

Windows 7 Pro x64
9 posts
 
 
Quote   Quote: Originally Posted by Brink View Post
Hello Brokenstorm,

If you do a clean install (click on link) of Windows 7, then you will not need to do this since the process of reinstalling Windows 7 will wipe it out anyways.
Oh, so I'll still have to call Microsoft to activate Win7 (with the same key) on a PC with different hardware even if I do this?
My System SpecsSystem Spec
26 May 2011   #9
Brink

64-bit Windows 10 Pro
64,291 posts
 
 
Well, give it a try to activate online as normal. If it doesn't, then you should be able to activate by phone.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
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 Product Key Number - Uninstall and Deactivate in Windows




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