Raymond.CC Blog

My Dell desktop computer comes with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit because it has 4GB of RAM. The computer is only used to test software and do all sorts of crazy stuff with it such as running malicious files, virus and etc. It is just too dangerous to rely on any antivirus because I am aware of the blackhat tools available to make a malicious file looks as if it is safe. The problem with 64-bit Windows 7 is the incompatibility with some software especially security applications.

Since I have a technet account, I could download the Windows 7 32bit ISO and generate a genuine product key for activation but I am pretty fed up with the sudden deactivation of Windows 7 and I couldn’t re-activate it even though the key is legit. What I would want to do is somehow convert my existing Windows 7 OEM 64bit to 32bit but unfortunately that is just not possible from the operating system itself. However there is a working technique of downgrading from 64bit of Windows 7 to 32bit is pretty straight forward but the process can be a little long.


First I will need to either download the exact same edition of Windows 7 ISO or simply remove the ei.cfg to create a universal edition selector of Windows 7 installation disc. Then backup the existing Windows 7 license to a USB flash drive. Reinstall Windows 7 32-bit and restore the OEM license. I won’t be showing you on where to download Windows 7 ISO images but I am sure you can get them from torrents, rapidshare and even on Digital River servers.

I have previously posted about ABR (Activation Backup and Restore) which is able to backup and restore the activation from Windows Vista and there is a beta version which works with Windows 7. I have personally tested it and it works like a charm. The important rule is to make sure you restore the Windows 7 OEM activated license on the same edition of Windows 7. For example, my Dell desktop comes with Windows 7 Home Premium, I can only restore it back on Windows 7 Home Premium. If I try to restore a Home Premium license on a Windows 7 Ultimate operating system, the Status and Product ID will show “Not Available” in System. At desktop bottom right corner will also show the message “This copy of Windows is not genuine”.

Here is the exact steps of using ABR to backup and restore Windows 7 OEM license:
1. Download ABR Beta
2. Run ABRbeta.exe and it will extract the files to a new ABR folder.
3. Run activation_backup.exe from the ABR folder and it will create two new files backup-cert.xrm-ms and backup-key.txt in the ABR folder. Hit Enter to close ABR.

4. Backup the ABR folder by copying it to a USB flash drive.
5. Reinstall a clean version of Windows 7. During installation, leave the product key blank when asked to enter product key and uncheck the option where it will auto activate when your computer is online.
6. When Windows 7 has finished installing, plug in USB flash drive and run activation_restore.exe from the ABR folder.
7. Simultaneously press WIN+Pause/Break key to launch the System window. Scroll down and you should see “Windows is activated” with an OEM product ID.

There is nothing illegal about using ABR if you use it to backup and restore the Windows 7 license on your computer. However if you use it to install and activate on other/multiple computers, then you can get into serious trouble with Microsoft. Remember, there are 2 conditions to get ABR working:

1. Can only backup from factory activated Windows 7. Won’t work on phone or online activated Windows 7.

2. Can only restore the license on the same Windows 7 edition. You can switch between 32bit and 64bit, but not from Home Premium to Ultimate.

[ Download ABR v1.7 Beta 1 | Visit ABR Official Website ]

Note: The 30 Kon Boot winners has been selected. Sorry for the delay because my uncle in law passed away yesterday.