Windows XP Product-Activation

“Microsoft is modifying its product-activation policies in it's continuing its crack-down on Windows pirates.

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.”

Microsoft is hoping to eliminate piracy that occurs when product keys are stolen from COAs that traditionally have been placed on PCs by OEMs.

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.

Microsoft will disable the ability to activate direct OEM product keys over the Internet. When a customer attempts to activate using a pirated key, the activation wizard will tell them to call Microsoft customer service. Call center operators will issue override keys only to customers who answer questions that prove they have legitimate copies.

Microsoft is looking at expanding the new policy to smaller PC makers and system builders.

http://www.microsoft-watch.com/article2/0,1995,1769339,00.asp