Windows Server 2008 Product Activation

The Windows Server 2008 family of retail products contains product activation technology. Some new servers purchased with Windows Server 2008 family of products pre-installed also require activation. If your organization licenses Windows Server 2008 through one of the Microsoft volume licensing agreement programs, such as Open License, Select License, or Enterprise Agreement, you are required to use Volume Activation to activate those licenses. Get detailed information on Volume Activation.

• Product Activation Overview
• Activating Windows Server 2008
• Product Registration
• Product Activation Protects Privacy

Product Activation Overview

Microsoft product activation is an anti-piracy technology designed to verify that software products are legitimately licensed. The goal of product activation is to reduce a form of piracy known as casual copying. Activation also helps protect against hard drive cloning. Activation is quick, simple, unobtrusive, and maintains your privacy.

Microsoft is committed to the protection of intellectual property rights and the reduction of software piracy. Everyone in the economic chain—not just the software manufacturer—is hurt by piracy including the reseller, the support provider, and you, the user. Authentic Microsoft software assures you of high-quality, virus-free software. Pirated software does not.

Product Activation works by verifying that a software program's product key has not been used on more computers than intended by the software license. You must use the product key in order to install the software and then it is transformed into an installation ID number. You use an activation wizard to provide the installation ID number to Microsoft either through a secure transfer over the Internet or by telephone. A confirmation ID is sent back to your server to activate your product.

The installation ID number includes an encrypted form of the product ID and a hardware hash, or checksum.. No information collected is used to identify you or contact you. The confirmation ID is simply an unlocking code for the Windows Server 2008 installation on that particular server.

If you overhaul your server by replacing a substantial number of hardware components, it may appear to be different. You may have to reactivate Windows Server 2008 within three days in order to continue to log on and avoid persistent activation notifications.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The software activation status does not impact the services running on the server. Even if the hardware goes out of tolerance and you are asked to reactivate it, services will continue to run, even if the software is not reactivated. Not activating will generate persistent notifications reminding you to activate the server. Services and remote administration are not affected.
If you are asked to reactivate the software, you may be able to re-activate over the internet. If activating over the internet fails, you can call the telephone number displayed on the activation screen to reactivate the software. Get details about Microsoft Product Activation as implemented in Windows Server 2008.

Activating Windows Server 2008

If you have not activated Windows Server 2008, you are reminded each time you log in and at common intervals until the end of the activation grace period of 60* days. If you have not activated Windows Server 2008 during this grace period, the system then will be unlicensed. Persistent notifications will alert you of the need to activate. While in the notification condition, you will be able to log on and off, and the system will function normally. However, the desktop background will change to black, and Windows Update installs only critical updates. The notifications will continue until you activate the operating system.

If you choose to activate your product over the Internet, the activation wizard detects your Internet connection and securely connects to a Microsoft server to transfer your installation ID when you submit it. A confirmation ID is passed back to your computer, automatically activating Windows Server 2008. This process typically takes just a few seconds to complete. No personally identifiable information is required to activate Windows Server 2008. Details about the information sent to Microsoft as part of activation can be found in the Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 product activation technical bulletin.

To activate Windows Server 2008 over the telephone, you can simply call a toll-free** number displayed on your screen. A customer service representative will ask for the installation ID number displayed on the same screen, enter that number into a secure database, and return a confirmation ID to you. After you have typed the confirmation ID, the activation process is complete.

Product Registration

Product activation is not the same as product registration. As discussed above, product activation is required and no information collected is used to identify you or contact you. Product registration, on the other hand, is completely optional. You may opt to provide personal information, such as your e-mail address, for product registration purposes. Registration entitles you to receive information about product updates and special offers directly from Microsoft. All registration information provided is stored securely and no information is ever loaned or sold to third parties.

Product Activation Protects Privacy

Activation data and any optional registration data provided to Microsoft are sent to Microsoft securely using SSL technology and the data is stored in a secure facility with limited access. Microsoft's privacy statement is displayed during the activation process.

* The activation period for retail and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) product is 60 days. This period may vary for product acquired through other channels.
** Toll-free telephone numbers are available in all countries where telephony infrastructures provide for them. The telephone numbers are displayed when telephone activation is chosen.