SLMGR.vbs, Vista’s Licensing Manager Disguised as a Hack

January 19th, 2007 · 9 Comments · 50,037 views
Tags: General, License, Manager, slmgr

SLMGR In some of my efforts playing with Vista, I’ve followed instructions that had me typing in commands that started with slmgr.vbs, followed by various switches and information. This seemed strange, why would I be addressing some vbs script when doing very ‘official’ things in Vista? Was I being tricked into running something dangerous that would turn over control of my computer or some such evil?

SLMGR stands for Software Licensing ManaGeR, or as Microsoft would call it Windows Software Licensing Management Tool. No, it’s not a hack someone snuck onto your machine and is now trying to trick you into running. Why a vbs script and not a command line utility? It’s actually a bit of both. You can run it from a command line (with administrators rights), but the results of the command you run will pop up in a Windows Scripting Host window. For example, type slmgr -dli in a command prompt window and you’ll get a brief description of your Vista license. You cannot, however, run slmgr -dli in the search box under the Start menu, you need to instead add the .vbs part: slmgr.vbs -dli.

Seems lame to me to have such an important tool be a simple, presumably hackable script, but such is life. Here’s what it can do, also available by typing slmgr.vbs /? in the search box:

Usage

slmgr.vbs [MachineName [User Password]] [<Option>]

MachineName: Name of remote machine (default is local machine)
User: Account with required privilege on remote machine
Password: password for the previous account

Global Options

-ipk <product key>: Install product key (replaces existing key)
-upk: Uninstall product key
-ato: Activate Windows
-dli [Activation ID | All]: Display license information (default: current license)
-dlv [Activation ID | All]: Display detailed license information (default: current license)
-xpr: Expiration date for current license state

Advanced Options:

-cpky: Clear product key from the registry (prevents disclosure attacks)
-ilc <License file>: Install license
-rilc: Re-install system license files
-rearm: Reset the licensing status of the machine
-dti: Display Installation ID for offline activation
-atp <Confirmation ID>: Activate product with user-provided Confirmation ID

Get notified of new posts for FREE via RSS or E-mail

Subscribe to ITsVISTA!

Digg |

Mixx |

Propeller |

Slashdot | Stumble

Stumble

ITsVISTA

Jan 21, 2007 at 12:03 pm

[...] SLMGR.vbs, Vista's Licensing Manager Disguised as a Hack [...]
ronald

Jan 24, 2007 at 4:20 pm

just hacked vista build 6000 fooling slmgr
it’s called the 2099 work around…
it rocks!!
Brute Force Keygen Utilizing SLMGR Released for Vista | ITsVISTA

Mar 2, 2007 at 9:01 am

[...] about SLMGR, the vbs script used as the Licensing Manager in Vista. I titled that article "SLMGR.vbs, Vista's Licensing Manager Disguised as a Hack". Ironically enough, their is now a hack available that replaces [...]
free ps3

Sep 10, 2007 at 7:10 am

Thanks for the nice post!
Mr. Vincent Leaf

Mar 22, 2008 at 4:01 pm

I agree only to “LEGAL product activation, allowing only microsoft; thru professional relations; to ACTIVAT OR ALTER CMD.EXE; for vista issues. i have enough faith that even with some inconsistencies, in the vista system; SP1 is indeed making up for all the past issues; microsoft is working hard and showing great results. feel free to reply…i too have a bogus ” anytime upgrade disk” that somehow was sold to me unsealed; from a geek squad. now i cannot activate my vista ultimate product key; and i am in support e mails @ the issue. i have used all WGA TOOLS, and continue to plead a legal desire to get legal. Mr. Leaf
Mr. Vincent Leaf

Mar 22, 2008 at 4:05 pm

I do appreciate legal advice and any effort to network thru whatever channels the problem i am currently hoping to be legal with microsoft. this has been a frustrating ride for the initial onset when supposed/ alleged vista “anytime upgrade disks were tampered with or previously used; then sold thru outlets like best buy geek squad. i have also heard of corruption within geek squad itself, seperate from best buy management. thankyou for your time…gee i must of re-installed several “30-day grace periods” since early 2007…appreciate your opinions or effort to this reply requested, Mr. Leaf
markwilson.it » Windows Vista and Office 2007 deployment brain dump

Apr 24, 2008 at 4:02 am

[...] sysprep /activated is replaced by sysprep /generalize (together with slmgr.vbs for managing the activation status of a computer) [...]
rudolf

Apr 29, 2008 at 12:20 pm

can i change my vista basic to premium with this ? i have a compaq laptop presario v3000 series so i wanna now can someone tell me how to do it or what i need to ?
chandru

Jul 10, 2008 at 2:16 am

I have activated vistasp1 in audit mode and i am coming to oobe by running sysprep.exe /generalize /oobe , while the process to oobe it again ask for activation, how to come out of this.