WGA and Activation
Volume Activation
As part of Microsoft’s Genuine Software Initiative, all editions of Windows Vista® and Windows Server® 2008 require some form of activation, including systems licensed under volume license. Volume Activation 2.0 is a new capability offering an easily deployable solution to protect and manage customer’s volume license keys.
Microsoft provides two types of customer volume license keys for activating systems through online, phone or proxy methods. Activation could be done against Microsoft, or against an organization’s internal hosted activation enablement service based on your operational needs and network infrastructure. Activation is configured by the IT Pro and transparent to end users. There is no change in how customers get their product keys, nor any change to volume license agreements or programs.
It is recommended activation be planned as part of your deployment process. It is important to note that if client systems are not activated properly, systems may go into reduced functionality mode (RFM), resulting in browser-only access, a black screen background, reduced access to files, and no start menu or task manager.
Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA)
New technology in Windows Vista detects if a customer’s version of Windows Vista is genuine. If a non-genuine version of Windows Vista is detected on a system, it may experience limited functionality, leading to RFM as described above.
We do not expect our genuine customers to be affected by these measures. However, it would be good to understand what WGA is and how you can react if in an unlikely event, a few systems are affected in your environment.
For further information
· Windows Genuine Advantage General Information: http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/WhyValidate.aspx
· Windows Vista Volume Activation 2.0 IT resources: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/plan/faq.mspx?info=EXLINK
If you need further information or clarification from Microsoft, please contact your account team....
Thanks,
/joe
