How is purchased software monitored from being activated across many computers?

Just wondering, how does Microsoft monitor whether XP or Vista is installed across different comps? This is simply only 1 product key per computer right?

But then, what if I had to reinstall windows, how will the product key know if it was used already or what not?

Wondering the same thing about Microsoft Office too... back then i remember purchasing office 2000? Cost a lot. Anyway, I recall installing it 3x before it wouldn't let me anymore... I think. Problem was, I reinstalled it on a laptop that had to be restored, and once on my desktop. Therefore 2x on the laptop and 1x on the desktop.

It's very vague, once again, but I think I called microsoft and they let me install it one more time.

How does microsoft deal with this?

 

My guess is that when you activate, some of the core hardware in the computer is noted and sent along with the serial.

 

Bigger companies like Microsoft do not have a format for their key codes, they produce them then track them. I'm not sure of the exact method, but I'm sure they have some kind of fancy piece of software that tracks the number of times a singe serial has been entered when installing a windows OS or other piece of software. Well, I'm of no help.

 

Microsoft does use algorithims to generate and check keys. But most of their newer products must be activated. The activation is stored on their server but changing your hardware drastically will sometimes require re activation. Reinstalling and reactivating isnt always painful but its worse then it used to be.

 

For Office and Windows, I believe Windows/Office generates a hash and then send it to Microsoft's server. Verfying the product key is probably a 2 step process.

1. The validation of the product key.
This is purely codes generated with keygens (yes microsoft use keygens as well). The codes use special algrithums to to make sure the keys are valid and is used for the product you're installing.
2. Valiation through internet/phone
This is to prevent unauthorized installation or prevent cdkey from being pirated. MS probably has its own database of storing those generated Hash which contains basic computer hardware information..etc. When keys gets used out of the set limit, MS will either blacklist the keys (like those Windows Xp Corporte keys), or flag the key as pirated.

For Adobe product, the procedure is similar with slight variation.

For smaller program, it's just 1 step process. If the cdkey is valid, the product is genuine.

BTW.. if you install windows or office over the limit, you can call MS ( a computer will guide you through and do everything, no human involved), and the computer will active them for you through the phone.

 

You can reinstall the License XP Operating System in the same computer because microsoft detects the model no. of motherboard.

I prefer you to use OpenOffice instead of Microsoft Office. Its for free.

 

Yes Microsoft does keep tract on how many times the Activation Key has been used.

 

Ok... so say I already installed xp or vista on one computer. What happens if I try to use it on another computer?

What happens if I decide to trash my old desktop, build a new one, and want to use the XP from the old one?

Same idea, MS Office has a 3 computer limit I believe, what happens after the 3rd? What if one comp gets trashed and now I only use it on 2 comps (upgrading comps, losing the old one)?

 

legally if your copy came with the original pc then its considered oem and you can not use it again on another computer.. now if you bought a retail NOT OEM copy from say newegg or like staples or somewhere then you can reuse it. microsoft will deactivate it on the old system once it is activated on the new system. the old one will tell you the key is already in use after that.

the way they check the system depends on if its xp or vista though both are very similar. your bios hold special info called slic or slp and then when you install the os there is another special cert file that is stored in vista or xp. those must match the manufacture for the lic key you type in. each manufacture actually only uses a few keys. this is actually not really based on the one under your system either believe it or not..