HP Vista Home Basic help required !!

TakeThis

GunJack wrote: »

it is possible...I got it from a friendly microsoft engineer a few years ago now, and it's only the OEMAct keys it struggles with...

Let me know how it goes.

Hammyman

GunJack wrote: »

of course, but as stated they are different to the original factory install key, and the OEMAct keys do not like my all-in-one vista install disk...you can usually change the key TO that one after installation, but not actually install with it

It has never made a difference IME apart from having to activate over the phone instead of the internet.

GunJack

Hammyman wrote: »

It has never made a difference IME apart from having to activate over the phone instead of the internet.

hmmm... you may be on to something there...if memory serves me correctly, every install I've done using this particular disk has needed phone activation....

TakeThis

GunJack wrote: »

hmmm... you may be on to something there...if memory serves me correctly, every install I've done using this particular disk has needed phone activation....

That is likely because you are missing a step.

GunJack

TakeThis wrote: »

That is likely because you are missing a step.

?? do you mean in the installation software on the disk ??

TakeThis

GunJack wrote: »

?? do you mean in the installation software on the disk ??

Yes and No.
Is your Vista disc an unmodified VISTA installation DVD?

Perhaps you can run a Hash Check on the disc/image and post the result, so I can see with what we are working.
You should not need to phone in for activation if you are using the correct tools.

GunJack

job for tomorrow...after sleep

TakeThis

Ok, see you then.

GunJack

:doh: :doh: I think I may have spent the last couple of years being a complete numpty :doh: :doh:

thanks to you guys, I started digging in an insomniac hour or two last night, and I've found another vista install disk that I'd completely forgotten about as I'd put it away 'coz I'd got the other one. This re-discovered one is newer than the other...so I'm going to compare the two and do a trial install or two later using, in particular, an OEMAct key and see where I go from there...

BTW, any tips for a MD5 generator that will do a full disk without it being a single .ISO file, the couple I've got will only do a file/folder at a time.. so it'll save me a shedload of time

GunJack

right, it's official......I'm a steaming great numpty :doh:

looks like my newer installation disk is the gen article, as in no bits missing, and the one I had been gifted from mr microsoft has bits missing after all. Ran a couple of trial installs with newer disk, and a couple of different manufacturer's OEMAct keys, and hey presto! No bother.... just a couple of years-worth of faffing around for no good reason :mad:

would still like to find out what IS missing from the older one.....