Windows and activation

[orson3g]

I'm curious if there are current versions of Windows (and plans for Windows 7) that do not need online activation and the whole WGA thing. My question came about when talking about operating systems with a friend (He was unaware that the Mac has no serial or activation).

The reason I ask is because I think of businesses like the government that may use Windows in areas that do not have Internet access to activate their copies. When I was in the Navy, we had those Toughbook laptops with XP installed and NONE of them had ANY access to the internet whatsoever due to privacy concerns. It almost seems that MS has no choice but to offer versions that don't have to be activated for reasons like this.

If there are no copies of Windows that don't have to be activated, then how do companies install Windows on machines that are away from the net or are top secret and such? I'm curious. Thanks.

 

[jackiecanev2]

Wirelessly posted (BB 8900: BlackBerry8900/4.6.1.250 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/301)

Telephone activation, or volume license with no formal activation required.

 

[umiwangu]

I'm curious if there are current versions of Windows (and plans for Windows 7) that do not need online activation and the whole WGA thing. My question came about when talking about operating systems with a friend (He was unaware that the Mac has no serial or activation).

The reason I ask is because I think of businesses like the government that may use Windows in areas that do not have Internet access to activate their copies. When I was in the Navy, we had those Toughbook laptops with XP installed and NONE of them had ANY access to the internet whatsoever due to privacy concerns. It almost seems that MS has no choice but to offer versions that don't have to be activated for reasons like this.

If there are no copies of Windows that don't have to be activated, then how do companies install Windows on machines that are away from the net or are top secret and such? I'm curious. Thanks.

Two that I know of... With OEM copies (what Dell or Lenovo install on your pre-built laptop), you often don't need a key and you often don't need to activate. I believe it has something to do with the copy of Windows checking the BIOS to make sure it belongs to Dell or whatever company installed it.

The other kind would be Volume License versions of Windows. This would be mostly for large companies, universities, etc. These do require a key, but afaik, the same key (for each copy). These versions also don't require activation. I'm sure the Navy would have something like this.

@jackiecanev2 - sorry, didn't see the bit about VLKs.

 

[orson3g]

Thanks for the info, guys.