1. How activation works for Windows acquired through:
1. A PC manufacturer (OEM)
2. A retail store (where customers buy “boxed” software product)
3. A volume licensing agreement (customers who acquire their licenses through programs such as Microsoft Open, Enterprise, or Select licensing). 
2. How the hardware hash component of the installation ID is created and the scenarios in which a copy of Windows may have to be re-activated due to a substantial hardware modification.

A Note About Privacy

Protecting our customers’ privacy is very important to Microsoft. Product Activation is built with privacy in mind and is implemented in accordance with a clear privacy policy. Microsoft does not use any information collected through product activation to identify or contact customers. 西部网安

Product Activation and volume licenses

Volume Activation 2.0 is a configurable solution that helps IT Pros automate and manage the product activation of systems licensed under volume licensing.  The benefits of Volume Activation 2.0 include transparent activation experience for the end-users, no need for handling product keys during installation, better protection and management of customer specific license keys, and avoid the risks associated with running non-genuine software.

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Multiple activation options are available using two types of customer specific keys: Multiple Activation Key (MAK) and Key Management Service (KMS) key.  Multiple Activation Key as the name implies can be used on multiple systems to activate the corresponding system against Microsoft activation service by online, phone or proxy methods.  Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT) available at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=77533 enables proxy activation of systems using Multiple Activation Key. Key Management Service (KMS) enables organizations to perform local activations of systems in a managed environment without connecting them to Microsoft individually. A KMS Key is used to enable the Key Management Service on a system controlled by an organization’s system administrator.

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Product Activation and new pre-loaded PCs

The majority of customers acquire Windows with the purchase of a new computer, and most new computers pre-loaded with Windows will already be pre-activated.  Microsoft provides OEMs with the ability to “pre-activate” Windows in the factory and estimates that upwards of 80% of all new PCs will be delivered to the customer pre-activated. 

“Pre-activation” of Windows by the OEMs will be done in one of two different ways depending on the OEM’s own configuration options and choices.   Some OEMs may protect Windows using a mechanism which locks the installation to OEM-specified BIOS information in the PC.  This technology is an improvement over the existing technology used in Windows XP call “System Locked Pre-installation,” or SLP.  The improved product activation technology used in Windows is called “OEM Activation 2.0,” or OA 2.0. westsafe.net

OEM Activation 2.0 uses information stored in an OEM PC’s BIOS and Hard Disk Drive (HDD) to protect the installation from casual piracy.  No communication by the end customer to Microsoft is required and no hardware hash is created or necessary.  At boot, Windows compares the PC’s BIOS to the OA 2.0 information on the HDD.  If it matches, activation is successful.  westsafe.net

Every single piece of hardware could be changed on a PC with OA 2.0 and no reactivation would be required – even the motherboard could be replaced as long as the replacement motherboard was original equipment manufactured by the OEM and retained the proper BIOS.  In the unlikely scenario that the BIOS information does not match, the PC would need to be activated by contacting the Microsoft activation center and requesting activation with a customer support representative.

OEMs may also activate Windows by contacting Microsoft in the same way the consumer would activate.  Activation done in this way is the same as activating a retail boxed version of Windows. This is discussed in more detail further below.

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For OEMs who do not employ either of the above two methods of pre-activation, a new PC acquired with Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 preinstalled must be activated by the customer.  This activation is completed in the exact same way as would someone who acquired Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 by purchasing a boxed version at a retailer.

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Product Activation and retail boxed software product

Product Activation can be done in two ways; Phone activation and Online Activation. 你复制的文字来自西部网安

  westsafe.net

Phone activation relies on the submission of the Installation ID.  The Installation ID is specifically designed to guarantee anonymity and is only used by Microsoft to deter piracy. The Installation ID is comprised of two different pieces of information – the product ID and a short hardware hash value (a