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: Microsoft places a specialized marker, the SLIC table , directly into the computer's motherboard BIOS/ACPI firmware.

: Ultimate, Business, Home Premium, and Home Basic.

: When Windows boots, it checks the BIOS for this SLIC table, matches it with an XML certificate installed in the OS, and validates it against a master OEM product key. If all three elements match, Windows activates offline.

Microsoft allows users to download and install Windows 10 and Windows 11 completely free from their official website. The unactivated version works indefinitely with only minor cosmetic limitations (such as a watermark and disabled personalization settings).