Help on product activation information

[kurocard]

"How is product activation related to the 30day trial software?"

[Budfred]

"How is product activation related to the 30day trial software?"
Huh?? A little more detail would be helpful... If you are talking about WinXP, if you don't activate in 30 days, it stops working... It is not really a trial, it is just giving you time to activate before it shuts down on you...

[Whyzman]

And, 30 day trial software pretty much does the same thing...you cannot continue to use unless you pay the piper...

Since you've already payed the piper when you purchase a WinXP OS, Microsoft just wants to know if you're conforming to the user agreement and then you can carry on with your happy computing...:)

[kurocard]

Huh?? A little more detail would be helpful... If you are talking about WinXP, if you don't activate in 30 days, it stops working... It is not really a trial, it is just giving you time to activate before it shuts down on you...
why would they shut you down after 30 days if you actually paid for the product? :confused: Is it like a sell back, and you get your money back? what is the main purpose of having a trial period if the SW is something u bought and is not a demo? :confused:

[deddard]

With XP and some other software the 'activation or validation' isn't the same as 'registration' - activation takes some details about the physical makeup of your PC, creates a file and sends it off to MS. This means that the product code you typed in when you installed windoze (the 25 digit code) is now tied to the physical makeup of your PC. If another person tries to enter the same code on a different PC, the same process happens, but when the file gets submitted to MS, it checks a database and says' sorry, that code is already tied to another PC' and the validation fails.
This is fine if you have the original disk, or a sticker on your PC with the number on it, but can be a pain otherwise (I've seen legitimate copies of XP which haven't come with any disk or sticker) and have been unable to do restores etc on them, as I have no way of checking the validity of the system.
Other problems can ensue it your motherboard dies and you need to replace it. This is seen as a different PC, and you will need to talk to MS to get them to de-register your code in order for you to re validate.

[classicsoftware]

I've seen legitimate copies of XP which haven't come with any disk or sticker) and have been unable to do restores etc on them, as I have no way of checking the validity of the system.

If you don't have a COA sticker, you DO NOT have a legit copy of Windows. Either it came with the PC and is stuck on it or you have an upgrade CD with a COA. NO COA=FUBAR LOST COA=SOL.

[Budfred]

why would they shut you down after 30 days if you actually paid for the product? :confused: Is it like a sell back, and you get your money back? what is the main purpose of having a trial period if the SW is something u bought and is not a demo? :confused:
If you read the EULA, you will see that activation is a condition for using the software... If you don't want to do that, you need to say NO to the EULA and return the software immediately... If you install it and it expires after 30 days without activation and you still don't want to activate, you would need to make a case with MS that you want your money back... This is one of the many reasons that it is a good idea to actually read through the EULA no matter how obnoxious they make it....

[Paul Komski]

Product activation has been designed to prevent piracy. The 30 days is not a trial period - you are just given 30 days grace before you are forced to activate. Once activated your unique hardware code is linked to the product key and stored in Microsoft's database. That product key can thereafter not be activated automatically on any other hardware.

[Whyzman]

Once activated your unique hardware code is linked to the product key and stored in Microsoft's database.I'm assuming MS$ also drops some sort of hardware verification file that checks your system each time you boot up. If altered to some predetermined extent, you are instructed to contact MS$ for reactivation???

[Paul Komski]

I'm assuming MS$ also drops some sort of hardware verification file that checks your system each time you boot up. Yep - the wpa.dbl file.

Windows Product Activation (WPA) for Windows XP (http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1151564,00.asp)

[Whyzman]

Paul, I knew you knew. And, I knew that you knew that you knew...you know? :D

[kurocard]

In the "System Information" of Windows, I can see each component detailed information, including the PNP Device ID. I want to make a Program that could read the ID of my sound card. How can I save the PNP Device ID as a string in my program? Is there a text file that stores these info? If none, any suggestions? Thanks !!