Will my product come with a certificate of authenticity?

A Certificate of Authenticity (COA) is usually related to a product from Microsoft, even though other products or manufacturers may use a COA.  Since the release of DOS 6.22, Microsoft has used a certificate of authenticity to combat their products' piracy. The COA has evolved over the years and is incorporated into each of Microsoft products' physical offerings. A COA is shipped with every physical Microsoft product sold by DirectDeals.com.

Recently, most software manufacturers have made a transition from a physical product to an electronic delivery product. Electronic Delivery products do not have a COA. For years, Microsoft has downplayed the COA as “not the license,” but many attribute the COA to proof of license or the license itself. Electronic products are now authenticated at the point of online or phone registration. An online identity is created when you install and activate the software. That software is then tied to that online identity and can not be transferred from one person to another. The software at the point of authentication goes through Microsoft’s database and is either accepted or rejected by Microsoft. If accepted, you can use that license according to the end-user license agreement (EULA). If the product is rejected, it can mean many things but is usually rectified immediately if you contact our technical support staff.

A Certificate of Authenticity (COA) is a document that validates the legal purchase of software. It often contains a Unique Identification Number (UIN) that authenticates the program during its installation on the computer. Typically, a COA looks like a formal certificate having green swirl patterns around its edges. This hard-to-copy pattern is the indication of the legitimacy of this certificate. A COA can also come as a sticker or a small card attached to a computer, CD case, or manual.

Not every product mandatorily contains a certificate of authenticity, but most Microsoft products do include it, like Windows Operating System and Office Suites. You can check the COA of the Microsoft Windows Operating System on Dell computers, attached as a sticker. With this certificate, Microsoft aims to fight against the piracy of its products. Microsoft has presented COA as “not the license” for years; however, its several attributes state its resemblance to the license.

Lately, electronic delivery products have taken over the IT industry, resulting in a dramatically large shift of software manufacturers from physical products to this kind of product. The process of authentication varies for these product types. Electronic products are usually authenticated during online or phone registration. At the time of software installation and activation, an online identity is created and the software is linked to it. This limits the use of software to only one authorized identity and locks its transfer from one user to another user.

After successful registration, the process of authentication starts. The software is validated with the database of Microsoft, and your request to use that software is accepted or rejected based on the result of this validation. Acceptance of request means you are authorized to use the software license as per the End-User License Agreement (EULA).

DirectDeals, a leading IT solutions provider, helps you with the software licenses and their authentications. As the Certificate of Authenticity has evolved over years, Microsoft has incorporated it into all the physical offerings of its products. And hence, the same is also shipped with all physical Microsoft products sold by Direct Deals.

Our highly skilled technical support staff also helps with the activation and authentication of the products. If for some reason, Microsoft rejects your authentication, we help you in its immediate rectification.