Microsoft Product Activation for Windows Vista & Windows 2008
Hi All,
Please find below a link to a technical bulletin that describes the technologies used for product activation as applied to versions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 acquired through retail, original equipment manufacturer, or volume license channels. All editions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 are required to complete activation within the first 30 days of use.
Also discussed is how the hardware hash component of the installation ID is created and the scenarios in which a copy of Windows may have to be re-activated due to a substantial hardware modification.
Nick