Windows Vista/7 Retail Checking whether your Product is Activated and Product Activation

Checking if your Product is Activated

Right click computer and select properties or press [Windows] and [Pause|Break].

The system properties screen will give you your activation status at the bottom.

windowsactivated

If your product is activated then Windows has likely automatically activated online.

Online Activation

If not press [Windows] and [r] and type in slui

online1

You may be prompted to enter your 25 digit XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX product key if you haven't already:

online2Select next and Windows will try to activate online.
online3You should be informed activation is successful. Note this screen will show instantly if your product is already activated:
online4

Phone Activation

If you are unable to activate online e.g. if your system is offline or there is some activation problem the first thing to try is phone activation.

In many cases you will be automatically prompted as shown in the dialogue below:

p1

If you cannot get the option to activate via phone. Press [Windows] and [r] to bring up the run command.

Input slui 4 and press enter as this will sometimes bring up the phone activation wizard.

p5

Select use the automated phone activation and select your country. I have selected the UK in this example. Once you have selected your country select next.

p2

The Microsoft (toll-free) and (toll) phone numbers should now be available.

Note these phone numbers are to Microsoft and not Dell; Dell technical support will be unable to help you activate your Microsoft product.

You will also have a unique installation ID.

Call the toll-free number; I recommend using a land line for this as the number isn’t toll-free for Mobiles and the number keys on the landlines are usually easier to type with. Other numbers may be found here.

p3

The phone call will be automated. You will first be asked if you are a home or a business customer and be told to enter a number key on the phones keyboard corresponding to each answer.

You will then be asked how many computers you have installed your Microsoft product on. i.e. how many computers you have used that specific product key with. You should have two options 1 computer or more than 1 computer. Again you will be told to enter a number key corresponding to each answer. If you select more than 1 computer you will be informed that your product is only valid for installation on one computer and be bid farewell.

Assuming you have selected 1 computer only, you will be prompted to input the Installation ID displayed on your screen via your phones number pad. You will be prompted to enter this in the blocks of 6 like displayed on screen. If you have entered in the values incorrectly you will be prompted to re-enter in that block.

Once you have entered in the entire code you will be given a confirmation ID also given out in blocks of 6. You will have to press the # key once you have entered in the Conformation ID for each block to move onto the next block. When you have finally input the last number in the last block select next; now hopefully you should get the “Activation was successful screen”.

p4

p6

If you still can’t activate your product you may call the toll-based number and speak to a Microsoft Support Representative. The phone numbers may be found here. It says for volume licensing only but it is the same numbers that display for customers without volume licensing.

Note again that these phone numbers are to Microsoft and not Dell; Dell technical support will be unable to help you activate your Microsoft product.

Once activated “Windows is Activated” should display on the system properties.

If you still cannot activate you will need to call a toll number and speak to a Microsoft Activation Support Agent.

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