Information
This article 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.
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 .
This process may or may not work on Windows Xp.
Note
You can only use a product key for the same Windows 7 edition that you currently have installed. For example, you cannot change the product key in Windows 7 Home Premium with a Windows 7 Ultimate product key.
OPTION ONE
Change Product Key Number in System Properties
1. Open the Control Panel (All Items view), and click on the System icon.
A) Go to step 3.
OR
2. Open the Start Menu, and right click on the Computer button and click on Properties. (See screenshot below)
3. Under the Windows activation section at the bottom, click on the Change product key link. (See screenshot below)
4. Type in your new valid Windows 7 product key that you want to change it to, and click on the Next button. (See screenshot below)
5. 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.
6. Windows 7 is now activated and genuine with the new product key number. (See screenshot below)
OPTION TWO
Change Product Key Number in Command Prompt
1. Open a 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 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.
This process may or may not work on Windows Xp.
