Vista wouldnt Activate, now won't log in.

[Guest]

So I have my TechNet license and i've installed Vista on two machines, the
first machine activated correctly and works great (so far) the second machine
popped up telling me it needed to activate and could not contact a DNS
server.

After I activated the first client, the number of activations went from 15
to 14 available in my 'my keys' section of TechNet, after I installed the
second station and activated it went from 14 to 13 but now it says its not
activated anymore.

Now the machine won't log in, oh wait here is the great part; I tried to
setup a volume activation server but the Firewall on the computer is
preventing communications, it won't give me the option to activate by phone.

So what do I do, format and reinstall the box? that seems ridiculous

 

[Anando [MVP]]

Hello Rob,

You are trying to use a volume activation server, which falls outside of general consumer oriented
support that is provided by most of us here. You might want to contact Technet assisted support if
you are an active Technet subscriber. More info here:

Technical Support Incidents
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/ms788698.aspx

--
Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp

Microsoft Certified Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/mcp

My Blog
http://www.anando.org/blog

 

[Jane C]

Hello Rob,

I am assuming that you are using Enterprise edition from Technet. Control
Panel > System and Maintenance > System. Change product key, enter your
MAK.

 

[Jerry White]

Hello Rob,

You are trying to use a volume activation server, which falls outside of
general consumer oriented support that is provided by most of us here. You
might want to contact Technet assisted support if you are an active
Technet subscriber. More info here:

He can still post a question here for god sake.

 

[John Barnes]

Calm down. He just suggested that another approach might get better
results. I agree. Jane's suggestion should be tried.

 

[Guest]

Jane thank you for the suggestion but it issue now is that on my laptop, it
declares the copy invalid and only lets me in reduced functionality mode that
will only give me a web browser.

Safe mode won't let me log in until after the software has been activated.

I would prefer not to waste a support incidient on a simple activation
issue, does no one in here have any suggestion on how to activate the
Enterprise edition after windows has declared it invalid?