How to Reset Available Remaining

Rearm Count in Windows 7

After installing Windows 7 on a non-OEM machine without a product key for
activation, Windows 7 operating system will run in Initial Grace Period license
status, which lasts 30 days as evaluation or trial period. When the initial 30-
day activation-free grace period going to expire, users can rearm Windows 7
for additional 30 more days of activation grace period, for up to 3 times,
effectively allowing Windows 7 to run legally for 120 days without a legit or
genuine product key to activate the system.

When a user uses up all three rearms available and remaining rearm count
countdown to 0 (zero) , the only option left is to enter a legit and genuine
product key to activate Windows 7, or left the Windows 7 goes into non-
genuine status, where user will face several annoyances such as black desktop
background, repetitive notification messages to inform users that the Windows
is illegal or counterfeited, and reminder to activate and witch to genuine
Windows 7 on desktop or upon logon.

Through a WPA vulnerability that Microsoft introduced in Windows 7, its

possible to reset the remaining rearm count back to 4, which is the default
number of times the rearm is permitted in out-of-the-box Windows 7. The
ability to reset the rearm count for as many times as possible (infinity times
until patched by Microsoft) allows users to run Windows 7 forever, without the
need of activation nor modding the BIOS, and without applying any activation
cracks.

The said WPA vulnerability is related to a WPA registry key which contains Last
Rearm Time information in Windows 7. When the WPA registry key is deleted,
the whole licensing status of Windows 7 is re-initiated to the Initial Grace
Period (more on Windows 7 and Visa license status), as if Windows 7 is just
installed in OOBE (out of the box experience). The deletion of the WPA registry
key is achievable with the following command:

reg load HKLM\MY_SYSTEM %~dp0Windows\System32\config\system

reg delete HKLM\MY_SYSTEM\WPA /f
reg unload HKLM\MY_SYSTEM

With the importance of WPA registry key, its understandable the Microsoft
locks the key and all its sub-keys from being changed, modified, removed or
deleted in normal user session. So users have to run the command manually
from WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) or WinPE (Windows
Preinstallation Environment).

Resetting the remaining rearm back to default 4 is better than Windows 7

activation cracks (other than BIOS mod OEM activation of course) such as
RemoveWAT and Chew-WGA as there is no crack been installed, and Windows 7
will forever run in Initial Grace Period license status, which is allowed by
Microsoft and deemed genuine by WGA validation. No product key and no
activation is required. For users who want to reset the rearm count in Windows
7 to run Windows 7 forever, the guide to reset rearm count as detailed on MDL
forums is shown below. The best advantage of the guide is that there is no
messing or changing of important system files, as demanded by some
Windows 7 activation crack programs, such as Windows 7 Loader eXtreme
Edition by napalum which not only modify winload.exe, but also ntoskrnl.exe
and BCD store in order to achieve the reset.

There is two disadvantages to hack to run Windows 7 by rearming. Firstly,

users have to rearm Windows 7 every 30 days. Secondly, users have to reboot
the computer into WinRE or WinPE to perform a simple command every 120
days (4 rearms allowing a maximum of 120 days free usage, with each rearm
brings 30 days activation grace period).

1. Create a batch script file with the following commands:

reg load HKLM\MY_SYSTEM "%~dp0Windows\System32\config\system"

reg delete HKLM\MY_SYSTEM\WPA /f
reg unload HKLM\MY_SYSTEM

Save the file as delwpa.bat on drive C:\ at the root folder level. For
example, C:\delwpa.bat. Note that some users may require to run the text
editor such as Notepad as administrator to save to C:\ root directory.

2. On the day where days remaining to activate Windows 7 is about to

approach 0, restart the computer.
3. Press F8 on boot or right after the BIOS screen to get to the Advanced
Boot Options.
4. Select Repair Your Computer.
5. Select your keyboard input method, and click Next.
6. Enter user name and password login credentials, and click OK.
7. In the System Recovery Options, open Command Prompt.
8. Type C: to go to the main drive, and the execute the delwpa.bat file by
type its name:

delwpa.bat

Note: On some computers such as virtual machine or computer with

recovery partition, the main drive may appear as D:

9. The console should display messages saying that the commands were
executed successfully. Close the console window and reboot the machine.
10. After system startup, sign into Windows. System will display
message such as This product is not genuine. Just ignore it.
11. Run Command Prompt as Administrator, and execute the following
command to re-insert the default Windows 7 product key into the system.
These product keys, which is on every un-activated Windows 7 right after
installed, allow Windows 7 to be used for 30 days without activating it
 with further 3 rearms available. Note that the command should be run
according to the installed Windows 7 edition:

Ultimate: slmgr /ipk D4F6K-*****-*****-*****-*****

Professional: slmgr /ipk HYF8J-*****-*****-*****-*****

Home Premium: slmgr /ipk RHPQ2-*****-*****-*****-*****

Home Basic: slmgr /ipk YGFVB-*****-*****-*****-*****

Starter: slmgr /ipk 7Q28W-*****-*****-*****-*****

Product keys removed due to Demand for Immediate Take Down Notice
of Infringing Activity MS Ref. 309109 from internet2@microsoft-
antipiracy.com

12. Reboot the computer.

13. Login, and the Windows 7 OS is now in initial grace period of 30
days. To check the activation status, open an elevated command prompt
window as administrator, and run the following command:

slmgr /dlv

The dialog box with the following details should appear:

License Status: Initial Grace Period

Time remaining: 30 days
Remaining windows rearm count: 3

14. In order to rearm the Windows 7 system for additional 30 days

activation grace period, open an elevated command prompt window as
administrator, and run the following command:

slmgr /rearm

Most of the batch file creation, installation and rearm process is now
automated with unlimited rearm count reset utilities, although users still have
to manually run the reset script batch file in WinRE or WinPE.

Tip: As an alternative, its possible boot from a Windows 7 Repair Disc or a

Windows 7 installation disc to go to WinPE environment, where user no need
to enter login credentials. Pressing F8 will bring user to WinRE console.