Windows Product Activation
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Windows Product Activation is an anti-piracy measure created by Microsoft Corporation that enforces the Windows EULA (End User License Agreement) and/or other license agreements.
If the Windows operating system is not activated within a limited period of time, it will become virtually unusable until it is activated. If Windows fails the activation, it will enter reduced functionality mode and the user will have very limited access until a valid license key is supplied. However, as of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 reduced functionality mode has been removed. Windows will now periodically remind the user that their copy of Windows needs to be activated. In addition the desktop wallpaper will be changed to a solid black screen every hour.
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[edit] Process of Windows Product Activation
When installing Windows XP or Windows Vista, the user inputs their license key given to them when the product was purchased. (This is usually supplied on a Certificate of Authenticity enclosed with the product.)
After installation, the user is notified of the requirement to activate their product within 30 days.
Activation can either be performed over the Internet with a utility supplied with the software, or via a telephone call to a Microsoft Agent. For activation via a telephone call, a longer "phone activation code" must be read to the Microsoft Agent who supplies a code to activate Windows.
Windows Product Activation checks eight different categories of hardware:
- Display Adapter
- SCSI Adapter
- IDE Adapter
- Network Adapter (including the MAC Address)
- RAM Amount Range (e.g. 0-512 MB)
- Processor Type and Serial Number
- Hard Drive Device and Volume Serial Number
- Optical Drive (e.g. CD-ROM)
It then calculates and records a number based on the first device of each type that was found during setup, and stores this number on your hard drive. This is then sent to Microsoft, together with the Product ID number derived from the 25-character unique Product Key used in setting up Windows. If Service Pack 1 is pre-installed, the entire Product Key is also transmitted so that can then be checked against a list of known pirated keys.
If activation is not performed within 30 days of the installation of the operating system, the system will boot only into safe mode, allowing data to be retrieved from the system's hard disk but usually making it very difficult or even impossible to run any other software until Windows is activated.
If activation fails, the system will again boot only into safe mode until a valid license key is provided.
When activation is performed, Windows saves a record of the hardware in the user's machine. If the system is booted up with significant hardware changes, Windows will require reactivation.[1] Starting with Service Pack 1, the user is given a three day grace period to reactivate.[2]
[edit] Ongoing Validation
Recent versions of Windows (e.g. Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Vista) also include a module called "WGALogon" (Windows Genuine Advantage on Logon), which attempts to regularly check if a copy of Windows is pirated. If it believes to be so, a warning is displayed on the user's desktop background and the module will begin to nag the user to purchase a legitimate copy, disallowing the user to access any updates from Microsoft other than high-priority ones.
[edit] People required to activate
All end users of Windows XP must go through the activation process, except for Corporate/Volume users (who are not required to activate at all) and users with OEM licenses.
If your computer was made by an OEM vendor (Dell, HP, etc.) it is not necessary to activate. The computer has a special product key that checks the BIOS for certain bits of code. Since Dell and HP make their own BIOSes they automatically have those bits of code and will automatically be activated. The sticker on a Dell, HP etc is not the key used in windows but an auxiliary working product key.[3]
All end users of Windows Vista, including Corporate users, are required to activate. However, corporations have the option of setting up their own activation servers, which will activate a certain number of Vista installations without needing to connect to Microsoft. The OEM master key still applies.
End users of versions of Windows older than Windows XP (e.g. Windows 98, Windows Me, and Windows 2000) do not have to activate.
[edit] Benefits
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The neutrality of this section is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page.(December 2007) Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved. |
Microsoft claims these benefits are offered by product activation. However, these all benefit Microsoft, and not necessarily the end user.
- Microsoft can ensure that the end user is using a legally licensed copy of Windows
- Microsoft can restrict the use of certain features, or even the entire product, to users with validated copies
- Microsoft can more easily enforce the Windows EULA (but note that validation problems can prevent usage of the software even when such usage does comply with the EULA)
- Microsoft can reduce piracy-related financial losses by forcing would-be pirates to purchase a legal copy of Windows
- Microsoft grants access to certain features (e.g. software updates and other downloads) to end users who pass validation (see Windows Genuine Advantage)
[edit] Criticisms
Windows Product Activation has been criticised for the following:
- If a major hardware change is made to the machine on which Windows is running, Windows may require reactivation. This can cause difficulties if machines are modified frequently.
- After a particular copy of Windows is activated, the same Product Key cannot be used to activate again on entirely different hardware unless a certain amount of time (120 Days) has passed and/or the user can make their case to a telephone agent for activation to be permitted. This may impede users wishing to legitimately transfer their Windows license between machines. Unlike some product activation systems provided by other companies, there is no option in Windows to willfully deactivate a license to allow it to be transferred.
- Pirates may defeat it by modifying the code to bypass the activation, thus making it an inconvenience only for legitimate users.
- If a pirate steals a legitimate user's product key, or uses a key generator, then the stolen product key may be added to Microsoft's blacklist, potentially resulting in a legitimate user's product key refusing to activate or triggering a Windows Genuine Advantage notification that the copy of Windows is not genuine.
- Since Windows product activation is part of the operating system, if the copy of Windows fails the activation or is not activated, it shuts down Windows, along with all the software on the machine, including software not made by Microsoft and not subject to activation. Some critics see this as an unacceptable extension of authority. This behavior has been removed as of Windows Vista Service Pack 1, meaning that users will now continue to have full access to their system. They will be nagged regularly with reminders that Windows needs to be activated though.
- A key generator can be used to come up with product keys that have not yet been activated. Someone with an illegal copy of Windows can use this key and activate his/her copy of Windows. Sadly, this key can also be on a legal copy of Windows. If the person with the key generator activates it first then the person who legally bought the copy of Windows cannot use it.
Many people see product activation as a guilty until proven innocent system because one can be punished as a software pirate (by not being able to use one's computer properly) without a fair trial.
