HELP! Product key in use, I REFUSE to pay $59 For help!!

[Guest]

I bought Vista during the first week it was released and installed it on my
laptop. It ran horribly (thanks to no driver support) and so I was forced to
uninstall because my computer was rendered useless. Sad thing is, I
activated my Vista product then. Now, I reinstalled it after 3rd party
companies have finally released drivers and now Microsoft's little gem is
telling me that my product key is invalid and that I need to BUY another one.
No way am I paying anymore money.

So, I figure Ok I'll just contact their tech support. Guess what? My "90
day" period is over so now I need to pay $59 to contact tech support to solve
a stupid problem from a money hungry company. Who in the world has to pay
money for tech support? That is so unreasonable and pathetic especially from
a company such as this its absurd.

What do I do now? Any tech support able to help me out (I refuse to pay
money for support on a product that was plagued with issues on release).

- David

 

[DP]

I haven't done this myself, but others in this group have mentioned this.
Try to activate by phone and talk to a human being when you run into
trouble. You should be able to explain to the person what happened. Since
this is a call to the activation line and not to the support line, you
shouldn't face a charge for it.

 

[Buellpilot]

If it is an activation issue you don't need to call tach support because you
know what the problem is.

As you have already installed and activated your copy of Vista the online
activation is failing so just call the toll free activation number...
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/vol/numbers.mspx

If you bought a retail copy of Vista you can re-install it as many times
as you like.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/activationfaq.mspx

 

[Guest]

Hi David

Just install Vista on your machine and when prompted to activate via
Internet click Yes or Ok. It should give you 3 options after that if it
doesn't activate over the net. Click on the one do to with telephoning
Microsoft. Once done select your country and then it gives you a free phone
number to call. Call Microsoft and just say you had to re-install as your
hard drive had died.

Thats what I did and they gave me a 25 digit key to input.


Alan

 

[Bill Gates]

What do I do now? Any tech support able to help me out (I refuse to
pay money for support on a product that was plagued with issues on
release).

HA HA HA MUUUHAAAH, Vista truly is a piece if shit!

 

[Dustin Harper]

Since you already installed and activated, it thinks the key is in use (by
you, of course!). So, when it won't activate, select the Activate by Phone,
call the number and yuo can tell the Microsoft rep what happened and they
will give you an activation number.

No need to re-buy the OS again. It's just Microsoft's activation scheme,
which is a lot worse with Vista than it ever was with XP.

 

[Peter Foldes]

Use the telephone activation method

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I bought Vista during the first week it was released and installed it on my
laptop. It ran horribly (thanks to no driver support) and so I was forced to
uninstall because my computer was rendered useless. Sad thing is, I
activated my Vista product then. Now, I reinstalled it after 3rd party
companies have finally released drivers and now Microsoft's little gem is
telling me that my product key is invalid and that I need to BUY another one.
No way am I paying anymore money.

So, I figure Ok I'll just contact their tech support.

Why? This isn't really a technical issue.

What do I do now?

If you can't activate via the Internet because it's been less than
120 days since you first activated Vista, simply follow the on-screen
instructions to activate via telephone. As long as you have a retail
license, there's nothing to stop you from transfering it as many times
as you like, just so long as it's only installed on one computer at a time.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Chad Harris]

Hi Dmendes--

Not too worry at all. If there isn't a number you see on the activation
wizard, simply phone up MSFT and ask for Activation, explain the problem and
they'll generate you a working Product Key:

`-(800) 936-5700

Tell them you want to be placed in the activation cue and it shouldn't take
but a few minutes max.

CH

 

[Richard Urban]

Don't contact tech support. They have nothing to do with activation. They
are allowed to freelance (somewhat) in their answers and they may take it
upon themselves to try to get the company extra money.

Call the Vista activation phone number. When on-line activation fails, as it
has, you should get a screen that gives you other activation methods. Choose
the phone activation method. Tell them what happened and they will help you.

THESE people have been instructed to give users the benefit of the doubt and
to not cause unnecessary waves. You should have no problems and it will cost
you nothing but the expenditure of 5-10 minutes of your time.

--


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!

 

[Kevin John Panzke]

Use the Telephone Activation Method, It Won't Cost You Anything Except 5 To
10 Minutes Of Your Precious Time, Just FYI.

 

[Chad Harris]

Hi David--

Not too worry at all. If there isn't a number you see on the activation
wizard, simply phone up MSFT and ask for Activation, explain the problem and
they'll generate you a working Product Key:

`-(800) 936-5700

Tell them you want to be placed in the activation cue and it shouldn't take
but a few minutes max.

CH