Vista Activation Question

Ice_2

anyone come across this and if so how did you sort it...just done a clean install of vista home premium OEM version...put in the product key no problems...all going well until I try to activate which it comes up with "product key in use you cannot use this product key" then asks if you want to phone M$ blah blah blah...no I bloody well don't...why have they brought out an OS that is so unstable...this happened to a mate of my son's and after afew days it just activated no problem...I now have 29 days to activate...can see this going in the bloody bin...it's mine I bought it fair and square...from ebuyer...no it's not on any other machine just this one...no I haven't up-graded any components...just got something that looked like a and behaved like a virus got fed up with it so formatted...with the disc...so why is this happening...anyone got any ideas...I am at a lost I will let you the out come if it activates or whether I have to ring M$...:mad:

Conor_3

You have to ring MS, plain and simple - there is no other way around it. Chances are it was a "pre-activated" version that was installed originally which is why you're now getting the message. Just phone the 0800 number it tells you to and go through the routine - it's very easy.

The OS isn't unstable and you're aiming your bad mood at the wrong people. You should be aiming it at the millions of people who have pirated MS products and forced MS to introduce WPA to try and kerb the losses.

robnye

im sure there is a way to do this online.....

i admit i have done this with windows xp, but reactivated it online, after entering the original code and making a note of the 7/8 lines of codes and then entereing them into my pc and hey presto

jje_2

Activation fails as the licence is already activated .
next step takes you to an automatic screen to activate . If that fails it will generate a number . You then phone MS and they ask for this number . Probably then ask if its been installed on more than one machine .They will then give you the activation code to input .
As you have bought an OEM product they may not do as above as OEM is not retail and is only licened to be sold with certain hardware .So i would not be 100% sure of the steps to take .
I have reactivated Retail version of Vista by phone at least ten times no problem .
When asked why so many times just said i had changed hard drive again as they kept failing .

You dont say if you already had this copy installed or not . If it was then it should be ok but if its a first install with this copy and you get the message that its already activated get on to the supplier as the disc has already been used .

Activation is supposed to stop piracy but it does no such thing and is a pain for legitimate users .

jje

Cerro

You do realise you don't have to activate Vista for like, over a year? You can extend the 30 Day limit about 12 times or so (only the Vista Home edition cannnot be extended).

And no, its not a hack and it does not break the EULA for Vista. It was built in by MS Developers so that companies would have time to activate copies install via an image. I use it because I often rebuild my Vista install (I only use it for gaming, everything else I do in Ubuntu) and can't be bothered with another game of 20 questions... I get pretty irritated when they ask "Why have you had to reactivate so many times?" I have to supress the urge to tell them "What the **** has it got to do with you?"

Don't bother with it, extend the activation deadline. I don't see why they have had to bring out such an annoying measure (as if Vista isn't irritating enough) - its not like its impossible to break the copy protection... it just annoys the average user! WPA does not prevent mass piracy.

Actually everyone should read this article - another good reason why buying a Vista PC off ebay (and the likes) is big risk, 8-12months down the line, you could be faced with having to fork out for a legitimate copy of Vista.

http://www.windowssecrets.com/comp/070315/#story1

jje_2

£0 days again and agin But what about Service Pack 1 and the KB that follows it down the wires that sniff out inactivated copies and fake activation /extended 30 day trial hacks .
Update for Windows Vista (KB940510)
Download size: 3,0 MB

You may need to restart your computer for this update to take effect.

Update type: Important

Install this update to enable Windows Vista to detect software that bypasses product activation and interferes with normal Windows operation.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940510

jje

Cerro

jje wrote: »

£0 days again and agin But what about Service Pack 1 and the KB that follows it down the wires that sniff out inactivated copies and fake activation /extended 30 day trial hacks .
Update for Windows Vista (KB940510)
Download size: 3,0 MB

You may need to restart your computer for this update to take effect.

Update type: Important

Install this update to enable Windows Vista to detect software that bypasses product activation and interferes with normal Windows operation.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940510

jje

I have Vista Ultimate SP1 - SP1 on the Home edition prevents extending the 30 Day limit, but not on the corporate versions.

want2bmortgage3

ICE PM me I might be able to help you

jje_2

Cerro wrote: »

I have Vista Ultimate SP1 - SP1 on the Home edition prevents extending the 30 Day limit, but not on the corporate versions.

But most home users wont be running a corp version .

jje

Cerro

No, most will be running XP

Considering Vista Ultimate SP1 OEM is only £100 it makes more sense to buy that than buy a home edition. However if your PC comes prepackaged with Vista Ultimate (which alot of custom builders will do) you run the very real risk of getting a "fake" Vista that you won't know about for 12 months or so...

spaceman5

jje wrote: »

£0 days again and agin But what about Service Pack /quote]

is there a service pack 1 out for vista already?