Windows 7 Activation Woes

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Stargater1953

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Nov 20, 2014
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I work at home and have a legal version of Windows 7 Enterprise. Every few months I'm asked to activate it again, and our tech people (who installed it) take it, activate it and bring it back.

This is a hassle. I'm the primary one responsible for our office switching from Apples to PCs, and I don't understand why my PC keeps saying that my Windows is not genuine. On my personal computer, I use Windows XP, and it's great; however, our tech people say I shouldn't use it because it's too vulnerable...even with MacAffee Total Protection.

Didn't Microsoft say that activation would a "one time" procedure? What happened to that? Anyway, I regret going to PCs even though I'm now pretty much out of the picture. I don't use my Windows 7 Enterprise much anymore -- maybe that's why I get these annoying notifications. Anyway, what can I do to stop them? I'd consider getting a private version, as I'm going to be retiring in a year or two, but it would necessitate me reinstalling everything, and I'd hate to do that. After all, Windows 7 Enterprise isn't available for individual sale, and I've installed a virtual Windows XP on my current system.

I'm giving my computer to our tech people for another activation, but I'm afraid I'm going to be back in this spot a few months from now. If I get the product key from them, will this solve my problem?

Thanks!
 
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ex_bubblehead
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JDFan

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Jan 5, 2010
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It's because of the Enterprise license -- your company paid for a site license for all of your systems up to a certain number of active licenses and thus it requires hooking up to the company license server every so often to reset the activation status -- it does this so that people who leave the company and do not return the computer do not get away with the company providing the OS for them and making the company pay for new licenses for the new people that replace them.

An option would be to purchase a retail or OEM windows 7 license for your system and use it rather than the Enterprise license -- since it would still be using windows 7 the security vulnerabilities that come with using XP would be mitigated so the IT people would not mind you using it and having your own license for the system rather than the enterprise license would get rid of the need to reactivate every x number of days.
 
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Stargater1953

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Nov 20, 2014
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Thank you for the replies. If I bought a different type of Windows, is Premium or Professional better? They changed me from a Windows I liked to one that didn't run several of my great applications, like a dictionary and a book library. Now I have to use a "Virtual PC" that's slower than frozen butter. I'd gladly go back to a 32-bit system if I could regain my functionality! Maybe I had a 32-bit system...can't recall. But it worked better than this Enterprise version. Whatever happens, I don't want to have to do a reinstallation.

It's this this possible?

 
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JDFan

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THere are programs out there that will allow the downgrade from Enterprise to ultimate or Home Premium without the need to reinstall ( I would suggest backing up the system before attempting it just in case something goes wrong so you can go back to the starting point.) In order to downgrade you would need to run the program first (it will make some changes to the system) and then after running it you would run the upgrade install from the new windows 7 Ultimate or Home Premium CD ( you would choose UPGRADE so that it does not reformat and overwrite the existing install but instead just changes the relevant system files for the change from enterprise to Ultimate or Pro) and then activate the license as normal.

Here is a link to one such program ( NOTE : I have not used it so as mentioned above be sure to create a backup first in case you need to revert to the original install if something goes wrong and also as mentioned earlier be sure to get approval from the IT dept. first to make sure they will allow the change since you will be connecting to their server and may need them to assist in getting your system on the network ) -- http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/downgrade-windows-7-enterprise-to-ultimate-professional-or-home-premium-edition/
 
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ex_bubblehead

ex_bubblehead

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Simple solution, establish a VPN connection to your company's domain and let Windows locate the KMS server. Your IT department can set this up for you. If you're already doing this and reactivation is not successful then your IT department has some work to do.
 
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