Free Windows 7 RTM Volume Activation Tool and Resources

Microsoft is offering a range of free resources, from Solution Accelerators to volume activation tools in order to simplify the adoption of its latest technologies, including Windows 7 and Office 2010, especially as far as business customers are concerned. One particular offering from the Redmond company is the Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT) 2.0, which enables IT Professionals to centrally manage Windows 7 activations. Of course, the tool is by no means limited to the latest iteration of the Windows client.

“VAMT 2.0 also manages activations for Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Office 2010 client suites and applications, Visio 2010 and Project 2010,” Microsoft’s Jodi Kogan revealed. “You can perform KMS, MAK and retail activations on remotely managed systems, all from a single VAMT console. The process is simple; VAMT first discovers the computers and installed products. Then, the product key is installed for the target systems to be activated.”

IT pros can always access the Volume Activation site on TechNet in order to get insight into the activation process of Microsoft products such as the ones mentioned above inside an organization’s IT infrastructure. TechNet documentation is available for free, as is VAMT 2.0, of course. “VAMT uses two primary activation methods: 1) online activation, where each computer connects to and activates with the Microsoft activation service, and 2) proxy activation, where the VAMT console connects to Microsoft on behalf of remotely managed systems,” Kogan added.

Some important resources that must be mentioned are the Cheat Sheets for Volume Activation. I first told you about the Cheat Sheets at the start of 2010, when they went live on TechNet. Since January, the topics covered by Microsoft have expanded. Customers can now learn: “how to troubleshoot the Key Management Service (KMS); how to choose the right volume license key for Windows; manage product keys using Volume Activation Management Tool 2.0; product activation using Volume Activation Management Tool 2.0; reporting activation information using Volume Activation Management Tool 2.0; activation in disconnected environments using Volume Activation Management Tool 2.0.”

Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT) 2.0 is available for download here.