| Software licensing secrets By Ed Bott
Every version of Windows dating back to Windows Vista has included the Windows Software Licensing Management Tool, a script file found in the WindowsSystem32 folder as Slmgr.vbs. The script is designed for a local administrator to run in an elevated Command Prompt window. Most people never need to use this tool, but it can come in handy when you're trying to resolve activation problems or upgrade a Windows PC. The secret is knowing which switches to add to the end of the command to achieve the desired result. If you just type the command, with no switches, you get a series of five dialog boxes that list all those switches. Network administrators who manage a Key Management server for Volume Licensing will find a goldmine here. For the rest of us, the three most commonly used switches are the following: Slmgr.vbs /dli Displays basic license information, including the last five characters of the product key Slmgr.vbs /dlv Displays much more detailed license information Slmgr.vbs /cpky Removes the product key from the registry so that it can't be copied and reused Microsoft Office 365: The smart person's guide Office 365 provides the productivity tools required by a modern enterprise workforce. This guide covers key details, including available applications, system requirements, and subscription options.  More TechRepublic stories |
From DOS to the golden age of Windows: The classic operating systems you can run in the browser Photos: Our 10 favorite stereotypical hacker stock photos Today's recommended downloads |
(SolarWinds) (IBM Power Systems) (CA Technologies) (IBM) (Dropbox) |
 A special feature from TechRepublic and ZDNet |
The Internet of Things is feeding us countless new streams of data to quantify and analyze things in ways that were never before possible. It's also creating serious new security risks in the process. We examine the possibilities and the dangers.
| Get product reviews, tech news analysis, tips, and more in the following TechRepublic newsletters. Click the newsletter title below to subscribe. |
Connect with TechRepublic |
| 
