unlike windows xp and volume activation 1.0 windows vista doesnt have any corporate
keys which will permanently activate it. volume activation 2.0 requires a corporate
user to either do a one time activation through microsoft servers (mak) or companies
can host a local activation server which does not talk to microsoft (kms). the only
difference is kms requires re-activation once every 180 days. however as long as
theres a local kms server its simple to keep windows activated.  this release is a
vmware image of a permanently activated kms server which allows local activation of
windows vista business/enterprise edition. volume activation 2.0 is only built into
those two editions.
 
install vista business/enterprise edition with the key YFKBB-PQJJV-G996G-VWGXY-2V3X8.
 
using the latest vmware workstation, boot the image. disable vmware firewall.
 
on the non vm vista right click the command prompt icon and run as admin. type ...
 
cscript c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs -skms vm_vista_ip
 
cscript c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs -ato
 
windows should now be activated.
 
to check activation status type ...
 
cscript c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs -dlv
 
tested using echos windows vista enterprise and vmware workstation 5.5.3 but seems to
have issues with the billgates windows vista business.