ABR (Activation Backup and Restore)

This is a utility that allows you to backup and restore Windows activation for systems that are pre-installed from the factory by an OEM, allowing you to reinstall the system without having to call Microsoft. It saves the activation to a file and allows you to restore it once you've done a clean install.

How to use it:

  1. Download and unzip
  2. Run "activation_backup.exe"
  3. Save the backup files somewhere safe
  4. Reinstall Windows
  5. Restore activation by running "activation_restore.exe"

ABR can only be used to install the same version of Windows you have the original OEM license for. For example, if your computer came pre-installed with Windows Home Premium, you can only reinstall with Home Premium. You can, however, switch between 32-bit and 64-bit.

Download

NOTE: For Windows 7 activation, please use the BETA below

Md5sum and Download link:

82c86253a2d704f38c6b8efbd8606f43 ........ ABR-1.0.exe

Please do not link directly to this file. If you like this utility and want to tell people about it, please link to this web site, and not directly to the file.

ABR Beta With Windows 7 Support

This is a beta (test release) of the next version of ABR with Windows 7 support. I have had reports that it is working with Windows 7, but I do not have access to OEM versions of Windows 7, so I cannot verify it myself.

If you are willing to try it out, please download here. Please let me know if this worked for you:

Test version with Windows 7 Support: ABRbeta.exe

Issues with Restore

Issues when running activation_restore are rare, but if you run into a problem, you can register your product key using the following steps:

  1. Open a command prompt As Administrator
  2. Type, replacing XXXX with the product key in the backup file:
    slmgr.vbs /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX...
  3. Type, replacing file with full path to file:
    slmgr.vbs /ilc C:\path\to\backup-file.xrm-ms