nlinecomputers
Well-Known Member
- Reaction score
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- Location
- Midland TX
Cyabro,
I actually did do that with three different machines. I used Belarc Advisor on them just to see what the Product key was. And all three machines gave me the same key but it was notated on the Belarc Summary with a footnote. So I go to the footnote and it says that the Product key is an OEM key added at the factory, and not the actual key that may have come with the machine, or something to that effect.
Anyways, I tried that key and it didn't work. This lead me to believe that the key was 'masked' somehow with a default key that doesn't really work. I haven't really gone back to study it. Maybe it was a valid key for those three machines and just isn't good anymore. Or maybe MS does something to the key so you can't just read it....not sure, but either way, this method didn't work. Which is why I was following the rabbit trail that would have lead me to endless hex editors, scripts, and the likes that I would have gotten nowhere with
-Scott
The reason it didn't work is because the way KMS servers work. When you get a Volume License Key from Microsoft and use the KMS method you get ONE key called a KMS key. You pick a machine to be the KMS host and it handles all the registration of keys on your network. Once the KMS key is installed the system phones home to Microsoft and downloads the license file. You have only so many licenses that can be registered. When a new machine is joined to the network and requests a key the Machine hash code for the unit is recorded and a ONE TIME key is generated by Microsoft and installed on the system. The key is valid for 180 days and can NEVER be used again. If the machine fails validation or is reinstalled the process begins again. If the same machine hash code tries to get a new key then the key will be issued without dropping the free license count. If a new machine joins the network then the free license count drops. Should 210 days pass without a attempt to reactivate the system considers the machine hash code out of service and ups the number of free keys. If for some reason you need to replace a system sooner and your out of free keys you will have to call Microsoft and tell them which key is no longer in service and have them void it. So always buy more licenses then you intend to use and give yourself some padding.
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