How Does Windows Activation Work Windows Activation, introduced in Windows XP, checks in with Microsoft when you install Windows or get a new Windows PC. This is an anti piracy feature its designed to annoy you if youre using a non genuine copy of Windows. Luckily, Windows Activation has been toned down after its introduction in Windows XP. Even if your PC fails activation, it will continue to function until you can fix the problem unless youre using Windows XP. If you are, you should upgrade anyway. How Windows Product Activation Works. Windows will prompt you to activate with Microsoft after you install it. When you activate over the Internet, your copy of Windows checks in with Microsoft and reports its product key. If your Windows product key is non genuine in other words, a pirated key or is being used on another computer, the activation process will fail. Windows can also be activated with a phone call. Windows provides a code you type in over the phone, and youll have to enter the code it responds with into your computer. You can also talk to a real person, which is useful if the activation process is failing. For example, if youre moving Windows to a new computer, you may have to talk to a real person and explain the situation before theyll allow Windows to activate. Significant hardware changes can also trigger the Windows activation process again. For example, if you swap out multiple components on your PC at the same time, you may have to go through the activation process. Microsoft hasnt explained exactly which hardware changes will trigger this. OEM Activation. The OEM Activation feature helps ensure that most people will never have to deal with Windows activation. PC manufacturers insert a digital product key into a Windows PCs BIOS during manufacturing. When you buy a PC with Windows preinstalled, Windows automatically activates over the Internet using the OEM original equipment manufacturer product key. You can replace much of the hardware in the computer without triggering a reactivation. If you install a different copy of Windows on a PC that came with an OEM Windows key, youll have to go through the standard Windows Product Activation process. The OEM activation process only works when you use the copy of Windows that came with your computer or restore that original copy of Windows. When Windows Activation Fails. Different things happen on different versions of Windows when activation fails or when you exceed the grace period without performing Windows Activation. Connect Usb Device To Serial Computer Keyboard'>Connect Usb Device To Serial Computer Keyboard. Windows Activation, introduced in Windows XP, checks in with Microsoft when you install Windows or get a new Windows PC. This is an antipiracy feature its. On Windows XP, the operating system will be unusable after 3. In some cases, Windows XP seems to have a 6. If activation fails or you exceed 3. Windows 7 or Vista, youll see a message saying youre using a non genuine version of Windows at the bottom right corner of your screen. The desktop background may also turn black. Only critical updates and security patches can be downloaded from Windows Update, and Windows will regularly remind you to fix the problem and activate your operating system. Luckily, Windows will still be usable. There is no grace period on Windows 8. If you havent activated your operating system, youll see a message with the version of Windows at the bottom right corner of your screen. Many personalization features will also be disabled for example, you cant change the wallpaper if you havent activated Windows 8 yet. Thankfully, the penalties for not activating Windows have become less harsh in modern versions of Windows. Youll still be able to use your computer if you have a problem with Windows activation. Microsoft just wants to bug you into using a legitimate version of Windows and buying a legitimate product key. Crack Cs5 5 Master Collection Mac. This feature also prevents smaller computer manufacturers from installing pirated copies of Windows on their PCs and selling them to unsuspecting buyers. What About Windows XP Microsoft is ending support for Windows XP on April 8, 2. Windows XP wont even function after the grace period if it cant activate. If Microsoft took down the activation servers, this would be a problem. Luckily for all those Windows XP users who havent yet switched to modern operating system, Microsoft has announced theyll continue operating the Windows XP activation servers. Those old copies of Windows XP will continue to work, install, and activate normally. In the future, other versions of Windows should continue to activate even after Microsoft ends support for them. As long as Microsoft is running the activation servers, things should continue working smoothly. Microsoft Office also includes an activation feature that requires you activate new copies of Microsoft Office with Microsoft to protect against piracy. This feature works similarly, but Office will only function in read only mode if it hasnt been successfully activated. Youll need to activate Office to create or edit documents. Backup Software Lotus Domino Server Automated. Image Credit Karl Baron on Flickr. Clean My Pc Activation Code Free Fix, Clean CLEAN MY PC ACTIVATION CODE FREE And Optimize PC SPEED Up Your PC FREE Scan Now Recommended.