Volume Activation 2.0 Reference Guide

The Volume Activation 2.0 Reference Guide is intended to be the place to go when you have a quick question (What is the activation threshold for KMS?) or want to understand how activation/validation works. It is a great resource for anyone wanting to have VA 2.0 info at their fingertips. Download the reference guide.

MSIT Case Study

Read how Microsoft implemented volume activation in its own network. Numerous server configurations tested in a multi-domain environment. Over 90,000 clients activated, with negligible impact on users.

Volume Activation in Server 2008, as featured in Windows IT Pro 2008 Magazine, March Edition Microsoft MVP, Sean Deuby.
If you plan to deploy business versions of Windows Vista or any versions Windows Server 2008, you need to understand Volume Activation. This article defines Volume Activation, and offers straightforward recommendations for deployment in common scenarios. Download the article or view it as a published article in Windows IT Pro online issue.

Download the Volume Activation 2.0 Technical Guidance

Get the latest Volume Activation 2.0 technical guides for IT pros as Word documents directly from the Download Center.

Volume Activation 2.0 Changes for Windows Server® 2008 and Windows Vista® SP1
This document summarizes the changes to Volume Activation 2.0 for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista SP1, vs. Volume Activation 2.0 as implemented in the initial release of Windows Vista.

Top 5 Product Key Activation Challenges IT Pros Encountered and Solved White Paper

Windows Vista® and Windows Server® 2008 include some significant changes relating to product activation over Windows® XP and Windows Server 2003. These changes, while simple, often caused concerns and operational challenges for IT Pros in deploying Windows. Microsoft® product support services identified the five most common product activation related issues encountered by various customers who are evaluating and or deploying Windows Vista (or Windows Server 2008). Understanding these issues will help you and your team to manage the activation changes more effectively and optimize your deployment experience.

Top 10 Things You Should Know about Genuine Windows

Microsoft is educating customers and partners on Genuine software, in effort to protect them from counterfeit and pirated software. Are you familiar with the concepts of ‘Genuine Windows’ or ‘Genuine Microsoft Software’? Learn more about what it means to become ‘Genuine’ and get an overview of product activation, validation, licensing and compliance.

Customizing Windows Vista Business Edition White Paper

This white paper discusses the benefits of customizing Windows Vista Business Edition and reviews the activation impacts associated with customization. It also provides the policy implications of customization and details these implications through common customization scenarios.

Austrian Ministry of Education Volume Activation in a Diverse and Decentralized Environment Case Study

The Austrian Ministry of Education (MoE) is a large educational institution committed to steering Austria’s schools to new levels of achievement. A key strategy for the MoE is ensuring that Austrian students always have access to the most current software available. To this end, the MoE sought to deploy Windows Vista® Enterprise operating system and Windows Server® 2008 operating system across its 812 secondary schools. This case study focuses on the software deployment approach that the MoE used, which proved to be a great example of the flexibility of the Microsoft deployment and activation technologies.

Volume Activation 2.0

• The Microsoft Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT)
• Overview Guide
• Planning Guide
• Deployment Guide
• Operations Guide *Updated April 08*
• MSIT Case Study
• Using Server Isolation to Help Protect KMS Hosts
• Product Activation for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008

Top Help and Support Articles

• You may be prompted to activate Windows Vista on a computer on which Windows Vista was already activated by a Volume License or OEM installation
• The behavior of reduced functionality mode in Windows Vista
• Activation fails when you try to activate Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 over the Internet

Essentials

• Resources
• FAQ

Webcasts

• Understanding Activation and Validation in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
• Best Practices in Planning for and Deploying Volume Activation 2.0
• Troubleshooting Activation and Validation Issues with Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008