What is Product Activation?

Due to piracy and other forms of unauthorized use, users cannot always be sure that they have a genuine copy of software. The goal of product activation is to reduce a form of piracy known as casual copying. Casual copying is the sharing and installation of software that is not in compliance with the software's end user license agreement and is estimated to contribute to half of all pirated installations. Product Activation helps ensure that each copy is installed in compliance with the end-user license and is not installed on more than the limited number (usually one) of computers allowed by the product license. We have worked to make it as easy as possible to activate a licensed installation of products.

During software registration, the registration wizard prompts you to enter a product key . The product key is a 25 character alphanumeric code shown in five groups of five characters each (for example, GBFTK-3UN78-MKF8G-T8GTY-NQS8R). Keep the product key in a safe location and do not share it with others. This product key forms the basis for your ability to use the software after the trial period.

For purposes of product activation only, a hardware identifier is created from general information that is included in the system components. At no time are files on the hard drive scanned, nor is personally-identifiable information of any kind used to create the hardware identifier. Product activation is completely anonymous. To ensure your privacy, the hardware identifier is created by what is known as a "one-way hash". To produce a one-way hash, information is processed through an algorithm to create a new alphanumeric string. It is impossible to calculate the original information from the resulting string.

Your product key and a hardware identifier are the only pieces of information required to activate the product.

If you activate via an Internet connection, the product key and a hardware identifier are sent automatically. When you decide to activate over the Internet, the product attempts to establish an online connection to the activation server, www.activatenow.com, by way of the Internet.

If an online connection cannot be established, you can activate yourself via the browser. In this case you will be prompted to enter the product key and a hardware identifier on a Web page, and will get an activation key in return.

Activation is completely anonymous; no personally identifiable information is required. The activation key can now be used to activate the product on that computer an unlimited number of times. However, if you need to install the product on a different computer, you will need to perform the activation process again. Please refer to your end-user license agreement for information about the number of computers you can install the software on.

Until you have activated your copy of the product, an Activation Reminder will occasionally pop up. This reminder will not appear after you have activated your copy of the product.

You have a 14-day grace period in which to activate your product installation. If the grace period expires and you have not completed activation, you may be required to do so according to the end-user agreement.

Registration and Activation

There are important distinctions between registering the product and activating it.

Registering the product occurs when you have paid for the license and have received the product key. That product key gives you the legal right to use the software according to the End User License Agreement terms and conditions. Product key is used to unlock all product features as well as allows you to use it after the end of your evaluation period.

Product activation is very different from product registration. Activation is free and anonymous; it requires no personal information to complete. Activation is required and ensures that each product is not installed on more than the limited number (usually one) of computers allowed in the software's end user license agreement. The activation process takes only a few minutes to complete. Personal information (for example, "contact" information such as an email address) is not required.

You have a 14-day grace period in which to activate your product. If the grace period expires and you have not completed activation, all features will stop working except the product activation feature.