Microsoft 2 User Manual

Volume Activation 2.0 Operations Guide

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