This is an effort by Microsoft for educating users to minimize piracy. If you are running a pirated version of Windows XP, you will not be able to download updates / security patches from Microsoft website. This helps the user to verify if the copy of Windows that he is using is Genuine… before downloading the security patches and other add-ons to the operating system.

This is how it works:

The user visits the Windows Update site to download the latest patches and updates for the operating system that he is using
The download page displays a message similar to the one as below:

This prompts you to check and validate if the operating system that you are using is genuine
After you click on the link to validate, the Microsoft’s systems automatically runs a check, or by providing a product identification number. Users who may have lost the product identification number will be asked 3 basic questions. Now if they trust on you, you get a free replacement key
Once your operating system is validated, Success! You are now able to download the updates or the patches or any damn! thing that is available for you to keep your system updated.

This is currently only for Windows XP and slowly Microsoft are going to implement on all operating systems and it will be mandatory to validate before downloading any security patches and updates.

In addition, Microsoft also allows the user to download updates by turning on the Automatic Update feature. With this, Microsoft promotes security and ensures people to buy genuine version of Windows.

It is advised to buy your genuine copy of CD from genuine retailers. Just make a note to stick the authentication key slip on your PC. With this don’t only call yourself as a proud owner of using Genuine Windows but that also is required for validating your genuine advantage validation tool.