Serials vs. Activation Serials

[lightshow]

More of the high profile softwares are switching to "activation"

Adobe's line of products, Microsoft OS's, etc.

So what's the difference between a standard serial and an activation serial?


My best guess is a serial is a one time answer.

Enter the serial once, for any machine, and if correct, you sucessfully registered the product

For activation, first enter a serial. Next it creates a dynamic "activation" serial using an algorithm based on the serial you entered before and some sort of hardware ID.


Am I close with that one?

[Virtualbody1234]

Activation is usually done online where the software communicates with a remote device which verifies if it's legitimate and then sends code back that activates the product.

[lightshow]

But how does it work when you do the "activate by phone" option? The program must internally know if the final activation serial is correct, right?

[peat moss]

Sometimes if you find a program you like and activate it ,its best to block it from assessing the net . It will phone home ,check for pirated serial # and may even disable itself .

[backlash]

speaking of activations. NIS 2005 occasionally needs me to reactivate. I don't know why, though. I searched the forum looking for this topic, but couldn't find anything...probably b/c it's so old and there are newer versions.