Released December 2006, the COA appears as shown. The COA features the product name printed on the label, as well as a background image created by repeating micro-printed words. These words are blue letters on a white background in a distorted curve. This COA has a rounded lower left corner. The left side of the COA contains a transparent Port-Hole™ with individual paper fibers visible around the inside edge. Interwoven vertically through this Port-Hole™ is a metallic thread with well defined letters that read "OUR PASSION" in red and "MICROSOFT". One way to check whether your COA is genuine is to gently rip the edge of the COA to determine that the thread is actually interwoven into the fibers of the label rather than printed on top.

Released August 2004, the COA appears as shown. The COA features the product name printed on the label, as well as a background image created by the repeated words "MICROSOFT CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY." These words are blue letters on a white background in a distorted curve. The right side of the COA contains a transparent Port-Hole™ with individual paper fibers visible around the inside edge. Interwoven vertically through this Port-Hole™ is a metallic thread with well defined letters that read "GENUINE."

Released in Fall 2003, the COA appears as shown. A security thread is interwoven into the label. To check if it is real, do the tear test by gently ripping the COA to ascertain that the thread is actually woven into the fibers of the COA and not printed over. The words "AUTHENTIC PRODUCT" appear in red, yellow, blue, and green. The words "MICROSOFT GENUINE" will also appear as white letters on a grey background.

Released in spring 2003, the COA appears as shown. On the embedded thermochromatic thread, the word "Genuine" appears when the thread is rubbed.

Released in May 2000, the COA appears as shown.