From 3bd8d6fc0f6e174bed43780e45d92c9b039e351a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: awuctl <61098069+awuctl@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2022 02:13:16 +0100
Subject: [PATCH] Add basic information on most types of activation

---
 Activation.md | 113 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 README.md     |   2 +-
 2 files changed, 114 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
 create mode 100644 Activation.md

diff --git a/Activation.md b/Activation.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..159cd84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Activation.md
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+# The Activation Process
+
+Welcome to the `Activation Process` document. This will have some info on
+Windows 10 activation processes.
+
+# Scope
+
+Windows activation processes differ based on the type of license installed. In
+this document an attempt will be made to semi-comprehensively describe how the
+activation occurs for a given license type.
+
+# Activation Processes
+
+Methods used for activation can be roughly divided into three types. Those are:
+
+ * **Involving Microsoft**
+ * **Indirectly involving Microsoft**
+ * **Not involving Microsoft**
+
+The correlation between license type and how it activates is as follows:
+
+ * **Involving Microsoft**:
+   * Retail
+   * Volume:MAK
+   * OEM:NSLP
+   * OEM:DM
+ * **Indirectly involving Microsoft**
+   * Volume:GVLK
+ * **Not involving Microsoft**:
+   * OEM:SLP
+
+First of all, it'd be nice to know what "activation" even does. In general, we
+are trying to solicit a **license file** that will satisfy the **Software
+Protection Platform** (SPP). When SPP is satisfied, the system is activated.
+
+**License files** contain some information on the license: the type, issue date,
+associated hardware ID (if applicable) and more.
+
+Other than full  licenses, there are **grants** that are valid for a limited
+time. After the time period specified in the grant expires your system will want
+to renew it, prompting what is essentially a "reactivation" of the product.
+
+Deposited licenses and grants can be found in `%windir%\System32\spp\store`.
+Here's likely the simplest way to look through licenses in `tokens.dat`:
+
+```sh
+#!/usr/bin/env zsh
+strings tokens.dat | grep -oP '<License[^>]*?>.*?</License>' > licenses
+split -l1 licenses 'license-' && rm licenses
+for l in license-*; do xmllint --format "$l" --output "$l.xml" && rm "$l"; done
+# license-aa.xml, license-ab.xml, [...] will have all your licenses.
+```
+
+## Activation Involving Microsoft
+
+For activation involving Microsoft their **activation servers** are contacted to
+create and/or retrieve license files.
+
+(The licensing and validation servers your installation uses can be checked with
+`slmgr -dlv`)
+
+The most common variant of this will be a **digital entitlement** (aka. "digital
+license"). This type of license is retrieved through **any** of the following:
+
+ * **Product key**
+ * **Machine**
+ * **Microsoft account**
+ 
+All those above, except the **Machine** type are subject to RIT and ROT related
+effects. (**TODO** Explanation)
+ 
+### Product key
+
+When a valid Windows 10 product key is installed, activation will be attempted.
+If your product key is valid and accepted by Microsoft, a digital license is
+granted for your **machine** based on its **hardware ID**.
+
+### Machine
+
+When **any** valid Windows 10 product key is installed, activation servers are
+contacted to try get a license for it. The activation server will notice your
+**hardware ID** and, if it matches an existing digital license, will grant it to
+you.
+
+The key doesn't have to be valid in this case. Only its **type** matters. 
+
+### Microsoft account
+
+Microsoft accounts, being associated with the Microsoft Store, have information
+on your Microsoft Store licenses - this includes Windows (*most* editions).
+
+When you have a valid Retail (**TBV**) license for Windows, activation is granted
+for new hardware - the computer you logged in with.
+
+## Activation indirectly involving Microsoft
+
+The only type of activation that (in theory at least) indirectly involves
+Microsoft is for Volume:GVLK keys.
+
+When a generic volume licensing key is installed, the configured KMS server is
+contacted to provide the system with a grant for a specific period.
+The activation period depends on the edition and is usually 180 days.
+
+This **indirectly** involves Microsoft because, in a legit environment, the KMS
+server reports to Microsoft.
+
+## Activation not involving Microsoft
+
+In the case of OEM:SLP licensing, the only basis for acquiring a valid license
+file is a valid certificate and a BIOS marker.
+
+Microsoft servers are **not** contacted here, instead the OEM's certificate
+needs to be digitally signed by Microsoft.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5c106fe..5dad759 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -127,4 +127,4 @@ For Windows 10 there are four main types of activation. Those are:
  * **HWID / Digital License**
  * Buying it legally (lmao)
 
-***Work in Progress***
+[Generic information](Activation.md) about activation processes.