Microsoft Enterprise Platforms Support: Windows Server Core Team
Hello, my name is Scott McArthur. I am a Senior Support Escalation Engineer in the Windows group and today’s blog will cover a common question we get involving product keys. Many times you may have a product key but you need to find out what type of key it is. We will use the VAMT 2.0 tool to accomplish this task. VAMT 2.0 can decode the following types of keys:
To determine what type of key you have do the following:
1. Download the Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT) 2.0 and install it
2. Click Start, All Programs, VAMT 2.0, Volume Activation Management Tool 2.0
3. Click the Product Keys option
Figure 1. VAMT 2.0
4. Enter your Product Key then click Verify.
5. VAMT 2.0 will connect to the internet and verify what type of key you have. For example(I removed my product keys)
Figure 2. VAMT Product Key Output
The following describes the column headings Key Type: CSVLK, MAK, Retail, OemCoa, etc… Note: CSVLK is a KMS host key Edition: The editions (Standard, Enterprise, etc…) the key is valid for Description: More detailed description of the key Remaining Activations: This column is only valid for MAK keys
Some Common Keys
Windows 7 Home Premium OEM Key Key Type: OemCoa Edition: HomePremium Description: Windows 7 Home Premium OEM:COA
Windows 7 Ultimate Retail Key Key Type: Retail Edition: Ultimate Description: Windows 7 Ultimate Retail
Windows 7 MAK key Key Type: Mak Edition: Enterprise;EnterpriseN;EnterpriseE;Professional;ProfessionalN;ProfessionalE Description: Windows 7 All Volume Editions Volume:MAK
Windows 7 KMS Host Key Key Type: Csvlk Edition: Enterprise;EnterpriseN;EnterpriseE;Professional;ProfessionalN;ProfessionalE Description: Windows 7 All Volume Editions Volume:CSVLK
Windows Server 2008 R2 MAK_B Key Type: Mak Edition: ServerStandard;ServerEnterprise Description: Server 2008 R2 Std and Ent Volume:MAK (MAK_B)
Windows Server 2008 R2 KMS_C Key Type: Csvlk Edition: ServerDatacenter;ServerEnterpriseIA64;ServerEnterprise;ServerStandard;ServerWeb;ServerHPC Description: Server 2008 R2 DC and IA64 Volume:CSVLK (KMS_C)
Windows Server 2008 R2 KMS_B Key Type: Csvlk Edition: ServerStandard;ServerEnterprise;ServerWeb;ServerHPC Description: Server 2008 R2 Std and Ent Volume:CSVLK (KMS_B)
Entering all your keys into VAMT 2.0 is a good way to save your productkeys and be able to reference them easily. VAMT 2.0 is a powerful tool that you can use for many other activation functions. For more information on VAMT 2.0 click Help to see the included helpfile.
Scott McArthur Senior Support Escalation Engineer Microsoft Enterprise Platforms Support
I have a slightly different issue maybe you could help with. We have several different 2008 product keys. When our servers were created, no-one ever kept track of which keys were used with each server. Is there a way I can view the product key on the servers so I can record what product keys were used where? If not, what is the best method recommended by Microsoft to address this issue?
@brodiemac: Magic Jellybean is your friend...
Thanks, great info!