News
Inside Activation
Both Office XP and Windows XP include Microsoft's new Product Activation
feature, designed to discourage casual piracy. When you install a copy
of the protected software, it generates a unique Installation ID that
is sent to Microsoft over the Web or by phone. Microsoft returns an activation
code that authorizes the software. Without the activation code, the software
stops working, and because the Installation ID is based on part on your
computer's hardware you can't use the same activation code to install
one copy of the software on multiple PCs. Corporate copies, such as those
purchased under the Open Licensing program, are not included in the Product
Activation program.
A German company, Fully Licensed GmbH, has reverse-engineered the Product
Activation scheme used in Microsoft Windows XP. Its research shows that
most of the Installation ID is derived by encrypting the Windows serial
number, and that the hardware information sent to Microsoft is minimal
and not an invasion of privacy. It also determined that you can change
up to three major hardware items (CPU, network card, hard drive, graphics
adapter, RAM, drive adapter) in your computer before you'll need to reactivate
Windows. You can read the complete results of the company's research at
www.licenturion.com/xp/fully-licensed-wpa.txt.
About the Author
Mike Gunderloy, MCSE, MCSD, MCDBA, is a former MCP columnist and the author of numerous development books.