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Microsoft is continuing its crack-down on Windows pirates, and is modifying its product-activation policies to do so.
Product activation, which Microsoft first introduced with Windows XP in 2001, is Microsoft's way of requiring new Windows users to authenticate their copies of Windows. Microsoft has required users not covered by volume-license agreements to authenticate their XP copies via the Internet or phone using their unique product keys.
As of next week, however, Microsoft plans to curtail the number of users relying on the Web to activate their copies of XP.
As of February 28, Microsoft will disable Internet activation for all Windows XP product keys located on Certificates of Authenticity (COA) labels that are distributed by the 20 top worldwide PC vendors. Microsoft will be relying on these PC makers to do the activation for users.
Microsoft sent a distribution alert to let its field sales force know of this change a couple of weeks ago. Tech blogger Aviran Mordo posted a copy of the alert to his Web site on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Microsoft officials acknowledged the authenticity of the alert.
Via the new XP product activation policy, Microsoft is hoping to eliminate piracy that occurs when product keys are stolen from COAs that traditionally have been placed on PCs by OEMs.
"Now, if you type a key into (the authentication mechanism) on the Web, it will activate and not tell you anything is wrong," even if the key is stolen, said Alex Kochis, senior license compliance manager with Microsoft's Small and Midmarket Solutions and Partner group, and author of the distribution alert.
"This is our opportunity to tell customers that product keys may not have been obtained properly," Kochis said.
According to the Microsoft alert, Microsoft will disable the ability to activate direct OEM product keys over the Internet. If a customer attempts to activate using a pirated key, the product activation wizard will instruct them to call Microsoft customer service. Microsoft call center operators will be authorized to issue override keys only to customers who answer questions that prove they have legitimate copies.
Kochis said that Microsoft is looking at expanding the new policy to smaller PC makers and system builders.
"We are working toward an expansion that will cover all pre-activated PCs. This expansion will begin next quarter," said Kochis.
Microsoft has sued a growing number of resellers for distributing pirated software. But some resellers have claimed that it is difficult to determine whether Windows COAs are counterfeit.
"When resellers purchase from Microsoft-authorized distributors, they can mitigate their risk," said Kochis. "Resellers who buy standalone COAs have always been at risk, and now it (purchasing COAs this way) is a criminal offense in the U.S."
Note: This story was updated to include additional comments from Microsoft.
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Comments (10)
it is the best thing that can happing fot all of us whom use windows
Posted by Raymond Gill | February 24, 2005 8:51 AM
... that we have to call MS on the ~phone~ if we need to reformat the C drive and reinstall Windows from the CD supplied by the system manufacturer?
This has happened to me... it will happen to you, someday.
--David Lewis
Posted by djlewis | February 24, 2005 2:36 PM
The new product activation policy is ridiculous!
I hate the new product activation policy because
Microsoft permanently stopped all other computer users and me from activating our copies of Windows XP over the Internet. I do not like
having to activate or re-activate my copy of Windows XP Professional 2002 by telephone.
Roberta Gallant
Concord, New Hampshire
Posted by Roberta Gallant | November 13, 2006 7:17 PM
this is crap im at work right now and 9 times out of 10 the computers that come in for us to fix have to reformated we do this and use the activation on the computer to reactivate but with this disabled im going to have to call microsoft 10 times a day to reactivate the computers i think they are just causing more work for themselves. also why they worried about xp when vista is out i guess that means vista sucks.
Posted by webduelist | August 8, 2007 6:31 PM
my comment is a friend got my activation code by making a phone call to microsoft. how can i get the code changed and how did he manage to get it
Posted by margaret o neil | September 30, 2007 2:27 PM
We buy the product, we own it, and I feel if we want to install Windows XP on a 2nd computer that "we own" then we should be able to without needing or having to acquire an additional product key! I mean what the hell, it's just software. PS2 PS3 Sony games are software, and you don't hear them crying over the damn idea that some gamer might be illegally burning a copy of the newest Tomb Raider!
Posted by cliff redman | November 17, 2007 12:35 PM
At least Microsoft hasn't started charging to re-activate yet. This artical was posted in 2005, it is 2007 and things have only gotten worse since Vista arrived. I did have to re-activate my Win Home again reciently and all that was asked was "why? and choices given to choose from. Seems a logical step for Microsoft to go to since there has been so many problems with Vista.
Posted by John Leighton | March 20, 2008 1:35 AM
Why did Microsoft retire Windows XP and stop making large computer firms such Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Lenovo and even software retailer savailable Windows? Did Microsoft do this
for a bad or good reason? How come a few exceptions where Windows XP will be unavailable to retail shoppers and computer makers? This is
a big blow to some people because that means forcing a few Microsoft Personal-computer users to migrate to the Windows Vista operating system, or if they hate Vista and having to wait to 2010 for Microsoft Windows 7. Microsoft is stupid!
Posted by Roberta Gallant | July 21, 2008 3:05 PM
reformat hard drive = call microsoft
breath incorrectly = call microsoft
decide to scratch an itch = call microsoft
suddenly the pattern becomes clear , in order to do anything at all one must call microsoft so that some asian indian can have the pleasure of talking down to you as a dumb american who can't think for themselves.
well I CAN think for myself and I've decided it's time to start making my own computers and software.
Posted by azkeyz | August 26, 2008 4:51 AM
Soon I'll maybe install Linux instead. But of course, without WIndows one is kind of handicaped since most software are written for Windows OS.
I've heard that Vista sucks, have not tried it myself and I won't. Why replacing XP, which worked fine with SPs, with Vista-crap which only seem to be programmed to look pretty? And forcing XP users to migrate to Vista? Maybe Microsoft has become stinking drunk with power and money...
Posted by NoVista | October 29, 2008 7:06 AM