How to manually backup and restore Windows 8.1 RTM activation

[vladcepesh]

How to manually backup and restore Windows 8.1 RTM activation

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I create this topic about manually backup and restore Windows 8.1 for you guys you do not need rely on any third party software when you need to reinstall your Windows copy, you can easily do it yourself. Other reason is still early age of Windows 8.1 RTM non of the backup and restore software not functioning at the moment.

Important Points you need to know before backup and reinstall procedure:

1. The activation is tied to your specific hardware and OS edition, so keep this in mind.
2. The solution will likely 100% fail if you make changes to hardware and re-install Windows and then trying to restore activation again
3. It has come to my attention that installing certain hardware drivers will break the activation on Windows 8 forcing you to reactivate. One way to prevent this from happening would be to make sure everything is installed and up to date before activating and then take the backup. That way when you have reinstalled Windows and the hardware drivers it should work just fine restoring activation later.
4. Once we buy the retail version of Windows 8, backing up the activation would be a more permanent solution given that you don't change the hardware or OS edition along the road which means you have to reactivate and backup again.
5. This manual backup and reactivate methot was working on KMS Activation but as there is non working KMS Activation i just can not check at this moment however there is no reason why shouldn't if there is in the future.

Instruction:A. Backup Windows Activation1.
Enable Show hidden files, folders and drivers to order to see and save all activation backup files
Control Panel\Appearance and PersonalizationThen Checked Show hidden files, folders and drivers

2. Go to this location and save spp folder in somewhere save in your other hard drive, partition, usb stick DVD etc....C:\Windows\System32\spp

3. Make sure to verify that the store folder contains these files and folders!

1 file named data.dat which is hidden1 file named tokens.dat which is visible1 folder named cache containing a file named cache.dat

B. Reinstall Windows

1. After Windows is reinstalled I suggest running a new Command Prompt as Administrator where you need to type in
slmgr -upk to uninstall the key so the status changes to Unlicensed

2. You need to reboot in Safe mode and easiest way is by using msconfig via Run

.

3. Choose the Boot tab and then Safe boot-Minimal, apply and restart when prompted reboot

4. Click Restart PC IN Safe mode

5. After the PC has rebooted in Safe mode open a new Command Prompt as Administrator and type net stop sppsvc to stop the Software Protection Platform service

6. Go to location:

C:\Windows\System32\spp\ copy and replace the current store folder with the backed up one

Notice: Even i stop Software Protection Platform service still some files Did not let me to copy and replace maybe i was experimenting on Virtual Machine if you can copy and replace some of the files i suggest to use:WinOwnership Tool By joshcell

Download Link:

http[COLOR=#666600]:[/COLOR][COLOR=#880000]//joshcellsoftwares.com/products/winownership/[/COLOR]

Using this tool just drag the spp folder inside application

After that open all the files inside the right folderEasiest way find the related folder then click Cntrl + A then click OK to send all files all in one make sure you do for every files to the related folder

After click OK every files send to the related folder

7. Go to Run and use msconfig and choose Normal boot under General tab this time, apply and click restart when prompted

8. When restarted you can see that the watermarks are gone and by checking the usual

Command Prompt (Admin)

slmgr /atoslmgr.vbs /dlv

slmgr -dli

You'll see that it worked and you're activated..