How to Change the Product Key Number in Windows 7
Information
This will show you how to change the product key number in Windows 7 so that you can use another product key number to activate your Windows 7 with instead.
This can be helpful if you have entered the incorrect or no product key number during installation, or you just wanted to use a different product key number instead.
You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to change the product key number.
Note
You can only use a product key number for the same Windows 7 edition that you currently have installed. For example, you cannot change the product key number in Windows 7 Home Premium with a Windows 7 Ultimate product key number.
OPTION ONE
To Change Product Key Number in "Windows Activation" Wizard
1. Do
step 2, 3, or 4 below for how you would like to open Windows Activation wizard.
2. Open an
elevated command prompt, type the command below, and go to
step 6 below.
slui.exe 3
3. Open the
Control Panel (icons view), click on the
System icon, and go to
step 5 below.
4. Open the Start Menu, right click on the
Computer button, click on
Properties, and go to
step 5 below. (See screenshot below)
5. Under the
Windows activation section at the bottom, click on the
Change product key link. (See screenshot below)
6. Type in your new valid Windows 7
product key number that you want to change it to, and click on the
Next button. (See screenshot below)
7. If activation was successful, then click on the
Close button. (See screenshot below)
Note
If the product key is found to be non-genuine, or not valid, it's likely that the product key is either being used on another computer or is counterfeit. For more information about genuine Windows, go to the
genuine Windows website.
8. Windows 7 is now activated and genuine with the new product key number. (See screenshot below)
OPTION TWO
To Change Product Key Number in a Command Prompt
1. Open an
elevated command prompt.
2. In the elevated command prompt, type in the command below and press
enter.
NOTE: Substitute XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX in ths command below with your actual product key number with dashes instead.
slmgr.vbs /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
3. In the elevated command prompt, type in the command below to
activate your Windows 7 with this new product key number and press
enter.
slmgr.vbs /ato
4. Close the elevated command prompt.
That's it,
Shawn