HOW TO: Enable and disable Auto-activation feature in Windows Vista

Author:

Yang You MVP

COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS CONTENT DISCLAIMER

MICROSOFT CORPORATION AND/OR ITS RESPECTIVE SUPPLIERS MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE SUITABILITY, RELIABILITY, OR ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION AND RELATED GRAPHICS CONTAINED HEREIN. ALL SUCH INFORMATION AND RELATED GRAPHICS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT AND/OR ITS RESPECTIVE SUPPLIERS HEREBY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS WITH REGARD TO THIS INFORMATION AND RELATED GRAPHICS, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WORKMANLIKE EFFORT, TITLE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. YOU SPECIFICALLY AGREE THAT IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT AND/OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE INFORMATION AND RELATED GRAPHICS CONTAINED HEREIN, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF MICROSOFT OR ANY OF ITS SUPPLIERS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGES.

SUMMARY

This step-by-step article describes how to enable and disable Auto-activation feature in Windows Vista.

MORE INFORMATION

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.
 
 
Disable the Auto-activation feature
To disable the Auto-activation feature, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, type regedit in the Start Search box, and then click regedit.exe in the Programs list.
   Note: If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type your password or click Continue.

2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
         HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SL\Activation

3. Change the DWORD value Manual to 1.
   0 = Allow Auto-activation (Default)
   1 = Disable Auto-activation

4. Exit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer.
   

Enable the Auto-activation feature
To enable the Auto-activation feature, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, type regedit in the Start Search box, and then click regedit.exe in the Programs list.
   Note: If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type your password or click Continue.

2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
         HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SL\Activation

3. Change the DWORD value Manual to 0.
   0 = Allow Auto-activation (Default)
   1 = Disable Auto-activation

4. Exit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer.

If the end user chooses to automatically activate Windows online when he sets up his computer, automatic activation begins trying to active his copy of Windows three days after he logs on for the first time.