How can i reuse or reclaim the license keys if i am reimaging the windows 10 ?

Shovin Cyriac 41 Reputation points
2021-06-20T08:34:01.323+00:00

I have my vamt 3.1 with multiple product keys of windows 2016 and windows 10 added in it. If i am re imaging an OS how can i make sure the key has been reclaimed and can be reused? Also how can i see the remaining activation count for each keys?

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  1. Jenny Feng 14,246 Reputation points
    2021-06-21T02:57:58.617+00:00

    @Shovin Cyriac
    Hi,
    Are you using MAK license keys?
    Re-imaging rights are granted to all Microsoft Volume Licensing customers. Under these rights, customers may re-image Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or Full Packaged Product (FPP) licensed copies using media provided under their agreement as long as copies made from the Volume Licensing media are identical to the originally licensed product.

    MAK:
    When you activate your MAK count goes down. That's normal.
    With MAK, if you run out you just call the VL folks and tell them you need more.
    Please contact the Microsoft Activation Center.
    In the tool, under Product Keys, when you highlight a key you should see a status pane showing things like the number of times that a product key can be used to activate a product.
    KMS:
    If you don't want to deal with that you can use KMS or the newer AD Activation.
    KMS does not have the activation count limit.
    If you often need to re imaging, then you could choice KMS / AD activation, MAK is really better suited to small, unchanging deployments.
    For KMShost keys, the "Remaining Activation count" is not provided by their webservice, so VAMT cannot retrieve/display that information for KMShost keys.

    From memory, the remaining act count is only offered for MAK pkeys.
    The output from slmgr.vbs, from the KMShost, will indicate the current activation status, and counters.

    Hope above information can help you.

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-06-20T12:20:56.77+00:00

    Something here may help.
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/activation-troubleshoot-kms-general

    --please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

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