AdminXP.com: Product activation Windows XP / Office XP

Product activation Windows XP / Office XP

Product activation - new feature of some Microsoft's products

WPA - Windows Product Activation, MPA - Microsoft Product Activation

Product activation does not affect only Windows XP - the product activation also affects Office XP and some other new self-contained programs (e. g. Visio® 2002).
What is it for? - the main task of this restriction is to thwart piracy and illegal using of a product on more computers. Theoretically, one product cannot be used on several computers thanks the activation, so it is now dependent, besides the product key, also on particular computer HW configuration.
How does it work? - In older products, the product key was enough to start installation. This key was easy to write down or to remember. Now, the product key remains, but after the installation itself you are asked to activate the product by phone or over the Internet. In case you skip the activation, you can use this not-activated WindowsXP within 30 days (products of the OfficeXP range can only be opened 50 times). After this time expires, the product stops working, then you can only start the activation and activate the product by the activation code. Some trial versions of programs (Trial, Shareware, Demo) work similarly.
How to recognize the activated version? – Start menu - Programs – Accessories – System tools – Activate Windows XP system. If the system is already activated, there appears a "Windows system is already activated " message.
It is sometimes better to wait before activating! – When you buy a new computer, the hardware may not always work for 100%. It is recommended for some not tested configurations wait some time if there appear some serious HW problems or not...

3x number game

Instead of one number required before, now three are required.
Product Key (product code - product key - 25 characters) - a unique number assigned to each Windows system package. This number you will find on so-called Certificate of Authenticity (COA) - its task is unequivocally to distinguish a copy from the original Windows package. Windows XP contains this certificate in the form of a little label that is part of the package with installation media and manual. In case you buy it together with a computer, you will probably find this label stuck directly on the computer. The incommutability is provided by glossy material and other safety technologies that make the work of falsifiers difficult (similar principles and features are being used for banknotes).
Installation ID (Installation identification number - Installation ID - 50 characters). - xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xx - This number is a special combination of the product´s number and identification numbers of the HW configuration. (Each HW component usually has an ID - e. g. processor type, HW address of the network card...). Particular components are shown in the following table.

number of bits	Identification
10	Network MAC Address
10	Hard Drive Volume Serial Number
7	Hard Drive
6	Processor Serial Number
5	CD—ROM / CD-RW / DVD-ROM
5	SCSI controller
5	Graphic card
4	IDE controller
3	RAM size
3	Processor type
3	Hash algorithm version
1	Docking (this determines if the computer is a portable one)

The number is encoded by the "hash" algorithm that should only provide protection from data abusing within the activation. Besides this algorithm, also the whole length of this key secures the configuration data - from this relatively long number nobody can read your exact configuration. If you change 4 or more components, you will have to re-activate the product.
Confirmation code (Confirmation ID) - you will be told this code by phone or over the Internet, and so your activation will be confirmed (42 characters).

Procedure

Start! - If you have not done the activation right after the installation, you can start it in the Start menu (Programs - Accessories - System tools - Activate Windows XP system). Another possibility is using the dialogs appearing on the screen and saying that the activation has not been done yet. In the installation wizard just follow the instructions.
Phone or Internet - We live in the Internet age, however, there still exist thousands of computers that are not connected to the Internet, therefore Microsoft offers, besides quite easy and almost fully automatic activation over the Internet, also a little more difficult activation by phone. You will be told the phone number after you choose the country where you want to activate the product.... Besides a paid number, there also exist a cost free number.... You will only tell your installation ID here and get the confirmation code.

Protests against activation

Worrying about privacy - such worry is not reasonable - the activation itself definitely does not bring this danger. When going through the activation, you only tell your installation ID (no matter if by phone or over Internet). Higher danger comes with the connection to the Internet and breaking some security rules (e. g. ignoring backups and using of diagnostics....).
Complexity - for single users, the activation is a matter of several minutes. In case of buying a Microsoft's product with a new computer, the activation is done by the supplier or producer of the computer. However, a lot of users annoy the activation, especially those who often change particular parts of their computers. If bootleg versions without activation or Windows 2000 will only be used is a hot topic now.
Necessary re-installation when HW configuration gets changed - If there have been done essential changes in the computer configuration, the activation must be done again. Some little changes are tolerated without the necessity of re-activation (often said that three changes can be done...). After formatting or changing the primary hard disk, the activation is required. Possible problems with explaining changes in configuration and getting a new confirmation code would be for a long discussion. According to some unofficial information, the activation will be stopped only in case of a great and shady using of equal product keys.
Licenses do not require activation - For large companies that use licenses, there exist Windows XP version that need not be activated (in such firms, usually several dozens of computers are administrated, so it would be a very unpleasant work to activate one after another). In other words, those firms receive an installation key for multiple installations (Volume Licensing Key, Open Product Key). So the activation remains in OEM retail packages and box versions.

Registration

Personal data necessary! - Unlike the activation, the registration is not obligatory. But if you register by help of a registration card, over Internet or by phone, you can then receive interesting information about different events, offers and other useful information.