Piracy prevention features of Microsoft products can vary based on the way each is acquired. To accurately compare the piracy prevention features of your product, you will need to indicate how it was acquired. You can read about each purchase method on this page to make sure you choose the correct one when you begin your comparison.

The most common way to acquire software is pre-installed on or with the purchase of a new computer. For example, many computers now come with Windows pre-installed. If the software you want to compare was already installed on the computer when you bought it or was included with the purchase of the computer, you should choose Purchased with computer as your acquisition method.

Whether purchased at a store or via a company's Web site, products acquired via retail purchase but not pre-installed on a computer always come as individually boxed products. Though you might have bought the product at the same time you bought a computer, if your product came in its own box with Microsoft packaging, you should choose Purchased retail as your acquisition method.

It is now possible to acquire a genuine copies of Microsoft software via download, buying online and not receiving a boxed product. Current digital purchase options include:

• You can purchase Microsoft software from the Microsoft Store. Visit Microsoft Store to learn more.
• Windows Anytime Upgrade is an online process for upgrading from one version of Windows to another (for example, from Home Premium to Ultimate). Learn more about Windows Anytime Upgrade.
• With the Office Ready program, a free 60 day trial of Office 2007 is included on some computers that have Windows Vista pre-installed. This trial can be converted to a perpetual version. Learn more about activation and conversion of Office 2007 trials.

If you acquired your product by downloading it, you should choose Digital download as your acquisition method.

A Volume License is obtained through Microsoft Volume Licensing, Microsoft® Volume Licensing programs offer all companies a great way to acquire and manage multiple software licenses - for as few as five desktops. You may need to verify with your company's computer administrators to determine if they are taking advantage of a Volume License program or if they used another method to acquire your software. If your company upgraded your computer to this version of Windows through a Volume License program, you should choose Volume License upgrade as your acquisition method.