Windows Activation

Please note that you need to be either on campus or on the VPN to activate. You may use either the UMIACS or the campus VPN. This tutorial also assumes you have already have a network connection established.

Windows 7 Licensing

Windows 7 has a different licensing model than Windows XP. Unlike Windows XP, Windows 7 uses an activation model for each install. The installs will have to verify activation every 180 days. Activation and renewal is performed via the campus Key Management Server KMS, which is not available from off campus. For onsite desktops this is not a problem. However, for laptops it poses a potentially serious complication. As long as the laptop is periodically on the campus wireless, connects to the UMIACS or campus VPN, then renewal activation will be performed then.

Activation

Click the Windows button and type "CMD" in the run bar.

Right-Click on the CMD button, and select "Run as Administrator" - THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!

From the commmand prompt, run these commands in order:

cscript c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs -skms kms.umd.edu:1688
cscript c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs -ipk 33PXH-7Y6KF-2VJC9-XBBR8-HVTHH
cscript c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs -ato

After these commands have run, the Key Management Server should have activated your windows 7 computer.

If you are unable to activate, please see the message at the top of this page and contact UMIACS staff with information about your problem.