I recently built my own pc using components I have purchased. I have since
upgraded the computer by adding a faster graphics card and installing an
additional hard drive in a RAID formation. When I reinstalled Vista and
tried to activate a message appeared stating that the product key had already
been used on another computer, which of course is not the case. I tried
activating the operating system on the phone with the same result. This is
rather disappointing as I have only had Vista for less than two months. Any
suggestions?

When once you changed the hard drive setup it was picked up as being a new
computer. The hard drive is worth 10 points toward a time out, and
constitutes the majority of points toward accumulating the total that causes
a reactivation. So, when you try to activate, and can't, make that phone
call.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

"TELawrence" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:EB7868A0-F825-42E0-AB59-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I recently built my own pc using components I have purchased. I have since
> upgraded the computer by adding a faster graphics card and installing an
> additional hard drive in a RAID formation. When I reinstalled Vista and
> tried to activate a message appeared stating that the product key had
> already
> been used on another computer, which of course is not the case. I tried
> activating the operating system on the phone with the same result. This
> is
> rather disappointing as I have only had Vista for less than two months.
> Any
> suggestions?

Just telephone the Windows Activation line and explain your problem

--
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..

"TELawrence" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:EB7868A0-F825-42E0-AB59-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I recently built my own pc using components I have purchased. I have since
> upgraded the computer by adding a faster graphics card and installing an
> additional hard drive in a RAID formation. When I reinstalled Vista and
> tried to activate a message appeared stating that the product key had
> already
> been used on another computer, which of course is not the case. I tried
> activating the operating system on the phone with the same result. This
> is
> rather disappointing as I have only had Vista for less than two months.
> Any
> suggestions?

When you call and it doesn't activate by the automated system, it should
forward you to a live person that you can explain what you did and they will
get it activated for you with no problem.

A pain in the butt, but its how its done these days. (I hate the
activation!)

--
Dustin Harper
(E-Mail Removed)
http://www.vistarip.com

--
"TELawrence" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:EB7868A0-F825-42E0-AB59-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I recently built my own pc using components I have purchased. I have since
> upgraded the computer by adding a faster graphics card and installing an
> additional hard drive in a RAID formation. When I reinstalled Vista and
> tried to activate a message appeared stating that the product key had
> already
> been used on another computer, which of course is not the case. I tried
> activating the operating system on the phone with the same result. This
> is
> rather disappointing as I have only had Vista for less than two months.
> Any
> suggestions?