Activation itself is a one-time thing. What you're probably thinking of is Windows Genuine Advantage, later renamed Windows Activation Technologies[1]. This is far more insidious. To wit:
WGA consists of two components:
an installable component called WGA Notifications
that hooks into Winlogon and validates the
Windows license upon each logon and an ActiveX
control that checks the validity of the Windows
license when downloading certain updates
I've mentioned this on HN on a number of occasions, and the community here seems totally nonplussed about it. People just don't seem to care that this software "validates" each time you log in.
However, I think this ongoing check only started with Windows XP SP3. I have a Windows XP SP2 installation in a VM. I don't allow Internet access at all for it, I copy anything I need to a shared directory. It has stayed activated for quite some time without complaining and without needing the Internet for anything.
However, I think this ongoing check only started with Windows XP SP3. I have a Windows XP SP2 installation in a VM. I don't allow Internet access at all for it, I copy anything I need to a shared directory. It has stayed activated for quite some time without complaining and without needing the Internet for anything.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Genuine_Advantage