Should Microsoft do the windows software validation at the time of installation ?

Question

Suppose someone buy a new computer or notebook from one place and go another place or country, Windows validation come to appear later. What if some error occur in validation process such as product key or ID ? Do we have to come back to the system administrator or note book seller to a very far away. Because my friend has to face that problem.

Answer 1

You should "activate" Windows at installation. You will have to enter the product key. Keep a record of the key in case you need it again. Windows will periodically revalidate your program - it has been happening to me. So far as I know, validation is installation of Windows and the PC on which it is installed -- not where the PC is physically located at the time.
Here is what Windows does at time of installation:

When you buy Windows XP in a shrink-wrapped box, you are allowed to install one copy on one PC. When Windows comes pre-installed on a new PC, it stays with the PC. You cannot transfer it from the bundled machine to a different machine. MS uses a technique called “BIOS locking” to make sure the copy stays ties to that specific PC forever.

Windows installer makes you type the 25-character code that’s printed on the case. The Product Activation program looks at various serial numbers inside your PC – the processor, network card, disk drives, etc. – mixes them together, and produces a second 25 character code that identifies your PC. These 50 characters, together, are called the Installation ID.

When you activate XP, you give MS the 50-character Installaton ID. If nobody else activated that 25-character code or if it has been activated with that specific Installation ID (which means you activated this particular copy of XP from the same PC twice) MS send back a 42-character Confirmation ID. The Installation ID and the Confirmation ID are stored on our PC.

If that 25-character code has been already been used on a different PC you will be notified that the number of times you can activate Windows with this product key has been exceeded.

Source: paraphrased from p. 18, Windows Gigabook for Dummies, by Peter Weverka et al.

Answer 2

As the previous answerer suggested, contact Microsoft. I have found that they are very easy to work with concerning issues of this nature. They will work with you.

In fact, in one instance, they supplied me with a product key without even asking for any verification of purchase (Office 2003 in this case).

Answer 3

For a validation problem you need to contact Microsoft. If this is not a legitimate copy they will want the supplier details and may replace your copy with a valid one.

Answer 4

it does all the time when you install a new version of Microsoft application.