Microsoft states that personal information collected during installation is used to set up features, provide requested services, and analyze product performance. Key protections include:
: Users can choose to participate in this program, which sends basic information about the installation process to help Microsoft identify and resolve common setup issues. This process sends information about the software and
: Activation of the software typically occurs automatically during setup. This process sends information about the software and your device (such as the product key and hardware hash) to Microsoft to verify that the software is genuine and not being used on more devices than allowed by the license. Setup Features After Installation Enterprise options (KMS/ADBA)
Connects to Microsoft servers during installation to download the latest setup files and drivers for your hardware. provide requested services
During installation and activation, Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 exchange limited information with Microsoft necessary for validating product keys and diagnosing setup issues. Enterprise options (KMS/ADBA), offline installation, image-based deployment, and careful handling of logs and answer files can minimize data sent externally and protect product keys and device identifiers.
When you enter a during setup or via slmgr.vbs :