this post was submitted on 03 Jan 2026
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711
Microsoft kills official way to activate windows without internet (www.neowin.net)
submitted 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) by 1984@lemmy.today to c/technology@lemmy.world
140 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Now when trying to activate the OS by attempting to call the phone number for Microsoft Product Activation, an automated voice response says the following: "Support for product activation has moved online.

Linux is this way, guys.

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[–] FireWire400@lemmy.world 86 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (3 children)

Remember when you activated software with a key on the back of the CD case?

[–] towerful@programming.dev 55 points 3 days ago (1 children)

FCKGW?

[–] Strider@lemmy.world 33 points 3 days ago (1 children)

How did you get MY key?!

[–] W98BSoD@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 3 days ago

Your key‽ That’s MY key!

[–] 1984@lemmy.today 31 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I remember key generators.. :)

[–] gilokee@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

those had the BEST music for some reason.

[–] FireWire400@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Never had any luck with those to say the least...

[–] 1984@lemmy.today 26 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

I think today, maybe they dont work. But I was using them in the 90s and 2000s, they were great and had music and graphics and everything, coded in pure assembly. :)

[–] Strider@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago

I remember awesome multi keygens for groups of titles by one publisher. Good times 😁.

[–] dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago

I never used the one on the CD case, I just used all ones. Or 123451234512345, etc. for Windows 98.