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.

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.

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.

Why do I need to be tethered to activate?
Internet Explorer 4.0 components are required to activate Microsoft Reader on a Pocket PC 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).

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.

If I upgrade to Microsoft Reader, will the eBooks I've purchased and downloaded still be available? Can I move them to my Pocket PC 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 Pocket PC to read them there as well.

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.

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 .

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.

Troubleshooting

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.

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.

I see an error "Microsoft Reader is no longer able to access this eBook" on my Pocket PC. 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 Pocket PC, 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.

I've tried repagination, but I still see an error, "Microsoft Reader is no longer able to access this eBook" on my Pocket PC. 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 Pocket PC 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 Pocket PC; while you're enjoying your eBook, Reader will continue to rebuild its catalog of your titles.