Quote:
Originally posted by Kyle Fenton
I said this in an eairler post. But Microsoft is making it extrememly difficult to copy Windows XP to another computer. As I heard, Windows XP takes your serial number + the your personal info + your machine ID number and sends it to the Microsoft website. And it is not voluntary, and the information is sent with no notification to the user. But if you give the same CD to another friend and they copy it, than Microsoft will shut your computer down, because they will realize that it is same serial number with a different machine ID number. And you have to connect to the internet some how or the computer will shut down if it can't.
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Without touching on the license agreement issues(Joe did a good job of that himself,) I can clarify the windows XP authorization system, which, interestingly enough, is quite similar to the one that Autodesk has been using for years, but now that Microsoft has moved to that form of license enforcement, it seems to be an issue...but I digress...
The Windows Product Authorization (WPA) system takes the product key that you enter during installation and combines it with a hash key generated based on certain parts of your computer's hardware. For those not familiar with a hash key, when fed the same information, it will always generate the same result, however, that result cannot be reversed to determine what was fed into the algorithim. Within a set period of time(currently 14 days in RC2, may change for release version,) you are required to submit the 50-digit code that your computer gives you to Microsoft in one of two ways:
-Internet
-1-800 telephone call
When Microsoft recieves this code from your computer through whatever means you choose, they verify that the product ID portion of the authorization code is not already on file as being matched up with a different hardware hash key. After this is verified, they return to your computer a code that notifies Windows(or Office XP, which uses the same system) that it is properly authorized. At that time, your system no longer has a time limitation.
Note that this authorization process and the registration process, where you supply your personal information, are completely separate from each other. It is possible to authorize the software without ever registering it, and therefore your personal information has no way of being included in the authorization process. The requirement that this needs to be done is made very clear during the installation process, and it DOES require user intervention to start the authorization process, so you are aware that it is taking place.
When you use the Windows Update system to check for updates to your computer, the hardware hash code is re-generated and sent to the Windows Update server at Microsoft. In the event that the code does not match the one previously on file for that Product Key, the software goes into a "limited-use" mode, which in the case of Office XP, means that no files can be saved or edited. However, existing files can still be opened and viewed. At least, this is my understanding on the matter, I don't have Office XP personally to verify this on. If you still legitimately have a license for the software(i.e. you overhauled the majority of your computer,) you can contact Microsoft and they will issue a new authorization code which will allow the software to function normally again.
However, you are not required to keep some form of Internet access on your machine, nor are you required to even use the Internet for the initial authorization. Also, it is my understanding that in the event of a software package going into "limited-use" mode, it will not be your machine(the one that the software was FIRST authorized on,) but rather any other machines that you installed and attempted authorization on AFTER authorizing it on your own machine.