The privacy statements for and Windows Server 2012 R2 detail how data is collected during installation and initial setup to improve the user experience and ensure security. Key features like Dynamic Update , Activation , and the Installation Improvement Program involve specific data transmissions to Microsoft. Key Installation Features & Privacy
Installation tools send hashed machine identifiers to Microsoft to manage licensing. The privacy statements for and Windows Server 2012
During the installation and setup of Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2, specific optional features are designed to communicate with Microsoft to enhance the setup experience. According to the Privacy Statement for Installation Features , understanding each of these components is key to making informed decisions. During the installation and setup of Windows 8
Necessary for system health, but it shares detailed hardware inventories with external servers. : The activation mechanism generates a hardware hash
: The activation mechanism generates a hardware hash based on components like the motherboard UUID, MAC address, and primary storage ID. This hash is paired with the product key to prevent licensing abuse.