Before you can use a MAK, retail or KMS host product key, you must first add it to the Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT).

Add a Product Key

  1. Open the VAMT Microsoft® Management Console snap-in

  2. Click the Product Keys node.

  3. Find the Add Product Keys pane in the center pane. If it is minimized, click the down arrow to expand the list.

  4. Type the 25-character product key in the Product Key text box and click Verify. You do not need to type the hyphens; they will be inserted automatically. Once verified, the Edition, Description and Key Type fields will automatically populate.

  5. Type a description for the product key such as “Core Network Group MAK” in the Remarks text box and click Add Product Key. The VAMT will display the product key in the product key list, below.

Note

If you are activating a large number of products with a Multiple Activation Key (MAK), you should refresh the activation count of the MAK, to ensure that the MAK can support the required number of activations. In the product key list in the center pane, select the MAK and click Refresh Product Key Data Online to contact Microsoft and retrieve the number of remaining activations for the MAK. This step requires Internet access. The remaining activation count can only be retrieved for MAKs.

Remove a Product Key

  • To remove a product key from the list, simply select the key in the list and click Delete from right-click context-sensitive menu, or from the Action menu on the top menu bar, or from the Selected Items menu in the right-hand pane. Click OK to confirm deletion of the product key. You can remove a product key that has been installed and activated without affecting the activated products.

See Also