Article ID: 326851
Article Last Modified on 9/30/2007
APPLIES TO
- Customer Service and Support Information
This article was previously published under Q326851
INTRODUCTION
This article discusses the difference between activating and registering a Microsoft product.
MORE INFORMATION
Activation
You must activate your Microsoft product to confirm that each copy of the product is not installed on more than the limited number of computers that is indicated in the software end user license agreement (EULA). The activation process can be performed by using the telephone, a modem, or the Internet. None of the information that is collected during activation will be used to personally identify you.
To activate your product over the telephone, use one of the following numbers:
- Office activation (U.S. only): (888) 652-2342
- Windows activation: (888) 571-2048
- TTY number: (800) 718-1599
- If you are an International customer, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
For more information about Microsoft product activation, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
302806 Description of Microsoft Product Activation
To review additional Microsoft Knowledge Base articles about this topic, visit the following Microsoft Web site and search the Knowledge Base for "product activation":
For more information about Microsoft product activation, visit the following Microsoft Web sites:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/ww/default.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation_faq.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/evaluate/xpactiv.mspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA012334341033.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/evaluation/features/activation.mspx
Registration
You do not have to register your Microsoft product. However, when you register your product, you can receive support, product update information, and additional benefits. When you register your product, you must submit some personal information.
To register your product and for help with product registration issues, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
Note Registration of a Microsoft product does not provide to us your proof of purchase for that product. You should maintain any receipts or records of your purchases of Microsoft products in case you need to obtain replacement media or product keys. For more information about obtaining replacement media or product keys, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
326246 How to replace Microsoft software or hardware, order service packs and product upgrades, or replace product manuals
Microsoft respects your privacy. To review Microsoft's Privacy Policy, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
If you want to be removed from the Microsoft and third-party mailing list, send a letter with your request to the following address:
Direct Marketing Association, Inc.
11 West 42nd Street
PO Box 3861
New York, NY 10163-3861
Additional query words: active activate launch start error register open access sign up
Keywords: kbguidelines kbmsccsearch kbpubtypekc KB326851
