Originally posted by Tomboy@Dec 1 2002, 11:28 PM
Hi,
I don't know if you are serious or not about your question? On the off-chance that you really are new to Microsoft's Product Activation (MPA) feature let me offer the following explanation:
1. MPA is a new system that Microsoft is using to reduce software piracy. It locks your copy of various Microsoft products (like Windows XP and Office XP among others) using your product ID (i.e. serial number) to a certain computer system (i.e. the hardware).
2. After a serial number has been used to "activate" a copy of the program, it is entered in a database at Microsoft.
3. If the program is reinstalled on the same computer hardware, the hardware information will match that found in Microsoft's database and new activation codes will be provided to activate the program no matter how many times you choose to install it. If the hardware in your computer has significantly changed since the program was originally activated, the hardware information will not match that in Microsoft's database and Microsoft will refuse to activate the program. You will then have to contact Microsoft by telephone and provide a reasonable explanation to one of their customer service reps as to why your system wants to be reactivated (e.g. if you installed a new motherboard).
4. If you cannot explain to Microsoft's satisfaction why your program wants to be reactivated, they will refuse to activate it and the program will cease to function after the specified time. Of course, if you are using a pirated serial number, or a generated (and ficticious) serial number they will decline to activate your program and may even threaten you with prosecution for software piracy if you are using a stolen, or widely circulated serial number.
5. Various methods have been developed for defeating MPA, but most are workarounds (i.e. cracks) and do not really eliminate MPA. Also, the service pack updates from Microsoft tend to "fix" the loopholes that are found. It is fair to say that the implementation of MPA is not yet completely understood (outside of Microsoft) and therefore has not yet been completely defeated or compromised (I assure you it is not a trivial problem).
6 Now for the interesting part. There are special versions of Microsoft's programs that do not use MPA. They are referred to as corporate or volume licensed versions. These versions only need a valid serial number (at least one that passes the program's internal verification checks) to install and automatically activate the program without any contact or involvement with Microsoft and their hardware databases. This is likely the kind of program that Jessica has since she says "anyway....i dont get that w/ my #."
7. Finally, if your serial is for a legally purchased copy of Microsoft Office, you can activate your product without fear of MPA (though you might morally detest the MPA concept). If on-the-other-hand you possess a serial number that does not legally belong to you, you should either uninstall the program, or go out and buy a legal copy.
I hope this helps,
Tomboy
WOW - I gues I am new to all this. My copy of office xp had FM9FY-TMF7Q-KCKCT-V9T29-TBBBG with it - from a friend. I thought this might be a 'bad' number :-(
I did activate it - with a 'good' number - got worried and uninstalled it.
I guess I need to give up the idea of using Office XP Pro - and go back to Office 2000 that I bought.
Thanks for all your help.
Linear Mode
