When yous buy a copy of Windows seven in a shrink-wrapped box, yous're immune to install it on ane — and only 1 — PC. To ensure that you stick to that guideline, you're required to activate Windows vii within 30 days of installation.

Every time you lot start Windows vii, information technology checks to see whether the software has been activated. If you don't activate it, Windows will stop working after 30 days.

  1. Click Outset and type actuate in the search box. Click Actuate Windows in the results list.

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    You lot can also brainstorm the activation procedure by clicking the Activate At present popular-upwards in the notification area of the taskbar. The easiest way for you to activate is online.

  2. When prompted, type the unique 25-grapheme production cardinal that'southward printed on the case of your Windows seven CD.

    After you send your activation key, the Windows 7 Product Activation program examines your PC then mixes up the serial numbers with the product key to come upward with a unique 50 characters installation ID. It and so checks with Microsoft to see if anyone else has tried to activate that aforementioned re-create of Windows 7.

    • If there are no conflicts, Microsoft sends back a 42-character confirmation ID and stores both numbers on your PC.

    • If your product key has already been used, Microsoft will give y'all bulletin saying that you've exceeding the number of activations allowed for that cardinal. You're asked to enter a unlike product key and then click Retry.

      If y'all have a practiced reason for reactivating Windows 7 — say y'all bought and installed it on a PC that died — don't hesitate to follow the instructions and call a Microsoft rep. They can be very agreement.

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If you accept three PCs and you want to run Windows 7 on all of them, you have to buy three copies of Windows 7. Yet, Windows 7 is planning to release a three-PC family pack, which allows you to load and actuate Windows 7 on three divide machines at a substantial discount.

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About the book author:

Woody Leonhard describes himself as a "Windows victim." Since 1992, he'south been sharing the solutions to his own tech bug with millions of readers. In add-on to writing several books in the For Dummies series, Woody is a Contributing Editor for Windows Secrets newsletter. He likewise runs his ain blog at AskWoody.com.

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