INTRODUCTION
This article contains frequently asked questions about
Microsoft Product Activation (MPA). The questions are separated into the
following categories:
What is MPA? Microsoft Product Activation (MPA) is an anti-piracy
technology that is designed to help verify that the product is
valid.
Which Microsoft products include MPA? MPA is included in several versions of Microsoft
products, including Microsoft Office XP (and single programs such as Word
2002), Windows XP, Microsoft Visio 2002, Microsoft FrontPage 2002, and
Microsoft Project 2002. Product activation is required in retail packaged
products and in new computers that have been purchased from a computer
manufacturer. Product activation is not required for licenses that customers
acquire through one of the Microsoft volume licensing programs, such as Open
License or Select License.
Which customers have to activate? All customers who purchase retail packaged products or
a new computer from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) have to activate
the product. The products on a new computer that was purchased from an OEM may
be activated in the factory. Product activation is not required for licenses
that customers acquire through one of the Microsoft Volume Licensing programs,
such as Open License or Select License. Volume Licensing programs can be scaled
to even the smallest businesses, and customers can qualify for the Microsoft
Open License program by acquiring as few as five product licenses. For more
information, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
How does MPA work? MPA validates that the product's Product Key, which is
required as part of product installation, has not been used on more computers
than the product's end-user license agreement (EULA) allows. Generally, Windows
XP can be installed on one computer, and Office XP can be installed on one
computer and that computer user's portable computer. For more information, see
the EULA for your product.
The Product Key information, which the
Product ID contains, is sent with a "hardware hash" (a number that the
computer's hardware configuration generates) to the Microsoft activation system
during activation. In Windows XP SP1, the Product Key is also sent. Activation
is completed either directly by using the Internet or by making a telephone
call to a customer service representative. If you install Windows XP on the
same computer by using the same Product Key, the number of activations is not
limited. MPA discourages piracy by limiting the number of times that a Product
Key can be activated on different computers.
Can a product (for example, Windows XP or Office XP) be turned off remotely by using MPA? No, the product cannot be turned off remotely by using
MPA.
Why does Microsoft require customers to activate their products? MPA was designed as a simple way to verify the product
license and to help reduce the spread of software piracy. People who use
pirated software contribute to a problem that can adversely affect job creation
locally and regionally in the software industry and related businesses.
Software piracy is an enormous drain on the global economy, according to the
2000 BSA Software Piracy Report. The report estimates that worldwide losses
from software piracy in 2000 were almost $12 billion. Software piracy also has
a significant effect on the high-tech industry, and the results are lost jobs,
reduced innovation, and increased costs to consumers.
How does MPA help reduce piracy? MPA helps reduce casual copying by making sure that the
copy of the product that is being installed is valid and that it has been
installed on the computer in accordance with the product's EULA. Installations
that are not compliant with the EULA are not activated.
Have companies tried to implement anti-piracy technologies? Anti-piracy technologies have been used in the past,
but they have not been easy for customers to use. These technologies were
generally not acceptable to customers or to the industry. For example, some
early computer products required specialized hardware components or disks that
were cumbersome for the user. MPA is a breakthrough technology because it makes
activation a part of installing the product and helps avoid the problems of
previous anti-piracy methods.
How does the customer benefit from this approach? Over time, the result of reduced piracy is that the
software industry can invest more in product development, quality, and support.
This leads to better products and more innovation for customers. Ultimately,
customers benefit from the economic effect of reduced piracy through more jobs
and increased wages. Customers also receive the added value for their software
investment by receiving product updates and other product information. MPA also
helps prevent unsuspecting customers from purchasing counterfeit products.
Customers who purchase counterfeit products may find that they are missing key
elements, such as user manuals, Product Keys, certificates of authenticity, and
even software code. They may also find that the counterfeit product contains
viruses or does not work well.
Where has MPA been tested? MPA was tested with Microsoft Office 2000 when it was
released in 1999 in six countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China (including
Hong Kong SAR), New Zealand, and the United States. This test resulted in over
7 million successful activation transactions. Microsoft received significant
feedback from customers who have used product activation. Microsoft has
incorporated the feedback in the latest version of MPA that is being used with
Windows XP, Office XP and Visio 2002.
What were some of the key lessons that Microsoft learned by testing MPA with Office 2000? Customers generally found activation to be easy.
Telephone calls averaged two to three minutes in length, with hold times of two
to three minutes or less. On average, over 70 percent of the activation
requests were conducted over the Internet, and approximately 2 percent of the
activation requests occurred because of hardware changes or
reactivations.
How MPA works
Does MPA make it more difficult for customers to install and use products? MPA is designed to be easy for customers who acquire
valid product licenses. Customers have the choice of activating over the
Internet or by using the telephone. Customers can also delay activation for
several uses of the product until a time that is convenient for them to
activate the product. Customers who obtain product copies that are not valid
will find that MPA makes their use of that product more difficult. Millions of
customers have used MPA to date with little or no difficulty.
Are customers notified that they have to activate? Yes. Customers are notified of the activation
requirement on the box if they purchase a retail version of the product.
Additionally, for programs such as Word, customers are reminded to activate
every time that they use the program, up until the fiftieth use, which is the
maximum number of times that they can use the program before they have to
activate. For Windows, customers are reminded every time that they log on and
regularly up until the end of the activation grace period, which is 30 days. If
they have not activated the product in the specified time frame, they have to
do this to continue using the product.
Is there a grace period during which the product works without being activated? Yes. Users can use a product for a while without
activating it. For the Office XP family of products, the grace period is the
first 50 uses. For Visio 2002, the grace period is 10 uses. For Windows, it is
30 days from the first installation or upgrade.
What is "reduced functionality mode" in Office XP and Office XP family products? Programs go into reduced functionality mode if the user
does not activate before the end of the grace period, which is the fiftieth use
for Office XP and its family products and the tenth use for Visio 2002. In this
mode, users cannot save changes to documents or create new documents, and
additional functionality may be reduced. Existing files are not affected and
can be edited or saved with an activated installation of Office XP or Visio
2002. Users can regain full functionality of the product by
activating.
How do I know if my product installation is activated? In all Office XP family products, users can click
Activate Product on the
Help menu to determine the program's activation status. In Windows,
users can click
Start, point to
All Programs, point to
Accessories, point to
System Tools, and then click
Activate Windows.
How does MPA connect over the Internet? For Office XP family products, activation over the
Internet requires users to have their own Internet service provider (ISP)
connection. Users who do not have an ISP connection have to activate by
telephoning a customer service representative. For Windows XP, users who do not
have an ISP may use the Microsoft ISP network to activate. Users who do not
have an ISP and cannot use the Microsoft ISP network have to activate by
telephoning a customer service representative.
What are the hours of operation of the customer service centers? Most customer service centers are open 24 hours a day.
Some international customer service centers are only open during extended
business hours.
If I am outside the United States, how do I activate my installation by using the telephone? Microsoft has regional and, in some locations, local
customer service centers to process activation requests. Telephone access
numbers to these customer service centers are toll-free where available. Some
countries can only be serviced with local toll numbers because of their
telephony infrastructure or other issues. For very few countries, users have to
contact Microsoft by calling collect.
Why are the Installation and Confirmation IDs so long when I activate by telephoning a customer service representative? Microsoft did usability testing of both numeric and
alphanumeric Installation and Confirmation IDs. Although the IDs might have
been made shorter by using alphabetical characters, Microsoft learned through
usability testing that users' interactions with the customer service
representatives were substantially more error-free when the IDs were all
numeric. There were fewer misunderstandings with numerals than with
alphabetical characters. Because the conversations were more error-free, the
calls were shorter and customer satisfaction with the telephone activation
process was improved. Additionally, all languages use numerals, whereas not all
languages use Latin-based script characters.
Privacy
How does MPA respect customer privacy? Microsoft highly values respect for and protection of
customers' private information. User privacy was a paramount design goal for
MPA. MPA is anonymous, and no personally identifiable information is collected.
Activation is different from product registration. Customers can voluntarily
register their products by providing their names and contact information.
Registration is for those customers who want to receive future communications
on product updates, service releases, and other special offers. Any information
that is provided to Microsoft is treated securely, is kept private, and is used
only for the purposes that are specified by the customer. The hardware hash
that is used during activation is a combination of the hash values of various
computer components and cannot be used to determine the make or model of the
computer. It also cannot be backward-calculated to determine the raw computer
information.
Is there rechecking of the activation after initial activation? Is there any secret data transfer to Microsoft? The product does check itself occasionally to see if it
is activated and if it is still installed on the same computer that it was
originally activated on. At no time is information transferred to Microsoft
because of MPA, except while the user is actually in the process of activating
the product. There is no "secret" data transfer.
If I decide to register my product, what happens to the personal data that I provide to Microsoft?If
customers decide to voluntarily register their product to receive future
communications on product updates, service releases, and other special offers
by providing their name and personal data to Microsoft, Microsoft
will
then store the users'
personal data in the United States and possibly in the country where the users
live. Personal information is protected from unauthorized distribution. Under
no circumstances is personal data sold to third parties. Based on registration,
users may receive information about product updates, new products, product
offers, and other matters.
Activation and product licensing policies
How many installations can be made with one product license? Has this changed with the introduction of MPA? The underlying principles of Microsoft product licenses
have not changed. Microsoft EULAs have always specified the number of computers
where the product can be installed. MPA does not change that. For Office XP,
primary users can also install one copy of the product on a portable computer
for their exclusive use. To install Office XP on more than these two devices,
the user must acquire another license of the product. Licenses for copies of
Office XP that are preinstalled on new computers are single-computer licenses
that cannot be transferred or installed again on another computer. The
licensing terms have not been changed because of MPA.
Does MPA allow customers to install products on a portable computer and on a desktop computer? Consumers may use the terms of the product's EULA to
determine if this is allowed. Sometimes, the Microsoft EULA permits customers
who are the primary users of Microsoft programs, such as Office and Word, to
install one additional copy on their portable computers for their exclusive
use. This does not apply to product licenses that are acquired with the
purchase of a computer. These OEM licenses are single-use licenses that cannot
be transferred to another computer. Windows XP can only be installed on a
single computer. A new license is required if you install and activate the
product on a different computer.
If I have to reinstall the product, do I have to purchase a new license? Generally, if the same version of the product is
reinstalled on the same computer and it has not been installed on any other
computer, no new license is required. Additional licenses are generally
required for installations that are not permitted by the product's EULA.
If I have to reinstall the product, is reactivation required? Reactivation is not always required when you reinstall
the product. If the same version of the product is reinstalled on the same
computer and the hard disk is not reformatted before the product is
reinstalled, the product remains activated. Reactivation is required if the
hard disk is reformatted and then the product is reinstalled. Reactivation is
required because the product's activation status is stored on the hard disk and
reformatting the hard disk removes that status.
What happens if you try to install and activate a product on more computers than the EULA allows? Installation of the product on more computers than the
EULA allows is a violation of the EULA. Technically, MPA does not limit the
number of computers where the product can be installed. For example, you could
install Windows XP on 100 computers, but activation would not be successful on
99 of those computers. If you installed Office XP on 100 computers, activation
would not be successful on 98 of those computers. This limits the usefulness of
the installations that are in violation of the EULA. Outside MPA, Microsoft
does not know how many computers have Windows XP or Office XP family products
installed.
Can I transfer a license to another computer? Consumers may use the terms of their license agreements
to determine if transferring a license to another computer is allowed. If a
transfer is permitted by the license agreement, the product has to be removed
from the computer where it was first installed. Users may have to complete the
activation on the new computer by phoning the Microsoft Activation
Center.
I do not want to activate. What can I do to turn this off?Activation is required for continued use of the product.
Businesses and other customers who have to acquire multiple licenses for an
organization must contact their software reseller about their eligibility to
purchase licenses through one of the Microsoft Volume Licensing
programs.
Does Microsoft use activation to require me to upgrade? Will Microsoft ever stop issuing activation codes for one or more of the products that require activation? No. Microsoft does not use activation as a tool to
require people to upgrade. Activation is only an anti-piracy tool.
Microsoft will also support the activation of Windows XP and will likely
provide an update that turns off activation at the end of the product's life
cycle so that users would no longer have to activate the product.
If I buy a new computer that has a preactivated copy of Windows XP Home Edition, and then I upgrade to a retail version of Windows XP Professional, what happens to the activation of the Windows XP Home Edition?Because the upgrade to Windows XP Professional is a
retail upgrade, it overrides the preactivated copy of Windows XP Home Edition.
You have to activate the Windows XP Professional upgrade.
If Microsoft uses Product IDs for activation, how do businesses build images by using generic installations scripts and deployment tools?Microsoft Volume Licensing agreements are not limited to
the Select License program. Microsoft also offers smaller companies the ability
to acquire volume licenses at a discount by using the Microsoft Open License
program. Customers can qualify for the Open License program by purchasing as
few as five product licenses. Most small businesses can qualify for the Open
License program. Customers who acquire their licenses through one of the
Microsoft Volume License programs do not have to activate those licenses. For
more information about Microsoft Volume License programs, visit the following
Microsoft Web site:
Technical activation details
What data does Microsoft gather as part of activation? The only information that is required for activation is
an Installation ID. For Office XP and Office XP family products, such as Visio
2002, the name of the country where the product is being installed is also
required. The Installation ID facilitates activation. It has two components:
the Product ID, which is generated by using the Product Key, and a hardware
hash value, which is generated by using your hardware configuration
information. For Windows XP SP1 and later, a third component, the Product Key,
is also used.
MPA uses a hash algorithm to generate the hardware
identifier but does not scan the customer's hard disk, detect any personal
information, or determine the make, model, or manufacturer of the computer or
of its components. For example, if the computer's color is used as part of the
Installation ID, the hardware hash would be the high four bits of the color.
That color would always produce the same high four bits, but those four high
bits cannot be used to determine the color. For users who activate over the
Internet, the Installation ID is sent electronically. For users who activate by
telephone, the Installation ID is converted to decimal format (versus digital
format) and is displayed in the product's user interface (UI). The user who
activates by using the telephone has to read the Installation ID to the
customer service representative.
What is an Installation ID? The Installation ID is the data that is used to
activate a product. The Installation ID is a code that you provide to Microsoft
as part of activation, either electronically, if activation occurs over the
Internet, or by reading it to a customer service representative, if activation
occurs over the telephone. The Installation ID has two components: the Product
ID and a hardware hash value. For Windows XP SP1 installations, the Product Key
is also used.
The Product ID is unique to that installation, and it
is generated from the Product Key that is used during installation. The
hardware hash value is a representation of the computer where the product is
installed. It is named a hardware hash value because it has no direct
correlation to the computer and cannot be backward-calculated to the original
value. If the Installation ID is used for a telephone activation, it is a
50-digit code (54 digits for Windows XP SP1 activations) that has to be read to
the customer service representative.
Do Installation IDs differ for different computers? Yes. The Installation IDs are different if they are
generated by different computers.
How does MPA identify the computer's hardware? MPA detects the hardware configuration for the computer
where the product is being installed, and then MPA creates a hardware hash
value for that configuration. A hash is a value that is mathematically derived
from another value. In this case, the hash is derived from the hardware
configuration values. MPA does not scan the customer's hard disk, detect any
personal information, or determine the make, model, or manufacturer of the
computer or of its components. MPA uses hash values because of respect for
users' privacy. A hash value cannot be backward-calculated to determine the
original value. Additionally, Microsoft only uses a part of the original hash
values. These hash values are combined to form the hardware
hash.
Can I change or upgrade my hardware components? MPA can tolerate some change in hardware components by
allowing a degree of difference between the current hash value and the hash
value that was originally activated. Users can change hardware components
without having to reactivate the product. If users make substantial changes to
their hardware components, even over long periods of time, they may have to
reactivate the product. In that case, users may have to contact a Microsoft
customer service representative by telephone to reactivate.
How does MPA determine tolerance? How many components of the computer can I change before I have to reactivate? Common changes to hardware, such as upgrading a video
card, adding a second hard disk, adding RAM, or upgrading a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM
drive, do not require reactivation.
Specifically, MPA determines
tolerance by using a point system. Ten hardware characteristics are used to
create the hardware hash. Each characteristic is equal to one point, except the
network card, which is equal to three points. Tolerance is determined by what
has not changed, instead of what has changed. If the current hardware hash is
compared to the original hardware hash, there have to be seven or more matching
points for the two hardware hashes to be considered in tolerance. For example,
if the network card, which is equal to three points, remains the same, only
four additional points have to match. If the network card has been changed, a
total of seven points have to match. If the device is a portable computer
(specifically a dockable device), additional tolerance is allotted and only
four matching points are required. Therefore, if the device is dockable and the
network card has not changed, only one additional point has to be the same, for
a total of four points. If the device is dockable and the network card has
changed, a total of four points have to match.
Are the changes cumulative? If I change one component today, and then change one component tomorrow, is that considered two component changes? The changes are cumulative; however, if a user is asked
to reactivate, the hardware profile is reset to the new
configuration.
What are the 10 hardware characteristics that are used to determine the hardware hash? The following 10 hardware characteristics are used to
determine the hardware hash:
- Display adapter
- SCSI adapter
- IDE adapter
- Network adapter media access control address
- RAM amount range (for example, 0-64MB or
64-128MB)
- Processor type
- Processor serial number
- Hard disk device
- Hard disk volume serial number
- CD-ROM/CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive
Does MPA deter hard disk cloning by comparing the hardware hashes? One form of piracy that MPA helps guard against is hard
disk cloning. Some forms of hard disk cloning are allowed. However, by
comparing the original hardware hash to the current hardware hash, MPA deters
hard disk cloning by requiring reactivation if the hardware hashes are
substantially different.
If I reformat my hard disk, is reactivation required? If you reformat the hard disk and you reinstall the
product, reactivation is required. The same grace periods for activation apply
in this situation. You can reactivate a product on the same computer as many
times as you require. The activation can be completed over the Internet or by
using the telephone.
Does MPA put cookies on my computer when I activate? No. MPA does not put any cookies on your computer as
part of activation.
Does MPA really help reduce piracy? MPA is not the end of global piracy. However, MPA is
significantly more sophisticated than past methods and is not easy for would-be
pirates to circumvent. At the same time, it is an easy process for customers
who have valid software. It helps deter casual copying of software, which is by
far the single most prevalent type of software piracy. It also helps deter some
hard disk cloning and counterfeiting. It is not designed to target
sophisticated and organized criminal counterfeiters.
Product activation has been cracked before and it will be cracked again. What's the use? Product activation is significantly harder to crack
than most people think. The measure of success is not completely stopping
software piracy. Completely stopping piracy is not an attainable goal. Success
is better measured as increased awareness of the terms of the license agreement
and increased license compliance.
Changes to Product Activation in Microsoft Windows XP SP1
What changes have been made to MPA in Windows XP SP1? How do these changes affect customers? Windows XP SP1 includes additional measures that are
designed to make sure that customers who have valid licenses receive the full
benefits of owning licenses. Windows XP SP1 includes the following changes:
- Access to the Windows XP SP1 updates is denied to computers
that have pirated copies of Windows XP.
- Product Keys are validated during activation.
- Cracks in the activation process have been
corrected.
Additional features have been added to provide a better
customer experience, including an additional three-day grace period to
reactivate after significant hardware changes are made. Volume License
customers can now encrypt their Volume License Keys (VLKs) during unattended
installations.
Licensed customers are not affected by these changes.
Have the same changes been made in a service pack or update for Office XP? No. These changes are specific to Windows XP.
Is my activation state affected if I install Windows XP SP1? Do I have to reactivate after I install Windows XP SP1? No. Windows XP SP1 does not affect the activation state
of Windows XP. However, if you do not activate your copy of Windows XP before
you install Windows XP SP1, it will still have to be activated after you
install Windows XP SP1. If you activate Windows XP after you install Windows XP
SP1, your activation grace period is extended to 30 days (or 60 days if you
install Windows XP SP1 from the MSDN Web site). If you activate your copy of
Windows XP before you install Windows XP SP1, it is still activated after you
install Windows XP SP1.
What happens if I try to install Windows XP SP1 on a computer that is running a copy of Windows XP that has a pirated Product Key? You cannot install Windows XP SP1 until you acquire a
valid copy of the product and you use a valid Product Key to install it.
Nothing happens to your underlying installation of Windows XP. Microsoft offers
access to upgrades and service releases to those customers who have acquired
and who use valid Microsoft products only. There are no exceptions to
this.
What should I do if I unwittingly acquire a pirated copy of Windows XP? How can I acquire a valid license for Windows XP if I have a pirated copy? Return to the point of purchase and demand a refund or
a valid copy of Windows XP. To report software piracy directly to Microsoft,
visit the following Microsoft Web site:
You can acquire a valid copy of Windows XP from a trusted
retailer or computer manufacturer.
Which Windows XP Product Keys are affected by piracy? Microsoft is not publishing the Product Keys that are
affected by piracy; however, the following Product IDs are generated from these
Product Keys (where
X may be any numeric value):
- XXXXX-640-0000356-23XXX
- XXXXX-640-2001765-23XXX
To locate your Product ID, right-click
My Computer, and then click
Properties. The Product ID is located under
Registered to
on the
General tab.
Does Microsoft Windows Update verify that the Product Key is valid? How does MPA use the Product Key after I install Windows XP SP1? Yes. Windows Update verifies the Product Key and
Product ID. There is no link to the activation system. After the Product Key
and Product ID are verified, they are discarded; neither the Product Key nor
the Product ID is stored after the validation check.
For activation
after you have installed Windows XP SP1, Microsoft uses the Product Key as part
of the Installation ID to determine if it is valid. If it is not valid, the
activation request is denied. In the Product Key is not valid, the Product Key
and the Installation ID are kept as part of the error record. Remember that no
personally identifiable information is used to activate.
How does the additional grace period work? Microsoft implemented the additional grace period to
provide a time period for customers to activate if they make a hardware change.
Previously, a significant hardware change would require an immediate
reactivation. With Windows XP SP1, a significant hardware change requires
reactivation in three days.
How can I encrypt Volume License Keys (VLKs)? This feature permits customers to obscure VLKs in
unattended installations. This feature permits system administrators who put a
VLK in an unattended setup file (unattend.txt) to encrypt the VLK so that it is
time-limited (in increments of 5 to 60 days) and is not visible as plain text.
For more information about this feature, visit the following Microsoft Web
site:
If I try to activate a Windows XP SP1 installation with a Product Key that has been used on another computer, I get an error message that prompts me to buy an additional Windows XP license. Is this new? Yes. Beginning with Windows XP SP1, Microsoft is
offering the ability for users in certain locations to purchase an additional
Windows XP license for a second computer at a discount. If you remove Windows
XP from the computer that it was first installed on, no additional license is
required.
Why can I purchase additional licenses only in certain countries? Because of logistical issues, Microsoft can sell these
additional licenses only in some countries. More countries may be added in the
future.
Where can I find more information about the changes in Windows XP SP1? For more information, visit the following Microsoft Web
site: