Missed our TechNet webcast on January 22^nd? Not to worry, we’ve made the recording available through LiveMeeting.

View “Deploying Windows with Volume Activation” now.

Thanks!

- Jodi

IT professionals – if you haven’t already seen this elsewhere, our Volume Activation folks have a TechNet webcast planned for this Friday they’d like you to know about:

Title: TechNet Webcast: Deploying Windows With Volume Activation (Level 300)

Overview: This follow-up webcast to "Plan for and Deploy Volume Activation for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2" is focused on demonstrating how to build product activation into your deployment planning for Windows. Join us to see how to set up the Key Management Service (KMS) and enable Multiple Activation Key (MAK) activation using the Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT), and learn how to configure the keys in your master image using Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010 and Windows System Image Manager (WSIM). This demonstration-heavy webcast is designed to walk you through the activation process as part of deployment, from end-to-end.

Date/Time: Friday, January 22, 2010, 10:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Location:  Online webcast 

Presenters: Chris Jolley, Group Marketing Manager, Microsoft Corporation, Kim Griffiths, Senior Product Manager, Microsoft Corporation, and Jeremy Chapman, Senior Product Manager, Microsoft Corporation

Hope you can make it!

- Jodi

I wanted to follow up on our last post about Windows activation – a friend of mine had posted on Facebook about seeing a notification from Windows that he might be a “victim of counterfeit software”. Following his status update, someone else commented on his post and said that he didn’t understand how anyone could be a “victim” of counterfeit software. Let’s talk about what that means, because it’s really an important topic to consider. It’s critical that you to know what to look for when purchasing genuine Windows so you can avoid the risks of counterfeit software.

I’ll give you a scenario. Say that my friend “Mark” (not his real name, but we’ll use it for this scenario) wants to buy Windows 7 for his PC, and he’s trying to find a good deal. He happens to find an online classified ad or auction site offering it for a lower price than the one he’s seen in the stores, so he purchases it, and installs it when it arrives. So what might happen next? Well, Mark might notice that something doesn't look right about the packaging – maybe there are typos on the box, or the box itself doesn’t look as nice as the ones he’d seen in the stores. Or the product key that came with the installation CD doesn't work when Mark tries to activate Windows, or once it’s installed on his PC, it fails genuine validation. The counterfeit copy of Windows that Mark just installed could potentially contain viruses, spyware, and other malicious software, putting him at risk of losing his personal files and data, and even poses the risk of identity theft. Mark has now paid money for counterfeit software that provides none of the benefits of genuine software, including support from Microsoft and its authorized partners at a time that he probably needs it the most. I'd say that's a pretty compelling reason to avoid being a victim of counterfeit software.

So, how can you avoid Mark’s mistakes and better protect yourself from the risks of counterfeit software?

• Buy only genuine software from trustworthy sources. The best way to purchase genuine Microsoft software is directly from the Microsoft Store or from an authorized Microsoft reseller. To locate a reputable reseller, you can use local resources such as a Chamber of Commerce, the Better Business Bureau, and consumer publications.
• Learn how to spot the fake. Microsoft’s How to Tell website contains plenty of information about how to determine whether the Microsoft software you’re purchasing is genuine, including pre-purchase checklists to use when you go shopping. You’ll also find plenty of visual examples of counterfeit software as well as anti-piracy features included in genuine Microsoft software that you’ll want to be familiar with, such as Certificates of Authenticity (COAs), installation media, and product packaging.
• Take action. If you’ve mistakenly purchased counterfeit software, you can file a piracy report online or call Microsoft’s anti-piracy hotline at (800) RU-LEGIT. By reporting piracy, you can help Microsoft take action against software pirates and help others avoid being the victims of counterfeit software.

Until next time!

- Jodi

Sometimes when talking to friends either in person or online, they’ll ask me questions about work-related topics like software piracy or activating Windows, or they’ll tell me about notifications they’ve seen on their PC that relate to Windows Activation Technologies. A few days ago, a friend of mine happened to mention in a Facebook status update that he’d seen a notification from Windows 7 informing him that he might be a victim of software counterfeiting. You might be in the same situation, so I want to pass along why this might be happening and some things that you can try to resolve the issue.

First, let’s talk about activation. Activation is required for all editions of Windows, and helps you verify that Windows running on your PC is genuine and hasn’t been used on more computers than the software licensing terms allow. In general, the rule to remember for most copies of Windows is 1:1, meaning that one product key can activate Windows running on one PC. So in this way, activation helps prevent software counterfeiting.

The message that my friend saw is one of the built-in notifications in Windows 7 that’s used to let you know when Windows hasn’t been properly activated after it’s installed. To resolve the notifications, all you need to do is activate Windows with a genuine product key. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Locate your product key. Microsoft product keys contain 25 characters divided into groups of five, and are located on the proof of license label attached to your DVD case or on a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached to your PC. Visit Microsoft’s How to Tell site to learn how to identify your Windows 7 proof of license label or COA.

2. Click the Start button and then right-click Computer.

3. Click Properties.

4. Click Change product key at the bottom of the dialog box.

5. Follow the instructions to change your product key and activate Windows 7.

If you do not have a genuine product key, you can visit the Microsoft Store or an authorized Microsoft reseller to get genuine Windows.

Until next time!

- Jodi

We want to let you know about a new addition to our Volume Activation TechCenter on TechNet. The section, called Cheat Sheets, will contain short but detailed technical whitepapers covering topics that were too lengthy to post directly to our team blog. 

The first cheat sheet, How to troubleshoot the Key Management Service (KMS), explains how to use the Event Logs and slmgr.vbs to troubleshoot issues with KMS activation on the KMS host and KMS clients.

The second cheat sheet is aimed at helping both IT implementers and licensing folks how to choose the right volume license key for Windows. In How to choose the right volume license key for Windows, you will read actual deployment examples for both Multiple Activation Keys (MAK) and Key Management Service keys (KMS) and learn how to choose the right key for your organization. 

Visit the Cheat Sheets section on the Windows Volume Activation TechCenter site to get started.

Thanks!

- Kim

I wanted to add my thoughts to the blog following Alex’s departure from Microsoft last week, and give our readers a little bit of insight into our focus for the new year.

Alex, you’ve been a key part of Microsoft’s anti-piracy efforts for many years and I think I speak for the company in saying a heartfelt thank you for your years of service.  I personally enjoyed having you on my staff – your depth of experience and strategic insights have been invaluable, and we all extend best wishes to you in your new venture.  I’m sure we’ll cross paths many times in the future - we’re certainly not slowing down in our efforts to combat piracy, and I’m sure that is the same with you.

Looking forward, Microsoft needs to continue its leadership in fighting piracy – for its own benefit and for the industry, but most importantly for customers.  After closing out 2009 in December with a global Consumer Action Day, we kick off 2010 with our commitment to continue our fight against piracy, especially with Microsoft’s investment in its Genuine Software Initiative, which focuses efforts on three strategic areas:

• Education. Microsoft is raising awareness of customers and resellers about the risks of counterfeit software so they can better protect themselves and ensure their software licensing is in order. Microsoft websites such as How to Tell provide detailed information and examples of counterfeit software.
• Engineering. Microsoft continues to invest in anti-counterfeiting technologies and product features that protect its intellectual property and alert consumers to the presence of counterfeit software. This includes improvements in our technologies and programs such as Windows Activation Technologies for Windows 7 and Windows Vista, and Windows Genuine Advantage for Windows XP.
• Enforcement. Microsoft actively supports government officials and law enforcement agencies in taking action against software piracy. Over the past two years alone, Microsoft has received over 150,000 customer reports of counterfeit software. These reports have contributed directly to numerous civil actions that have been filed against software pirates around the globe.

During 2010, you can expect to hear from me as well as the other genuine Windows team members that regularly contribute to the blog, including Jodi Kogan and Kim Griffiths.  We’ll have some information to share in the near future about topics relating to genuine Windows, including a post about volume licensing that Kim has planned for tomorrow.

Until then!

Joe Williams
General Manager, Genuine Windows

Today is my last day at Microsoft and this will be my last post to this blog. I want to thank everyone who read, commented and supported the blog over the years. I believe in the mission of this group and in the overall goal of Microsoft’s Genuine Software Initiative to help customers, Microsoft partners and Microsoft shareholders and employees protect themselves from the consequences and risks of counterfeit software. It’s been truly great working here, the best part without a doubt is the people!

Thanks and Happy New Year!

Sincerely, Alex Kochis

P.S.: while I’m leaving Microsoft I don’t intend to leave the anti-piracy space. Those of you who follow the subject are likely to see me pop up in the future under my own shingle.

Today, Kim Griffiths shares:

One of the more common questions that we are hearing about volume activation today is around how to update your existing Key Management Service (KMS) to support Windows 7 and/or Windows Server 2008 R2. This is also causing some customers issues as they attempt to use the new keys that are available on the Volume License Service Center and get a 0xC004f050 or 0xC004F015 errors, as shown here:

Why is this happening, and how can it be resolved?

With each release of Windows, Microsoft will issue new product keys. This is true for volume license customers as well. In order for this key to be recognized on an earlier release of Windows, it is necessary to update the license files that are used by the software license service. This is easy to do and only takes a little time to accomplish.

KMS hosted on Windows Server 2003

If you are hosting the KMS on Windows Server 2003 today, you are probably running the version 1.1 that supports both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 KMS keys and clients. In order to add support for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, you’ll need to install the update found in KB 968195. The steps to install are clearly defined in the KB. Don’t forget to restart the service after the update is installed. This is a very important step because the license files won’t be installed until after the reboot. Read Updating KMS on Windows Server 2003 to support Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 for additional information.

After the update is installed (and the system is restarted), you can install the new KMS host key (for Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2) using slmgr.vbs /ipk, and then activate the service using slmgr.vbs /ato. The DNS records will be refreshed and the count on the KMS host is maintained. The entire process is transparent to the KMS client systems.

KMS hosted on Windows Server 2008 (and Windows Vista)

A similar update exists for Windows Server 2008. KB 968912 has the update and clearly defined steps to follow to update the KMS host. After the update is installed (and the system is restarted), you can install the new KMS host key (for Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2) using slmgr.vbs /ipk, and then activate the service using slmgr.vbs /ato. The DNS records will be refreshed and the count is maintained.

Keep in mind that the most common issue that customers are having while resolving the above is that they do not restart the system before attempting to install the new KMS host key. Without the restart, the new key will not be recognized and you will get the same error I mentioned at the beginning of the blog (0xC004F015).

--Kim

Today, Microsoft announced a surge of over 150,000 voluntary reports in the past two years from people who unknowingly purchased counterfeit software that often included viruses or other malware. More than double the amount of previous records, this increase reflects growing concern for the harm caused by counterfeit software and Microsoft’s efforts to give people a voice in the fight against software counterfeiting. In addition, Microsoft highlights Consumer Action Day, a simultaneous launch of education initiatives and enforcement actions in more than 70 countries to help protect consumers and increase awareness of the risks of counterfeit software.

Learn more on Microsoft’s PressPass site.

Team member Kim Griffiths shares this today:

Missed the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 deployment live webcast?  Don’t worry - you can still listen in on what we talked about. 

View the webcast via LiveMeeting on demand, and stay tuned for more webcasts in January!

- Kim

Team member Kim Griffiths has this to share today:

On Wednesday, Nov. 18th, I'll be hosting a webcast that will give you info on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 deployment planning.  The webcast will run 60 minutes and will go into the best practices and lessons learned from dealing with volume activation in a variety of environments, including networked, isolated, roaming, branch office, development, and test. 

TechNet Webcast: Plan for and Deploy Volume Activation for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2

• Webcast Length: 60 minutes
• Date: 11/18/2009
• Time: 10:00:00 AM Pacific

Register for this TechNet webcast now.

 
I hope to "see" you there!

  - Kim 

Meet Tamer Erzurumlu, a business development manager on the Genuine Windows team with over 15 years at Microsoft in several different roles, including building business in new countries, opening new Microsoft subsidiaries worldwide, supporting computer manufacturers with programs for preinstalling genuine Microsoft software, and launching new initiatives such as the Microsoft Office Ready program and the commercial Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR) program.  You’ll hear from Tamer occasionally when he has news to share about his focus areas for genuine Windows.  Today, Tamer writes:

Tens of millions of used computers and laptops are discarded each year by businesses, individuals, and organizations. Did you know there are a variety of ways to extend their life?  A pre-owned computer that is decommissioned, refurbished, and loaded with genuine Microsoft software through the commercial Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR) Program provides an cost effective alternative to purchasing a new PC. Reusing PCs also helps to reduce e-waste and contribute to environmental stewardship worldwide.

The commercial MAR program provides partners with a cost-effective means of delivering genuine Microsoft software, distinguishing their business practices, and certifying the validity of their offerings. It enables eligible refurbishers that partner with Microsoft to preinstall genuine Windows and other Microsoft software on refurbished PCs.  For customers, the benefits of the commercial MAR program include knowing that the software installed on their refurbished PCs is properly licensed and provides the same level of performance as they would expect when purchasing brand new PCs. Customers buying refurbished PCs will get the out-of-the-box experience they expect from a new PC.

It is estimated that many refurbished PCs being resold today by companies that do not participate in the commercial MAR program contain counterfeit software, putting customers at risk and harming legitimate refurbishers and resellers. Microsoft is committed to helping ensure that customers get the genuine Microsoft software they expect when purchasing a refurbished PC. Microsoft operates a program of refurbished PC test purchases to identify refurbishers and resellers who are marketing and selling counterfeit Microsoft software. Thousands of cases of illegal activity have been uncovered by Microsoft investigations into suspected illegal software, thanks to test purchases, mystery shopper programs and reports of suspected counterfeit from our customers and partners. This helps keep potential counterfeiters from viewing piracy as a crime without consequences.

For example, in a recent investigation conducted by Microsoft anti-piracy investigators, three separate refurbished PC test purchases were made from PC Products, a company in Illinois. These test purchases resulted in sales of counterfeit software, and were part of the routine, ongoing program started earlier this year by the commercial MAR program. As part of the settlement, PC Products has agreed to: cease and desist from manufacturing and selling counterfeit software (burned CD-R copies of Windows XP Professional recovery media in addition to other Microsoft software); allow Microsoft to inspect PC Products’ inventory and warehouse; and provide a list of those people or companies who either purchased counterfeit software from PC Products or provided counterfeit software to PC Products.

With economic and environmental concerns at the forefront in today’s world, it’s important for partners to have access to programs that are cost-effective and promote reduction in e-waste.  Learn more about the commercial MAR program, or check out the following links for additional information:

· View additional questions and answers about the investigation.

· Learn more about the lifecycle of a refurbished PC and who is typically involved in the process.

· Find out how refurbished PCs have made a positive impact on a number of communities, businesses and individuals worldwide.

 - Tamer

Earlier today the Microsoft Malware Protection Center blog posted some information about Microsoft Security Essentials helping to detect malware that turns out to be embedded in copies of non-genuine Windows Vista that people have downloaded.

I blogged back in May about a similar case where we saw Windows 7 RC builds that had malware embedded in them. I know people are excited about Windows 7 too but with only a couple of days to go until launch I’d encourage everyone to hold off downloading that ‘free copy’. Otherwise, you might end up getting more than you expected. 

Hi there – just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself before getting to today’s post.  My name is Jodi Kogan, and I manage communications for the Genuine Windows team here at Microsoft.   I’ll be posting news related to genuine Microsoft software, as well as topics on behalf of other team members such as news, podcasts, and links to information that will help you get the most from genuine Windows.

Today, I have an update from Kim Griffiths, a product manager on our team focusing on enterprise and government customers. She is a former infrastructure consultant specializing in Active Directory, security, and Microsoft Exchange with more than 15 years of experience working in IT, and will be contributing to our team blog from time to time with information for IT professionals, including podcasts. Kim says:

Here’s the scenario: You have the Key Management Service (KMS) hosted on Windows Server 2003 activating your Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 systems. Now you are ready to start piloting and deploying Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2. Some of your first questions are likely:

· Can I use the same KMS to do that?

· Do I need to do anything to make that work?

The answer to both is yes.

The update to the KMS is necessary because of the keys. With each new product edition and release, new keys are provisioned and distributed to our customers. An update is necessary to make the service aware of these new keys in order to activate the new generation of operating systems. There are basically four steps to accomplish this task: 1) apply the update, 2) install the new key, 3) activate the updated host, and 4) check to make sure everything is working properly.  It is a simple process that should only take a few minutes to complete.

Check out this video podcast to see what you need to do and where to get more information.

An update is available that installs Key Management Service (KMS) 1.2 for Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2) and for later versions of Windows Server 2003. To learn more, view the KB article (968915).

For more information on volume activation, including KMS, visit the Windows Client Tech Center for Volume Activation.

It is important to note that there is also an update for KMS hosted on Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008. To learn more, view the KB article (968912). That update is separate from the one described in this blog/podcast, though the process is similar. Not to worry, we’ll cover this one soon.

Today, we announced a new reason to own genuine Windows software - free high-quality consumer anti-virus and anti-malware software from Microsoft! Available for use on genuine Windows PCs at no cost, Microsoft Security Essentials is an anti-malware service that helps protect consumers against viruses, spyware and other malware.

Microsoft Security Essentials is available in 8 languages across the 19 countries shown below, using it requires no registration, there are no trial conversions or renewals required to stay up to date with the latest version and it is available for download directly from Microsoft now at http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/.

During installation, you’ll be asked to validate Windows running on your PC to make sure that it’s genuine. As with all of our validation technology Microsoft doesn’t use any information collected during validation about the copy of Windows that is installed or the PC it is installed on to identify or contact the owner or user.

If a copy of Windows fails validation during setup then the screen below will be shown and the user will be offered an easy way to purchase genuine Windows directly from Microsoft.

Once installed, Microsoft Security Essentials provides you with real-time protection that runs quietly in the background, enabling you to continue using your PC without constant interruptions. And since it never expires and is updated automatically, you can feel safer knowing that your genuine Windows-based PC will be better protected by the latest advancements in security technology.

I’ve been using MSE on a few PCs for the last number of months and here’s what I love about it so far:

• MSE is independently certified by West Coast Labs – that makes me feel good about relying on it
• MSE uses the same core engine as Microsoft’s enterprise-class AV/AM products and is backed by Microsoft’s Malware Protection Center which makes me feel even better
• When it does find something that doesn’t belong it enables you to clean or remove it quickly and easily rather than loading a big heavyweight app.
• It’s free!

Click here to read the official press release or download Microsoft Security Essentials now.