Hit Points on MSN

Microsoft forces online accounts for all Windows installs effectively ending offline use

A recorded voice on Microsoft's activation hotline delivers a stark message: "Support for product activation has moved online ...

Working on the go? You can no longer activate Windows with your phone

Failure to activate Windows will result in watermarks and feature restrictions, which could be bad news for customers who don't have reliable access to the internet. TechRadar Pro has asked Microsoft ...

Microsoft Ends This Decades-Old Offline Activation Method For Windows

Microsoft has officially retired the traditional phone-based activation system for Windows (and MS Office) that served as a ...
ZDNet

Need to activate Windows? Microsoft just eliminated an option I've relied on for years

Phone activation for Windows has been discontinued. You'll have to use an online portal to activate Windows. The portal requires a Microsoft or business account. Microsoft has typically offered a few ...
Indiatimes

Microsoft ends phone activation for Windows, pushes users to online-only portal

Microsoft has ended its phone-based activation for Windows and Office, pushing users to an online-only system requiring a Microsoft account. This change, discovered by a tech enthusiast, impacts older ...