Important activation changes to Windows Vista
Millions of PCs ship each year with non-genuine Windows software which causes Microsoft, Microsoft Partners, and our clients many problems.
Windows Vista has had ’significant anti-piracy technologies’ built into their software which has been designed to make the widespread pirating of it more difficult. All cusotmers who deploy Windows Vista must successfully activate their product using a genuine product key. If a non-genuine product key is used in activation, customers will experience reduced functionality and lose certain features, such as Microsoft Aero and ReadyBoost.
It is important that people are ware of the activation changes that apply to this Operating System:
Activation: must be done within the first 30 days of use; all new installations of Windows Vista must be activated by the OEM, through Windows Vista volume licensing technologies, or by the end customer. If Windows Vista is not activated in the first 30 days, the system will operate in a reduced functionality mode.
Validation: in order to product users from being victimised by counterfeit software, and to protect Microsoft’s intellectual property, Windows Vista includes ongoing validation. Through validation, if non-genuine Windows Vista is detected (including non-genuine product keys, cracked or tampered code) the system enters a 30-day grace period. During this time Windows Aero and ReadyBoost features are disabled, and Windows Defender and Windows Update will have limited capabilities (optional updates will not be available through Windows Update, and Windows Defender will only remove critical and severe threats). In addition, during this grace period, a message will appear repeatedly, encouraging the user to take the steps necessary to activate with a genuine product key in order to regain the full value of Windows Vista and to prevent the system from going into a reduced functionality mode.
Reduced Functionality: after the repeated prompts above, and if Windows Vista is not activated in the 30-day grace period, the system will operate in a reduced functionality state until a genuine product key is used for activation. In this reduced state, the user will have access to their files and applications, and access to the Internet. however, the desktop will be simplified with only a browser (no Start Menu or Task Bar) and Windows Vista usage will be limited to one hour sessions, at which time the user is forced to log off. Additionally, users may boot the system in Safe Mode in order to access or back-up personal data and applications.
More information on licensing Windows Vista correctly can be found here.
(adapted from an email from Allison Watson)
wouldn’t it be easier for M$ to just send out a couple of thugs to beat the $199 out of you? I really wish they would spend more of their resources on releasing a decent product that’s compatible with apps and hardware less than a year old…almost every Vista customer I have has gone back to XP, most paying me to take care of it for them after the fact.
Ditto - thank goodness Microsoft have re-evaluated their licensing agreements to allow for Vista downgrade rights. Even Dell (and I would expect HP to follow suit v. soon) have retained a few of their product range to ship pre-loaded with XP SP2.
Don’t forget though, that those with Vista (particularly those home users) will see big benefits to the operating system as I do. I have a copy of Ultimate which has made home PC use much more enjoyable. You have to understand as a partner what is appropriate for the user and if that means it’s still XP then so be it - we now have a choice again!