Non-Genuine copy of Vista Problems

[Guest]

Hi,
My friend put on a non-genuine copy of vista ULTIMATE on my laptop. It kept
asking me to activate with the product key, but as this was not genuine i
didn't do anything.
My friend told me that it would just stop asking me for the product key, but
since i didn't activate my vista in time it has now de-activated and locked
me out of my computer.

What is the best thing for me to do? I have gone to a shop and they said
vista ultimate - was $700AUD to buy. This is to much money, i cant afford
that. I know i should not have done this but is there anything else i can do?

Please can anyone help me?

Erin

 

[Chad Harris]

Hi Erin--

The best thing to do is to get a legit Vista. It sure doesn't need to be
Ultimate. You can do fine with any of the other editions that you can
afford. If you have XP, you can install and activate XP and format this
pirated Vista on your box, then you could get one of the upgrade editions
that suits you.

There is a way to install an upgrade without XP on the box, but it's not
supported by MSFT and isn't legal.

CH

 

[Richard Urban]

Reinstall your original operating system. You will lose everything on the
system partition. I do hope that you have backups of your important files so
that they are not lost. You have learned a lessen I suppose.

--


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!

 

[Guest]

Hi Chad,

Thank you for your quick response.
So you are saying i dont have to buy the ULTIMATE? Will this disrupt my
files if i dont have the product code for the version i have installed? Then
do i reinstall it or just put in the product code?

I have been doing some reading up on uninstalling vista and it appears to
work if you use XP disc. But i have been locked out of my computer so i dont
think i can backup my files before i do this, which is very risky.

I have also read that you can buy a 'Get Genuine' pack for XP, is there
something like this for vista? OR would i be able to contact microsoft and
ask to buy a product key licence?

Your help is greatly appreciated,

Thanks
Erin

 

[Chad Harris]

Erin--

1) You sure don't have to buy the ultimate edition. A lot of pirated copies
happen to be ultimate but I want you to erase it from your HD using the new
DVD to format it.

Vista Editions
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/default.mspx

2) If you have created files, or docs during the 30 days or so before your
Ultimate went into reduced functionality mode, you could boot into safe mode
and try to back up anything you need.

3) If you have the XP disk, you don't have to uninstall anything. Just pop
it in and when it gives you the chance to format that pirated Vista, do it.

4) Activate the XP disk and then buy the upgrade or full edition of Vista
that you can afford.

5) I haven't seen the parallel "Genuine" offer that MSFT made for XP with
Vista to date Erin. Take a look--they seem to cover XP only:

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/FAQ.aspx#ID0ENKAC


http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/offers/default.aspx

6) You can sure call MSFT and check with them, but I don't think they have
any help for you as for as swapping a key for yours. Maybe so:

Call and ask for activation. Call (800) 936-5700 and ask for activation.

Good luck, and if you have any more questions ask.

CH

 

[Chad Harris]

LOL that's what I said twice if Erin has XP or another OS. However, I have
been able to save whatever was needed from someone's Reduced Functionality
of Vista by simply tapping F8 and booting to safe mode. My preference is
safe mode with networking. It's not clear whether Erin has the need to save
anything, but she can probably get it done in Reduced functionality mode
this way if she needs to.

Another means of possible access to save material in Reduced Functionality
mode is to right click Start and try to access files and folders via Windows
Explorer (i.e. Explorer all users).

I don't know if it was clear to Erin that she was being given a pirated
version--sometimes if isn't,and sometimes the giver isn't aware either
because the giver was also a receiver.

CH

 

[Man-wai Chang]

Hi,
My friend put on a non-genuine copy of vista ULTIMATE on my laptop. It kept
asking me to activate with the product key, but as this was not genuine i
didn't do anything.

Roll it over with Ubuntu Linux.

--
.~. Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY. http://www.linux-sxs.org
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Ubuntu 6.10) Linux 2.6.21.1
^ ^ 17:25:01 up 8 days 2:18 1 user load average: 0.06 0.05 0.01
news://news.3home.net news://news.hkpcug.org news://news.newsgroup.com.hk

 

[Conor]

Hi,
My friend put on a non-genuine copy of vista ULTIMATE on my laptop. It kept
asking me to activate with the product key, but as this was not genuine i
didn't do anything.
My friend told me that it would just stop asking me for the product key, but
since i didn't activate my vista in time it has now de-activated and locked
me out of my computer.

What is the best thing for me to do? I have gone to a shop and they said
vista ultimate - was $700AUD to buy. This is to much money, i cant afford
that. I know i should not have done this but is there anything else i can do?

Buy it.

**** off theif. No help here.

 

[Guest]

Hi Chad,

I was looking for my XP CD but i have misplaced it. I got a genuine copy of
XP professional with my new DELL but i cant find the CD. I have the product
key on my computer though.
Am i able to download the trial version from microsoft and put in my product
key? Will this help with removing vista from my computer? Will this be the
same as having the complete installing CD that came with my computer?

Thanks for all your help. Everything is just going wrong.

Erin

 

[Guest]

If you want to get whatever files you had on your computer before installing
a new version of vista, get a linux live cd or something - it won't install
on your hard disk and you can put any files you have on a USB or something -
Then either install Linux or get a legit copy of Vista.

PS Most distros do a livecd - basically this boots up into ram so you can
try it out before installing, it won't do anything to your hard drive so
don't worry - best to probably try out something like Ubuntu (www.ubuntu.com)
- then ask any questions on how to get your date back etc on the forum)

Jim