3C. Microsoft Store installation confirmation
The Microsoft Store package does not use the EXE installer's NSIS receipt. After the policies are accepted and the first healthy launch completes, it creates a random local identifier and sends a limited confirmation containing the version, build, architecture, launch time, and the hashed device fingerprint already used by presence.
The server derives a pseudonymous key with HMAC and counts at most one installation per device and channel. EXE and Store installations are displayed separately; a device that used both channels may appear once in each. This measurement is not the official Partner Center acquisition figure and excludes Store downloads that never opened the application.
3D. Estimated installation country
When an installation is first confirmed, the server may estimate the connection country to produce aggregate statistics by territory. The installation record retains only the two-letter ISO country code and does not store the IP address. The country may be unavailable or inaccurate when a VPN, proxy, or corporate network is used.