Activation
Read this page to find answers to frequently asked questions about activation
for Microsoft Reader.
Pocket PC questions
Upgrade questions
Security questions
Troubleshooting
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.
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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.
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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.
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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
.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Is there a charge for activation support?
Support for Microsoft Reader activation is free. Call the toll free number (866) 834-8317 for
activation support.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Do I need any other special software to activate?
You do not need special software to activate most devices. To activate a
Windows Mobile, however, you must have ActiveSync (version 3.5 or higher) installed
on the desktop computer to which your Windows Mobile is connected.
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Windows Mobile questions
What is ActiveSync and how do I install it?
ActiveSync is communications software that your Windows Mobile uses to "talk"
to your computer. You probably installed it when you first got your Windows Mobile.
If you didn't, or if you're not sure, review the documentation you received
with your Windows Mobile. You can also
download
ActiveSync here
.
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How do I activate my Windows Mobile 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.
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Why do I need to be tethered to activate?
Internet Explorer 4.0 components are required to activate Microsoft Reader
on a Windows Mobile device. Specifically, Pocket IE does not support ActiveX
controls (downloaded during activation). In addition, the Activation Server
would need to be designed to support Pocket IE/Pocket PC (240x320 screen
size).
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Upgrade questions
Why can't I activate my new copy of Microsoft Reader? I
have a Passport, but when I click YES on the Passport site, I see the same question
repeatedly.
You may have to delete your Passport cookie to activate Microsoft Reader. To remove Passport cookies:
If you're using Internet Explorer
1. Click Tools, then Internet Options.
2. Under Temporary Internet files, click Settings.
3. Click the View Files button.
4. Right click and delete the following files:
[YourName]@passport.com
[YourName]@passporttest.com
Cookie:[your name]@das.microsoft.com/
Cookie:[your name]@passport.com/
Cookie:[your name]@passport.com/ppsecure
5. Close all your browser windows, and reopen your browser to the Microsoft
activation site.
If you're using Netscape Navigator
1. Close all Netscape instances.
2. Use Notepad to edit [Netscape Install Drive]:\Program Files\Netscape\Users\[your
name]\cookies.txt.
3. Remove all lines that start with "passport.com" and "das.microsoft.com."
4. Reopen your browser to the Microsoft activation site.
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If I upgrade to Microsoft Reader, will the eBooks I've
purchased and downloaded still be available? Can I move them to my Windows Mobile
device?
To view your eBooks, you simply have to activate the new version of Microsoft
Reader using the same Passport account you used previously. Then, you can simply
copy your eBooks to the activated Windows Mobile to read them there as well.
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If I already have eBooks in the older version of Microsoft
Reader, should I activate the new version using the same information?
Yes, you must re-activate using the same information to continue reading the
eBooks in your previous library.
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Security questions
What information is collected during activation?
Microsoft takes seriously the privacy of your personal information and honors
your choices for its intended use. We take steps to help protect all personal
data from loss, misuse, unauthorized access or disclosure, alteration, or destruction.
Microsoft Reader collects unique information about your device and sends it
to a Microsoft Activation Server. The following information is transmitted:
-
A Hardware Identification code computed using serial numbers and other
information unique to your device. The code is computed using a technique
known as a "one-way hash function" so it is not possible to reconstruct
your device's unique information from the code. In this way, Microsoft respects
the privacy of information about your device while still providing you with
access to premium content from eBook publishers.
-
A Product ID number from the copy of Microsoft Reader on your device. This
is the same for all copies of the same version of Microsoft Reader and is
not unique to you or your device.
Once the encrypted Activation Certificate is downloaded to your device, no
information that can uniquely identify your device is retained in our activation
server.
For more on Microsoft privacy policies go to the
Microsoft
Privacy, Safety and Security Web Site
.
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Why do I need my browser set to accept cookies?
Activation uses cookies to enable Passport authentication. None of the cookies
passed to your browser during the Activation process will remain on your computer
after you close your browser.
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Troubleshooting
Why can't I activate my new copy of Microsoft Reader?
I have a Passport, but when I click YES on the Passport site, I see the same
question repeatedly.
You may have to delete your Passport cookie to activate Microsoft Reader.
To remove Passport cookies:
If you're using Internet Explorer
1. Click Tools, then Internet Options.
2. Under Temporary Internet files, click Settings.
3. Click the View Files button.
4. Right click and delete the following files:
[YourName]@passport.com
[YourName]@passporttest.com
Cookie:[your name]@das.microsoft.com/
Cookie:[your name]@passport.com/
Cookie:[your name]@passport.com/ppsecure
5. Close all your browser windows, and reopen your browser to the Microsoft
activation site.
If you're using Netscape Navigator
1. Close all Netscape instances.
2. Use Notepad to edit [Netscape Install Drive]:\Program Files\Netscape\Users\[your
name]\cookies.txt.
3. Remove all lines that start with "passport.com" and "das.microsoft.com."
4. Reopen your browser to the Microsoft activation site.
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I'm trying to
activate Microsoft Reader. I click to the logon page and then nothing happens
except it sends me back to the same page.
You may have to clear your cache to activate Microsoft Reader.
To clear your cache:
If you're using Internet Explorer
1. Click Tools, then Internet Options.
2. Under Temporary Internet Files, click Settings.
3. Click the Delete Files button.
4. Close all your browser windows, and reopen your browser to the Microsoft
activation site.
If you're using Netscape Navigator
1. Click Edit, then Preferences.
2. Find Advanced, then click the + button in front of Advanced.
3. Click Cache.
5. Click Clear Memory Cache, and click OK.
6. Click Clear Disk Cache, and click OK.
7. Close all your browser windows, and reopen your browser to the Microsoft activation
site.
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I see an error "Microsoft
Reader is no longer able to access this eBook" on my Windows Mobile. What
can I do to troubleshoot?
When you first read a book using Microsoft Reader, the software paginates
the eBook for you: as you read your eBook, Microsoft Reader software determines
the length of the eBook according to the current font size setting and updates
the .EBO file for the opened book with that information. If you hard-reset your
Windows Mobile, Microsoft Reader assumes you're opening an eBook for the first time,
and the software paginates the eBook for you.
If you open an eBook for the first time, and turn off the device while Reader
is performing background pagination, you'll receive an error, "Microsoft
Reader is no longer able to access this book."
Here's how to fix the problem:
-
Shut down Microsoft Reader:
a. From the Start Menu, tap "Settings"
b. Select the System tab.
c. Select the Memory icon.
d. Tap the Running Program tab.
e. Highlight Microsoft Reader on the Running Program list.
f. Tap the Stop button.
- Tap OK.
- Start File Explorer
- Navigate to My Documents/Annotations
-
Select and delete the .EBO file for the problem title. The correct .EBO
file is the file that begins with the eBook title. If more than one .EBO
file exists for the problem title, select and delete each one.
- Start Microsoft Reader again.
-
Open the eBook. Let the device remain turned on, allowing Microsoft Reader
to repaginate until it completes. This process should not take more than
a few minutes. Microsoft Reader needs to perform this operation just once
for each eBook.
How do I know if Reader is still handling background pagination on
the title?
- Open the eBook in question.
- Begin reading the content.
-
On the bottom of the Reader page, tap and hold the page number for a couple
of seconds — then release it. The Riffle Control should be displayed:
its appearance may take a second or two.
-
The Riffle Control shows you where you are in the eBook. The leftmost number
is the first page of the eBook; the rightmost number is the last page of
the eBook.
If the right-most number is displayed in red, then the Reader is not done
with background pagination. If the right-most number is displayed in black,
then the Reader has completed pagination.
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I've tried repagination, but I still
see an error, "Microsoft Reader is no longer able to access this eBook" on
my Windows Mobile. What else can I do to troubleshoot?
Microsoft Reader keeps a catalog of all the eBooks on your device. This catalog
is called litpath.LPT. The catalog contains a list of the books and their locations.
Sometimes the litpath.LPT file can become corrupted,
especially if you move your eBooks to a different location on your device.
If the file does become corrupted, you may see an error message, "Microsoft
Reader is no longer able to access this book," when you open your eBook
from the Library.
Here's how to fix the problem:
-
Shut down Microsoft Reader:
a. From the Start Menu, tap "Settings"
b. Select the System tab.
c. Select the Memory icon.
d. Tap the Running Program tab.
e. Highlight Microsoft Reader on the Running Program list.
f. Tap the Stop button.
- Cradle your Pocket PC
- Establish a connection to your Windows Mobile device using ActiveSync
- From the ActiveSync file menu, select Explore.
- In the Explorer window that appears, double-click the My Pocket PC icon.
- Find litpath.LPT in the file list
- Delete litpath.LPT
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 Windows Mobile; while you're enjoying your eBook,
Reader will continue to rebuild its catalog of your titles.
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