The company said that the new installations of Windows XP SP3 will give users 30-day grace period, which is currently offered to Windows Vista customers before they are required to enter a product activation key. However, the company added that the change does not apply to existing Windows XP installations upgraded to SP3.
As in Windows Server 2003 SP2 and Windows Vista, users can now complete operating system installation without providing a product key during a full, integrated installation of Windows XP SP3, the Microsoft paper stated.
The earlier editions of Windows XP require the activation key entry to complete the installation process.
The company has also eliminated the ‘reduced functionality mode’ in both Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate1. Instead, the company will post more persistent notices to nag users into upgrading to a valid, licensed copy.
The SP2 for Windows XP was launched in August 2004.
According to research conducted by Business Software Alliance, about 35% of software in use globally is counterfeit and in certain countries that rate can top 80% annually. Last year, Microsoft pursued legal action against approximately 1,000 dealers of counterfeit Microsoft products and took action against approximately 50,000 illegal and improper online software auctions.
Source: ComputerWire daily updates
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