To reduce software piracy and to make sure that all Microsoft customers receive the product quality that they expect, Microsoft is now including product activation technology in several products.

Product activation is a simple, straightforward process that is completely software based. It requires no hardware add-ons or any other external tool. In most cases, the only information that is needed to activate a product is an installation ID, which is created by the software itself. The information that is collected during activation will not be used to personally identify the user.

To activate a Microsoft product, select either the Internet option or the telephone option in the Product Activation Wizard.
    • With Internet-based activation, Microsoft servers process the activation and activate the product.
    • With telephone-based activation, you activate your product by contacting a Microsoft Product Activation Center and following the steps that are provided by an automated telephone system or by a customer service representative.

Note You should have your installation ID when you speak with a customer service representative. This ID is displayed in the product activation wizard.

To activate Windows or Office by telephone, following these steps:

Access the Product Activation Wizard: Each product has a different way to start the Product Activation wizard, follow these steps to start the wizard:
Windows 7

·         Click Start

·         Right-click Computer.

·         Select Properties.

·         At the bottom of this window, click Activate Windows now.

Note To activate your product directly by telephone, type slui.exe 4 in the Search programs and files and then press Enter. Select your location in the drop-down list for a toll free activation telephone number to call. This method is for Windows 7 only.

Windows Vista

§  Click Start

·         Right-click Computer.

·         Select Properties.

·         At the bottom of this window, click Activate Windows.

Windows XP

·         Click Start.

·         Point to All Programs.

·         Point to Accessories.

·         Point to System Tools.

·         Click Activate Windows.

Office programs, such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, and so on
Office 2010

·         Click Start.

·         Point to All Programs.

·         Point to Microsoft Office.

·         Click any Office application (such as Word).

·         After the application starts, click the File tab at the top.

·         On the right side, click Help.

·         Activation information and a Change Product Key link can be seen on the right side.

·         Click Change Product Key to launch the Activation Wizard.

·         Enter the product key and follow the steps for activation.

2007 Microsoft Office

·         Click Start.

·         Point to All Programs.

·         Point to Microsoft Office.

·         Click any Office program.

·         After the Office program starts, click the Office button.

·         Click program_name Options. (For example, click Word Options or Excel Options.)

·         Click Resources.

·         On the activate Microsoft Office line, click Activate.

Microsoft Office 2003 or earlier versions of Microsoft Office programs

·         Click Start.

·         Point to All Programs.

·         Point to Microsoft Office.

·         Click any Office program.

·         After the Office program starts, the Office Activation Wizard will be displayed.

o   If the Online Activation failed, select Use the automated phone system to activate

o   Click the drop-down menu and select the nearest location to you for a toll free activation telephone number to call and then click Next.

o   When you call the activation telephone number, you are asked to enter or speak the Installation ID numbers displayed on your screen. The automated service will issue you a confirmation ID number. Type in the confirmation ID number, and then click Next to active the product.

o   If the automated service is unsuccessful, stay on the line and your call will be transferred to a Microsoft Product Activation Customer Service representative who will help you to activate your product. The representative will give you a confirmation ID number if your copy of product is genuine.

Telephone Numbers: For more information about Microsoft Product Activation Center Telephone Number, visit the following site: Microsoft Activation Centers Worldwide Telephone Numbers.