What is Activation?
Activation is the name for the process that ties together information from your Microsoft Passport account and your hardware device(s). Activation uses this information to create a permission code that's stored on your device. This permission code enables you to access premium eBook content that has been packaged to help ensure secure distribution. 



Why should I activate?
Activation upgrades your copy of Microsoft Reader to let you read premium eBook titles that are copy-protected by publishers at the "Owner Exclusive" level. When you activate Microsoft Reader, you identify yourself as the person who will be using your reading device.



What happens if I don't activate?
If you don't activate, you won't be able to buy and read a lot of great content. To help protect copyrights, most commercial eBooks use innovative technologies to help ensure that they're available only to the purchaser.



Why is a Microsoft Passport required?
Your Microsoft Passport account establishes your persona or identity in the Activation process, which enables you to read copy-protected ("Owner Exclusive") eBook titles on the device you are using. If you do not have one already, please click here to sign up for a Microsoft Passport. 



How many copies of Microsoft Reader can I activate?
You are entitled to activate Microsoft Reader on up to six different devices using the same Microsoft Passport account. However, certain actions such as reformatting your hard drive and performing a full reset of your Windows Mobile device will require you to reactivate your device, which may count against this initial quota. If you reach your activation limit, you can request additional activations using the activation request form provided during the activation process.



What devices will Activation work for?
Most Windows and Windows CE-based devices are supported. However, the list of supported devices is growing rapidly, and we can't list each one separately. Please refer to the list of supported operating systems.



Which operating systems work with activation?
Activation works with:

Pocket PC devices running Microsoft Windows® Mobile Second Edition, Windows Mobile, Pocket PC 2003, and Pocket PC 2002

Computers running Microsoft Windows XP; Windows Millennium Edition; Windows 98; Windows 2000; Windows NT Server, Terminal Edition; Windows NT Workstation License Pack; Windows NT Workstation with Service Pack 


What happens during activation?
In the activation process, software is downloaded to your hardware device to create a "Secured Repository" for your copy-protected eBook titles. The software uses your Microsoft Passport account number and information unique to your device to help protect eBook titles against unauthorized copying or distribution. 

In addition, an Activation Certificate is also downloaded, to certify that your copy of Microsoft Reader is enabled for viewing protected content. This security provides you with access to many premium eBook titles that have been copy protected. The Activation Certificate is encrypted to help protect your privacy and is only used when you attempt to purchase or download copy-protected titles. 


Do I need special settings to activate?
If you are using a version of Windows which supports Administrator and Power User accounts (such as Windows XP, Windows 2000 or Windows NT), you must be logged into an Administrator or Power User account before you can activate. This requirement primarily affects users in corporations or other organizations. Home or personal users don't usually have the same log in requirements as corporate users, and most home users already have Administrator log in privileges. If you're not sure whether this applies to you, check your operating system documentation.



Can I activate my device when Microsoft Reader is open?
If you are re-activating a device that is already activated, then you must close Microsoft Reader before you activate.

On a Pocket PC, follow these instructions to close Microsoft Reader:

From the Start menu, tap Settings. The Settings window appears. 
Tap the System tab. 
Tap Memory. 
Tap the Running Programs tab. 
In the Running Program List, tap Microsoft Reader, then tap Stop. 


Can more than one person activate the same device?
Yes, but only one Activation is in effect at a time. You will only be able to access the Library and eBooks associated with the current Activation. The exact behavior depends on which device and operating system you are using. You can use multiple Activations on the same device to control access to confidential or age-sensitive eBooks.

Pocket PCs and other Windows CE-based devices:
If you want to activate a device that has already been activated by someone else, simply re-activate it using your own Passport. When you re-activate, you will not lose any eBooks that are associated with the other person's Passport. The other person can re-activate at any time, using his or her Passport, to access eBooks associated with that person's Activation. 
Computers running Windows (not Windows CE):
If you log into Windows with your own Windows user name, your Activation will be kept separate from other users on that computer. After you log into Windows, simply Activate with your own Passport. Your Activation will be in effect whenever you are logged on to that computer with your Windows user name. 
If you share a Windows user name with other users on the same computer, then you should follow the same procedure as for Pocket PCs.



Do I need any other special software to activate?
You do not need special software to activate most devices. To activate a Pocket PC, however, you must have ActiveSync (version 3.5 or higher) installed on the desktop computer to which your Pocket PC is connected.



Pocket PC questions

What is ActiveSync and how do I install it?
ActiveSync is communications software that your Pocket PC uses to "talk" to your computer. You probably installed it when you first got your Pocket PC. If you didn't, or if you're not sure, review the documentation you received with your Pocket PC. You can also download ActiveSync here.



How do I activate my Pocket PC device?
Point Internet Explorer to the Microsoft activation site, log in with your Passport sign-in name (any Hotmail, MSN, or Passport account will do), then, click the Activate Your Pocket PC button. You must activate through a tethered desktop or laptop connection.

Please note: some PDA devices do not ship with the OEMinfo.xml file required for activation, please contact your PDA manufacturer for a patch to install this file.

1. Make sure your Pocket PC is connected to your PC (via the cradle or USB).
2. Double-click the ActiveSync icon on your desktop, then click the Explore button at the top of the button bar to view the Mobile Devices folder.
3. Double-click the My Pocket PC icon, then double-click the My Documents folder. (If your Pocket PC has a storage card, you won’t need to perform this step. Instead, click Storage Card, create a folder called My Documents if it doesn’t already exist, and open it.)
4. Locate the My Library folder on your PC. It should be located in your My Documents folder, but if you cannot find it, try searching for it on your C or D drive.
5. Resize and align the ActiveSync and My Library windows so they are side by side.
6. In My Library, select the Microsoft Reader files that you want to copy, then drag and drop them into the My Documents folder in the ActiveSync window to complete the process.

When you run Microsoft Reader again, give it a little time to rebuild its eBook catalog. If you have a lot of eBooks, it can take some time. If you would like to read an eBook while the catalog is rebuilt, use your File Explorer to open an eBook on your Pocket PC; while you're enjoying your eBook, Reader will continue to rebuild its catalog of your titles.