Genuine applications for Windows Vista

Benefits of Genuine Windows:* Capabilities You ExpectGenuine Windows has the capabilities that help you enjoy a rich and complete computer experience. With Windows Vista™, there are features that are only available to customers running a genuine copy. These include Windows Aero™, which offers a rich visual interface and innovative ways to help navigate your desktop, and Windows ReadyBoost™, which can help speed up your computer using easy-to-find USB 2.0 memory devices.* Confidence and Peace of MindGenuine Windows is supported by Microsoft or a trusted partner and helps protect against the risks of counterfeit software.* Ongoing ImprovementsGenuine Windows provides access to future updates and enhancements from Microsoft including Windows Update and the full functionality of Windows Defender– helping ensure your computer experience is up to date and more secure.In addition to the benefits enjoyed by all genuine Windows users, genuine Windows can provide the following benefits for enterprise customers:* Enable protection and management of customer-specific keys through new and enhanced management tools and services.* Ease software asset/license management efforts through trusted license store and public APIs.* Reduce the risk of running tampered software in the managed environment.* Enhance management control on corporate IT assets for better compliance.Top of pageAdvantages of WGAIn addition to having the confidence that you are using a copy of Windows that is licensed and fully supported by Microsoft or a trusted reseller partner, genuine Windows customers can take advantage of:* Downloads from the Microsoft Download Center.* The latest updates for Windows from Windows Update.* Special offers, including downloads, special promotions, and discounts. For more information, see Windows Genuine Advantage Special Offers.Top of pageWGA for Windows VistaBuilt on the experiences of WGA for Windows XP, Microsoft was able to integrate the WGA experience into Windows Vista. New technology makes piracy harder and helps protect customers from the risks of counterfeit software while protecting Windows Vista from tampering, counterfeiting, and other abuses. It changes how Windows Vista validates as genuine, activates, and behaves when tampered with or hacked.Activation is a process by which Microsoft determines whether or not a product key is being properly used based upon the software license associated with it. Users are required to complete activation within the first 30 days of using Windows Vista. Completing the activation process allows a user continued access to regular Windows Vista functionality while ensuring that their product key is not being misused. Learn more about activation in Windows Vista.Validation is a process that allows you to verify that your copy of Windows is genuine. Microsoft will ask you to validate Windows when requesting a genuine Windows download from the Microsoft Download Center or Windows Update and to validate Office when requesting a genuine Office download. Learn more about validation in Windows Vista.Top of pageWGA for Windows XPThe WGA program for Windows XP was launched July 2005 to provide an improved experience for consumers using genuine Windows XP and to help Microsoft address software piracy. The WGA program consists of two major components, WGA Validation and WGA Notifications. Validation helps determine whether the copy of Windows XP installed on a computer is genuine and licensed. WGA Notifications reminds users who fail validation that they are not running genuine Windows XP and directs them to resources to learn more about the benefits of using genuine Windows XP software.You will be prompted to validate your copy of Windows if you request a genuine Windows download from the Microsoft Download Center. The validation process is easy, only takes a few moments to run, and once completed, allows you to access genuine Windows downloads more quickly in the future. Learn more about validation.Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications is a program that helps Microsoft fight software piracy and helps you validate that the copy of Microsoft Windows XP installed on your computer is genuine and properly licensed. If your copy is not genuine, WGA Notifications will provide periodic reminders to help you take the appropriate action. It's part of Microsoft's commitment to fight software counterfeiting and help you avoid problems before they happen. Learn more about WGA Notifications.For more information about WGA for Windows XP, visit the Genuine Microsoft Software FAQ.Top of pageMore Questions About WGAYou can find some answers to common questions about WGA on this page. More information is available on the pages linked from the WGA for Windows Vista and WGA for Windows XP sections above. You can find answers to many additional questions by visiting the Genuine Microsoft Software FAQ.How can I tell if my copy of Windows is genuine?To help you verify that you are using genuine Windows, Microsoft offers two quick and easy online processes called activation and validation. Activation is a feature of both Windows XP and Windows Vista that allows Microsoft to help protect your 25-character product key (located on the Certificate of Authenticity and the proof of license label) against possible unauthorized activation and validation attempts. Activation is required within the first 30 days of using a new copy of Windows. Validation is also a feature of both Windows XP and Windows Vista. Validation is run from time to time, typically when you download an update or enhancement from Microsoft, takes only a few moments, and helps confirm that your system is activated and your license has not been compromised.Will I be asked to provide personal information?Microsoft values your privacy, and we do not use any information collected with WGA to identify you or contact you. We will not ask you for personal information, such as your name or email address. For more information about the genuine Windows privacy policy, see the Privacy Statement.What if there’s a problem?If there is a problem with your validation, you will be given simple options to fix it. For example, Microsoft can help you by offering:* A detailed description of the cause of the problem. For example, you may have accidentally received a product key that was reported as lost or stolen by its original owner. Or sometimes, during a repair or reinstall, an invalid product key is used if the original product key is not readily available.* A replacement key or replacement copy of Windows. If you are a victim of software counterfeiting, you may qualify for a complimentary replacement copy.How can I help?Educate yourself about software piracy and learn how to protect yourself. When you purchase a new computer or bring your computer in for repair, be sure to ask for genuine Windows. If you believe you’ve been a victim of software counterfeiting, report it. By reporting counterfeiting you may qualify for a complimentary replacement copy of the software and the information can be used to help protect others.Where can I find more information?See the Genuine Windows FAQ for more information about Windows Genuine Advantage, Windows validation, and more. If you’d like to learn about support options, you can contact Microsoft for further assistance.What is WGA Notifications?Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications is a program that helps Microsoft fight software piracy and helps you validate that the copy of Microsoft Windows XP installed on your computer is genuine and properly licensed.By confirming that your copy of Windows XP is genuine, you can take advantage of all the capabilities, support, and continuous improvements—as well as the peace of mind—that come with using genuine Windows. If your copy is not genuine, WGA Notifications will provide periodic reminders to help you take the appropriate action. It's part of Microsoft's commitment to fight software counterfeiting and help you avoid problems before they happen. Launched in July of 2005, the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) program was designed to deliver additional benefits to fully licensed customers of Windows, help protect honest businesses from counterfeiters, and help Microsoft better protect its intellectual property and combat Windows piracy. WGA is one of many programs Microsoft uses to address the problem of software piracy.In June of 2006, Microsoft expanded Windows Genuine Advantage to include a service called WGA Notifications. WGA Notifications was created to alert people using a non-genuine copy of Windows that they might be victims of software piracy and to help them resolve the issue.WGA and data collectionNone of the information collected by WGA will be used by Microsoft to personally identify or contact you. To help you validate your software, the WGA tools must collect a certain amount of configuration information from your computer. The data collected includes:* Computer make and model.* Version information for the operating system and software using Genuine Advantage.* Region and language setting.* A unique number assigned to your computer by the tools (Globally Unique Identifier or GUID).* Product ID and product key.* BIOS name, revision number, and revision date.* Volume serial number.For more information about how this data is collected and used, see the document entitled Technical Market Bulletin on Product Activation in Windows XP found in the Additional Information section of the Microsoft Product Activation page.In addition to the configuration information above, status information such as the following is also transferred:* Whether the installation was successful.* The result of the validation check.As standard procedure, your Internet Protocol (IP) address is temporarily logged when your computer connects to a WGA website or server. These logs are routinely deleted.We use the information to:* Help prevent improperly licensed use of the software.* Improve our software and services.* Develop aggregate statistics.