Microsoft Product Activation: Difference between revisions
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[[File:xpactivation.png|thumb|right|The Activation Wizard running on [[Windows XP]]]] |
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'''Microsoft Product Activation''' is a license validation procedure used by [[Microsoft Corporation]] in several of its [[computer]] [[computer software|software programs]], most notably its [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] [[operating system]] and its [[Microsoft Office|Office]] [[productivity suite]]. The procedure enforces compliance with the protected application's [[software license agreement|end-user license agreement]] by hampering or preventing use of the product until it is verified as genuine by Microsoft.<ref name="MSFT">Microsoft Corporation. "Microsoft Product Activation." Protect Yourself From Privacy. http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/mpa.aspx (accessed November 25, 2011).</ref> |
'''Microsoft Product Activation''' is a license validation procedure used by [[Microsoft Corporation]] in several of its [[computer]] [[computer software|software programs]], most notably its [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] [[operating system]] and its [[Microsoft Office|Office]] [[productivity suite]]. The procedure enforces compliance with the protected application's [[software license agreement|end-user license agreement]] by hampering or preventing use of the product until it is verified as genuine by Microsoft.<ref name="MSFT">Microsoft Corporation. "Microsoft Product Activation." Protect Yourself From Privacy. http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/mpa.aspx (accessed November 25, 2011).</ref> |
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==Process== |
==Process== |
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===Before activation=== |
===Before activation=== |
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[[File:Vista Activation ProductKey.jpg|thumb|right|Entering a product key into the [[Windows Vista]] Activation Wizard]] |
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When installing Windows or Office after purchasing a copy through a [[retail]] channel of distribution, the user is asked to input a unique [[product key]] supplied on a [[certificate of authenticity]] enclosed with the product.<ref name="MSFT" /> This license key is later verified during activation. It is not required to activate the product immediately following [[installation]], but it must be activated within a set period of time in order to continue to function properly. Throughout the grace period, the user will be periodically reminded to activate the product, with warnings becoming more frequent as the grace period progresses.<ref name="MSFT2" /> |
When installing Windows or Office after purchasing a copy through a [[retail]] channel of distribution, the user is asked to input a unique [[product key]] supplied on a [[certificate of authenticity]] enclosed with the product.<ref name="MSFT" /> This license key is later verified during activation. It is not required to activate the product immediately following [[installation]], but it must be activated within a set period of time in order to continue to function properly. Throughout the grace period, the user will be periodically reminded to activate the product, with warnings becoming more frequent as the grace period progresses.<ref name="MSFT2" /> |
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===During activation=== |
===During activation=== |
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[[File:Windows Product Activation dialog.jpg|thumb|right|Activating [[Windows Server 2008]] over the phone]] |
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[[File:Windows Vista Activation Restriction.jpg|thumb|right|[[Windows Vista]] and [[Windows 7]] with geographical activation restrictions]] |
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Activation is performed with a utility supplied with Windows and Office called the Activation Wizard. It can be performed either over the [[Internet]] or through a [[telephone|telephone call]] to a Microsoft agent.<ref name="MSFT" /> When activating over the Internet, the utility automatically transmits and receives verification data to and from Microsoft servers, completing the process without any interaction by the user.<ref name="MSFT12" /> Activation via telephone requires that a user and a Microsoft agent verbally exchange activation information. In this case, an installation ID is generated, which is then read to the agent. The agent verifies the code and replies with a confirmation ID, which must then be typed into the utility.<ref name="MSFT12">Microsoft Corporation. "Activate Windows 7 on this computer." Microsoft Windows. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-CA/windows7/activate-windows-7-on-this-computer (accessed November 25, 2011).</ref> |
Activation is performed with a utility supplied with Windows and Office called the Activation Wizard. It can be performed either over the [[Internet]] or through a [[telephone|telephone call]] to a Microsoft agent.<ref name="MSFT" /> When activating over the Internet, the utility automatically transmits and receives verification data to and from Microsoft servers, completing the process without any interaction by the user.<ref name="MSFT12" /> Activation via telephone requires that a user and a Microsoft agent verbally exchange activation information. In this case, an installation ID is generated, which is then read to the agent. The agent verifies the code and replies with a confirmation ID, which must then be typed into the utility.<ref name="MSFT12">Microsoft Corporation. "Activate Windows 7 on this computer." Microsoft Windows. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-CA/windows7/activate-windows-7-on-this-computer (accessed November 25, 2011).</ref> |
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===After activation=== |
===After activation=== |
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[[File:Vista Activation Reduced Funct.png|thumb|right|[[Windows Vista]] in reduced functionality mode]]<!--Non free file removed by DASHBot--> |
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If activation completes successfully, the user can continue to use the application without any further issues or impediments. However, if activation is not performed within the grace period or fails because of an invalid product key, the following restrictions will be imposed on the user: |
If activation completes successfully, the user can continue to use the application without any further issues or impediments. However, if activation is not performed within the grace period or fails because of an invalid product key, the following restrictions will be imposed on the user: |
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Revision as of 16:46, 26 November 2011
Microsoft Product Activation is a license validation procedure used by Microsoft Corporation in several of its computer software programs, most notably its Windows operating system and its Office productivity suite. The procedure enforces compliance with the protected application's end-user license agreement by hampering or preventing use of the product until it is verified as genuine by Microsoft.[1]
The process has been met with significant criticism by many consumers, technical analysts and computer experts, who argue that the process is poorly designed and ultimately does nothing to prevent software piracy.[citation needed] The procedure has been successfully circumvented in the past, allowing the applications to be used without prior activation, but sometimes only with certain restrictions.[citation needed]
Process
Before activation
When installing Windows or Office after purchasing a copy through a retail channel of distribution, the user is asked to input a unique product key supplied on a certificate of authenticity enclosed with the product.[1] This license key is later verified during activation. It is not required to activate the product immediately following installation, but it must be activated within a set period of time in order to continue to function properly. Throughout the grace period, the user will be periodically reminded to activate the product, with warnings becoming more frequent as the grace period progresses.[2]
Certain versions of Windows and Office are available under a volume licensing scheme, where one license or one product key is used for multiple installations. These users must still undergo activation, with the exception of Windows XP and all versions of Office released prior to Office 2010.[3][4][5][6] Businesses using this licensing system have the option of using Microsoft's activation servers or their own.[7]
If Windows is preinstalled on a computer by an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), the operating system is automatically activated without the need for interaction from the user.[8] The copy of Windows installed does not use the product key listed on the Certificate of Authenticity, but rather a master product key issued to OEMs called a System Locked Preinstallation (SLP) key which ties the activation to the manufacturer name as defined in the motherboard's DMI pool.[3] This ensures that the activation will only remain valid on motherboards supplied by that OEM, even if the product key is used on another machine.
During activation
Activation is performed with a utility supplied with Windows and Office called the Activation Wizard. It can be performed either over the Internet or through a telephone call to a Microsoft agent.[1] When activating over the Internet, the utility automatically transmits and receives verification data to and from Microsoft servers, completing the process without any interaction by the user.[9] Activation via telephone requires that a user and a Microsoft agent verbally exchange activation information. In this case, an installation ID is generated, which is then read to the agent. The agent verifies the code and replies with a confirmation ID, which must then be typed into the utility.[9]
In every case, the utility generates verification data based on information about hardware in the computer. In Windows XP, information about the following eight categories of hardware are hashed and form part of the verification data:[3]
- Display adapter
- SCSI adapter
- IDE adapter
- Network adapter MAC address
- RAM amount range
- Processor type and serial number
- Hard drive device and volume serial number
- Optical drive
The verification data is also based on the product key entered during activation. In some cases, the product key is checked against a list of known illegally distributed keys.[10]
Certain retail copies of Windows and Office sold in certain countries classified as emerging markets have geographical activation restrictions, which only allow the user to activate the product within the indicated region.[11]
After activation
If activation completes successfully, the user can continue to use the application without any further issues or impediments. However, if activation is not performed within the grace period or fails because of an invalid product key, the following restrictions will be imposed on the user:
- In Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2003 R2, after a grace period of 30 days, the operating system cannot be used at all until the activation process is completed successfully.[12][13]
- In Windows Vista, the operating system will boot only into a reduced functionality mode. The reduced functionality varies based on whether the operating system is simply out of grace or has undergone a failed activation. In the former case, built-in games and premium features like Windows Aero are disabled, and the system is rebooted every hour; in the latter case, certain premium features are disabled and some content is not available from Windows Update.[14][15]
- In Windows Vista SP1, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2, after a grace period of 30 days (60 days for Windows Server 2008), the operating system will add a text message in the bottom-right hand corner of the screen stating that the copy of Windows in question is not valid, set the desktop background to black, allow only critical and security updates to be downloaded from Windows Update and give periodic reminders to activate the operating system. However, the operating system otherwise functions normally.[14][16][2][17][18]
- In Office XP, Office 2003, Office 2007 and Office 2010, the programs will enter a reduced functionality mode, where files can be viewed but not edited.[19][20][21][5]
When activation takes place, the program saves a record of the verification data in the user's machine. If the system is booted up with significant hardware changes, the application will likely require reactivation to prevent the possibility of the same copy of the program being installed on two different systems.[22]
Affected products
Windows
| Retail activation | Volume licensing activation | Geographical activation restrictions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows XP | Yes[12] | No[3] | Yes[citation needed] |
| Windows Server 2003 | Yes[13] | No[13] | No[citation needed] |
| Windows Vista | Yes[14] | Yes[23] | Yes[citation needed] |
| Windows Server 2008 | Yes[17][18] | Yes[23] | No[citation needed] |
| Windows 7 | Yes[9] | Yes[23] | Yes[citation needed] |
Office
| Retail activation | Volume licensing activation | Geographical activation restrictions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office XP | Yes[5] | No[5] | No[citation needed] |
| Office 2003 | Yes[21] | No[6] | No[citation needed] |
| Office 2007 | Yes[19] | No[4] | No[citation needed] |
| Office 2010 | Yes[20] | Yes[23] | No[citation needed] |
Criticism
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Circumvention
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Reports that Windows Product Activation has been cracked have surfaced. For example, Windows 7 has a flaw that can allow a user to bypass product activation.[24] Windows Product activation has been cracked on XP in the summer[when?] of 2005, Vista in January 2007, and Windows 7 in November 2009.[24] RemoveWAT and Chew-WGA are pieces of software that attempt to get around product activation.[25] Back in 2001 with the Beta testing of Windows XP, Microsoft had a hard time getting users to support product activation.[26] Microsoft has also found a problem with releasing the activation codes to OEM businesses, because they uploaded them to the Internet and provided the keys to other people with the software to download.[27] 95 percent of illegal Windows XP installations used leaked keys.[27]
See also
- Digital rights management
- Product activation
- Product key
- Software protection dongle
- Windows Genuine Advantage
References
- ^ a b c Microsoft Corporation. "Microsoft Product Activation." Protect Yourself From Privacy. http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/mpa.aspx (accessed November 25, 2011).
- ^ a b Microsoft Corporation. "Windows Activation Technologies in Windows 7." Microsoft TechNet. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd979803.aspx (accessed November 25, 2011).
- ^ a b c d Microsoft Corporation. "Technical Details on Microsoft Product Activation for Windows XP." Microsoft TechNet. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457054.aspx (accessed November 25, 2011).
- ^ a b Keizer, Gregg. "Microsoft: No Office 2007 Activation Required In The Enterprise." InformationWeek. http://www.informationweek.com/news/195300038 (accessed November 25, 2011).
- ^ a b c d Microsoft Corporation. "Entering a Volume License Product Key When Deploying Office XP." Office.com. http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/office-xp-resource-kit/entering-a-volume-license-product-key-when-deploying-office-xp-HA001136475.aspx?CTT=1 (accessed November 25, 2011).
- ^ a b Microsoft Corporation. "Office 2003 Licensing and System Requirements." Office.com. http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/office-2003-resource-kit/office-2003-licensing-and-system-requirements-HA001140301.aspx (accessed November 25, 2011).
- ^ Microsoft Corporation. "Office 2010 - Volume Activation, Activate Office 2010." Microsoft TechNet. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/office/ee691939.aspx (accessed November 25, 2011).
- ^ Microsoft Corporation. "Preserving OEM Pre-Activation when Re-installing Windows XP." Microsoft TechNet. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457078.aspx (accessed November 25, 2011).
- ^ a b c Microsoft Corporation. "Activate Windows 7 on this computer." Microsoft Windows. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-CA/windows7/activate-windows-7-on-this-computer (accessed November 25, 2011).
- ^ Microsoft Corporation. "Technical Details on SP1 Changes to Microsoft Product Activation for Windows XP." Protect Yourself From Piracy. http://download.microsoft.com/download/2/1/6/21654b16-6c81-4d96-9390-5203cd43d07d/WPA_SP1_Market_Bulletin.doc (accessed November 25, 2011).
- ^ Microsoft Corporation. "Geographically restricted software." How to tell. http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/howtotell/geoinfo.aspx (accessed November 25, 2011).
- ^ a b Microsoft Corporation. "How to activate Windows XP." Microsoft Support. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307890 (accessed November 25, 2011).
- ^ a b c Microsoft Corporation. "Windows Product Activation." Microsoft TechNet. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc756138%28WS.10%29.aspx (accessed November 25, 2011).
- ^ a b c Microsoft Corporation. "Activating Windows: frequently asked questions." Microsoft Windows. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-vista/Activating-Windows-frequently-asked-questions (accessed November 25, 2011).
- ^ Microsoft Corporation. "Description of the behavior of reduced functionality mode in Windows Vista." Microsoft Support. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925582 (accessed November 25, 2011).
- ^ Microsoft Corporation. "How to install Windows Vista Service Pack 1 when the Windows Vista activation period has expired." Microsoft Support. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947874 (accessed November 25, 2011).
- ^ a b Microsoft Corporation. "Windows Server 2008 Product Activation." Windows Server 2008 R2. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/ws08-product-activation.aspx (accessed November 25, 2011).
- ^ a b Microsoft Corporation. "Windows Server 2008 R2 Product Activation." Windows Server 2008 R2. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/R2-product-activation.aspx (accessed November 25, 2011).
- ^ a b Microsoft Corporation. "Activate Office 2007." Office.com. http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint-designer-help/activate-office-2007-HA001233434.aspx?CTT=1 (accessed November 25, 2011).
- ^ a b Microsoft Corporation. "Activate Office 2010 programs." Office.com. http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint-workspace-help/activate-office-2010-programs-HA010354227.aspx?CTT=1 (accessed November 25, 2011).
- ^ a b Microsoft Corporation. "Activate or register programs in the Microsoft Office System." Office.com. http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/activate-or-register-programs-in-the-microsoft-office-system-HA001118776.aspx (accessed November 25, 2011).
- ^ Microsoft Corporation. "Windows XP Prompts You to Re-activate After You Restore Your Computer." Microsoft Support. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/305356 (accessed November 25, 2011).
- ^ a b c d Microsoft Corporation. "Product Activation and Key Information." Microsoft Volume Licensing. http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/existing-customers/product-activation.aspx (accessed November 25, 2011).
- ^ a b "Product activation system flaw found in Windows 7 follows earlier server message block problem". SC Magazine UK. 2009-11-17. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
- ^ Wray, James; Stabe, Ulf (2009-11-17). "Windows 7 activation crack comes as no surprise - Security". Thetechherald.com. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
- ^ Lettice, John (2001-03-20). "WinXP beta testers still in open revolt over product activation". Retrieved 2010-08-06.
- ^ a b "Microsoft: No Activation Changes Until Longhorn". Betanews. Retrieved 2010-02-12.