You can run the product without activating it for as long as you want. If you click Activate now, you must enter the product key. Q7: How do I activate my Microsoft product for Windows?Ī7: When you start the product for the first time, you are prompted to click Activate now or to click Activate later. The End-User Agreement is located in the product folder or on the product DVD.
Q6: Can I install the product on more than one computer?Ī6: Please refer to the End-User Agreement (Microsoft Software License Terms) for more information about how many computers you can install the product on. Note Some games that are only multiplayer games do not let you start the game until you activate it. Q5: How can I tell whether my software has already been activated?Ī5: If the product has not been activated, the multiplayer capabilities in the game are not available. The Microsoft Software License Terms are located in the game folder. See the Microsoft Software License Terms for more information. An additional activation is provided so that you can remove and install the product on the same computer or on a different computer. For example, you can remove and install or activate the product any number of times. Q4: How many times can I activate the product?Ī4: There is no limit to the number of times that you can activate the software product on the same computer. The information is used only to confirm that you have a licensed copy of the product, and to aggregate the information for statistical analysis. This information is not used to identify you. In addition to standard computer information, some additional language settings are collected. Additionally, the hardware hash cannot be backward-calculated to determine the raw computer information. The hardware hash cannot be used to determine the make or the model of the computer. The hardware hash does not represent any personal information or information about the product. The hardware hash is a non-unique number that is generated by using the computer's hardware configuration. Q3: What information is collected, processed, or transmitted during the activation process?Ī3: When you activate the software product, the product key information is sent to Microsoft together with a hardware hash. Q2: What is the benefit of using Microsoft Product Activation?Ī2: Microsoft Product Activation enables you to start and use the product without using the disc.
If you choose not to activate the product, you can use the product only in a reduced trial mode.
Product Activation is required to use the product in full feature mode. After this product key is assigned, you cannot use the same product key to activate the product on other computers. After you activate the software product, a specific product key is assigned to the computer hardware on which you installed the product. Q1: What is Microsoft Product Activation?Ī1: Microsoft Product Activation tries to reduce counterfeit software, and to make sure that Microsoft customers receive the software quality that they expect.
This article lists the frequently asked questions about how to activate Microsoft Games for Windows and Home Products titles, and about how to troubleshoot activation issues for these titles. This covers FSX and many other Microsoft Games and Software titles. This is the official support article from the Microsoft support website, explaining and answering questions related to the activation of your Microsoft product.