I had to re-install Windows and upgrade to VISTA again after a hard drive
failure. When I try to activate Vista it says this ID already in use. How
can I fix this. It has been past my free time to get support from Microsoft.
Do I have to pay them to get this fixed?

"Bill" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:8B0830C2-434A-4B40-A5FA-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I had to re-install Windows and upgrade to VISTA again after a hard drive
> failure. When I try to activate Vista it says this ID already in use.
> How
> can I fix this. It has been past my free time to get support from
> Microsoft.
> Do I have to pay them to get this fixed?
>
You do have to re-activate yes but will need to follow the screen
instructions and choose the telephone option. This will give you a toll free
number. Explain what happened and they may allow you to activate OK.



--
Ian

Ian Betts wrote:
>
>
> "Bill" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:8B0830C2-434A-4B40-A5FA-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> I had to re-install Windows and upgrade to VISTA again after a hard drive
>> failure. When I try to activate Vista it says this ID already in use.
>> How
>> can I fix this. It has been past my free time to get support from
>> Microsoft.
>> Do I have to pay them to get this fixed?
>>
> You do have to re-activate yes but will need to follow the screen
> instructions and choose the telephone option. This will give you a toll
> free number. Explain what happened and they may allow you to activate OK.
>
>
>

"May"?

--
Alias

To email me, remove shoes

Alias wrote:
> Ian Betts wrote:
>>
>>
>> "Bill" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:8B0830C2-434A-4B40-A5FA-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> I had to re-install Windows and upgrade to VISTA again after a hard
>>> drive
>>> failure. When I try to activate Vista it says this ID already in
>>> use. How
>>> can I fix this. It has been past my free time to get support from
>>> Microsoft.
>>> Do I have to pay them to get this fixed?
>>>
>> You do have to re-activate yes but will need to follow the screen
>> instructions and choose the telephone option. This will give you a
>> toll free number. Explain what happened and they may allow you to
>> activate OK.
>>
>>
>>
>
> "May"?
>

<This is when you destroy yourself.>

"Ian Betts" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:5BD68D9D-463F-4FCB-A432-(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>
> "Bill" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:8B0830C2-434A-4B40-A5FA-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>I had to re-install Windows and upgrade to VISTA again after a hard drive
>> failure. When I try to activate Vista it says this ID already in use.
>> How
>> can I fix this. It has been past my free time to get support from
>> Microsoft.
>> Do I have to pay them to get this fixed?
>>
> You do have to re-activate yes but will need to follow the screen
> instructions and choose the telephone option. This will give you a toll
> free number. Explain what happened and they may allow you to activate OK.
>
Just tell them you've made a hardware change or had a BIOS/drive controller
update and they will re-activate. This is all allowed under the EULA.

So where's the option for "Refund, Product Does Not Perform As
Advertised".

Upgrading a hard drive to be told the product key USED ONLY BY ME is
already in use? Right about now I'm feeling pretty good that I'm not
doing anything more important than gaming on Windows.

Leopard doesn't bombard me with this BS.

visit this link on my website:
http://vistasupport.mvps.org/product...ady_in_use.htm
--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..




"Bill" wrote:

> I had to re-install Windows and upgrade to VISTA again after a hard drive
> failure. When I try to activate Vista it says this ID already in use. How
> can I fix this. It has been past my free time to get support from Microsoft.
> Do I have to pay them to get this fixed?

Bill wrote:
> I had to re-install Windows and upgrade to VISTA again after a hard drive
> failure. When I try to activate Vista it says this ID already in use. How
> can I fix this. It has been past my free time to get support from Microsoft.
> Do I have to pay them to get this fixed?

No.

When you call for activation, being an educated consumer is beneficial.
Quoted from the MS website:

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation_facts.mspx

"Mandatory Product Activation Data

* The Installation ID is unique to each product and comprises two
components:

1. Product ID. Unique to the product key used during installation
2. Hardware hash. Non-unique representation of the PC

* The country in which the product is being installed (for Office
XP and Office XP family products only)"

You are never required to provide any other info in order to get
activated. The agent is required to activate you immediately if you
phone in and provide only the product ID, hardware hash, and
occasionally the country in which the product(s) is being installed! It
is none of their business if you made hardware changes, why you are
reinstalling, etc and you do not need to answer questions like that. If
they give you a hard time, politely remind them of this policy posted on
their company's website. If still they persist, request politely to
speak to a supervisor and escalate the issue until they give YOU the
paying customer the treatment you deserve!

--
Priceless quotes in m.p.w.vista.general group:
http://protectfreedom.tripod.com/kick.html

"Fair use is not merely a nice concept--it is a federal law based on
free speech rights under the First Amendment and is a cornerstone of the
creativity and innovation that is a hallmark of this country. Consumer
rights in the digital age are not frivolous."
- Maura Corbett

bitserf wrote:
> So where's the option for "Refund, Product Does Not Perform As
> Advertised".
>
> Upgrading a hard drive to be told the product key USED ONLY BY ME is
> already in use? Right about now I'm feeling pretty good that I'm not
> doing anything more important than gaming on Windows.
>
> Leopard doesn't bombard me with this BS.
>

Quoted from the MS website:

http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/prod...nd/refund.mspx

Microsoft offers a 45 day refund on all there products.

Along with a up to 7.00 for return shipping. The number to call:

1-888-673-8624

This applies to retail items purchased in North America only. If it is
an OEM item, you need to return it for a refund from the OEM you
purchased it from.

--
Priceless quotes in m.p.w.vista.general group:
http://protectfreedom.tripod.com/kick.html

"Fair use is not merely a nice concept--it is a federal law based on
free speech rights under the First Amendment and is a cornerstone of the
creativity and innovation that is a hallmark of this country. Consumer
rights in the digital age are not frivolous."
- Maura Corbett

Thanks for the replys . All is well as I used the phone option to reactivate
Vista it worked just fine.



"Bill" wrote:

> I had to re-install Windows and upgrade to VISTA again after a hard drive
> failure. When I try to activate Vista it says this ID already in use. How
> can I fix this. It has been past my free time to get support from Microsoft.
> Do I have to pay them to get this fixed?