How does product activation work?
An activation request includes the product information (such as product name, serial number, and product version number) and a request code. The request code is displayed next to the serial number in the Register Today screen. This code identifies each activation request and contains no other information about the product or hardware. It consists of a machine ID and a set of values such as the type and date of the request. The machine ID is a randomly computed 64-bit value, which cannot be used to identify the make or model of your computer or any of its components. The make or model of the computer or its components cannot be determined from the Machine ID. It simply ensures that the software is not activated on any ineligible computers. You send your activation request to Autodesk through a secure Internet connection or by email. If the request is valid, you receive an activation code and your product is immediately available for use.
The activation process uses minimal information about your product and system to create a request for a product license. Basically, a license request is sent to Adobe either through a secure (SSL) Internet connection or by entering the request into the phone system. If the request is valid, a license is returned that enables the product immediately. The activation process is anonymous and never requests, collects, or transmits personal information. It does not scan your hard drive, and none of the information collected can be used to identify your individual system components.
When you input your license number, the SIMUL8 Corporation activation technology creates a unique number that identifies your computer. The hardware ID is a mathematically computed and cannot be used to identify the make or model of your computer or its components. The code is encrypted and securely stored on your computer alongside the license file. The Hardware ID is only used as an identifier for the machine. A second number is also created, the Activation ID — the actual request to activate. The Activation ID is composed of the product’s license number, product name, product version, and language along with the operating system name, version, and language. The Activation ID is only used to identify an individual activation request and contains no personal or hardware information. The activation request is automatically sent to SIMUL8 Corporation servers via the internet using an HTTP request with SSL encryption. If the request is valid, a response code, which automatically unlocks
Product Activation is currently required for all OEM and retail versions of Windows XP, Office XP, and several other Microsoft products. Product Activation isn’t required on licenses acquired through one of Microsoft’s volume licensing agreements. So agreements such as Microsoft Open License, Enterprise Agreement, or Select License, will not require activation. Click here for a complete list of products from Microsoft’s Web site. During the installation process, you must enter the product key associated with the particular copy of the software. After you enter this product key and accept the end user license agreement (EULA), you’ll be prompted to activate the software (Figure A). You can choose to activate the software now or later. Once you’ve chosen to activate the software, you must opt to do so over the Internet or via the phone.
The activation process uses minimal information about the product and system to create a request for a product license. The license request is composed of the product’s serial number, name, version and language along with the operating system name, version and language. In addition, a Hardware ID and Activation ID are created.
