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<div align="left"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style=" font-size:10pt">Like many other squadrons, we have ordered Windows 7 Pro from
Techsoup.  the procedure is to log on to https://eopen.microsoft.com to
obtain your Product Key for installation.</span></font></div>
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</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style=" font-size:10pt">When I obtained our product key it was (apparently by default) a KMS type
of key.  This KMS key requires the squadron computers to be connected to
a server and the product authorization is done at the local server level.</span></font></div>
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</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style=" font-size:10pt">This is not our configuration.  All of our computers are independent and not
on a local network.  What we really needed was a MAK type of key that
allows individual users to install and then authenticate directly with
Microsoft.</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style=" font-size:10pt"><br />
</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style=" font-size:10pt">After several hours of searching Microsoft and learning about volume
licensing, I finally discovered that at the top of the page that displays all of
your previous and current Product Keys is a link that will generate a MAK
key for any software title that has a KMS key.</span></font></div>
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</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style=" font-size:10pt">It could not have been more obtuse.</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style=" font-size:10pt"><br />
</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style=" font-size:10pt">So if you need a MAK key, from the eOpen page, click on the link on the
left side that shows all your product keys.  Then at the top of that page,
click on the link to generate the MAK key.</span></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style=" font-size:10pt">P/C G. Richard Stidger, SN</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style=" font-size:10pt">Berkshire Power Squadron</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style=" font-size:10pt">Editor, Berkshire LOG</span></font></div>
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