Ben said:
I have read somewhere that Microsoft only keep activation codes in
their database for 120 days. After that a CD product key can be used
on another computer.
Is this correct?
Thanks
"Finally, the Microsoft activation clearinghouse system will
automatically allow activation to occur over the Internet four times in
one year on substantially different hardware." -
http://download.microsoft.com/downl...sProductActivationTechnicalMarketBulletin.doc
"The installation ID is the required activation data. The installation
ID is a code that is provided to Microsoft as part of activation, either
electronically, if activation occurs over the Internet, or verbally to a
customer service representative if activation occurs over the telephone.
The installation ID is made up of two components: the software's product
ID and a hardware hash value. The product ID is unique to that software
installation and is generated from the product key used during
installation. (For Windows XP SP1 and Office 2003 installations only,
the product key is also sent as part of activation in order to deter
product key cracks). The hardware hash value is a nonunique
representation of the PC on which the software was installed. It is
called a hash value because it has no direct correlation to the PC and
cannot be backward-calculated to the original value. When displayed to a
customer for a telephone activation, the Installation ID is displayed as
a 50-digit code (54 digits for Windows XP SP1 and Office 2003
activations)." -
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation_faq.mspx
So you see, MS has NO IDEA AT ALL the difference between a computer that
has "substantially different hardware" and a totally different computer,
since they cannot backward calculate the hardware hash.
--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"