Activating Vista Home Premium

[JamesJ]

The other day I used the format option to install Vista. I then
did an upgrade and entered my key code but I believe the software
hasn't been activated even though I chose activate automatically.
When I try to activate it it gives me an error saying the code is for
upgrade (which I did).
Is there a way I can find out if it has been activated? If not where do I
find
other options to activate it.

James

 

[philo]

The other day I used the format option to install Vista. I then
did an upgrade and entered my key code but I believe the software
hasn't been activated even though I chose activate automatically.
When I try to activate it it gives me an error saying the code is for
upgrade (which I did).
Is there a way I can find out if it has been activated? If not where do I
find
other options to activate it.

James

Use the phone activation option...
though it may be a PITA...it should only take a few minutes

 

[JamesJ]

There is no option to activate by phone after I enter the key code then
click next. I just get the error message 0xc004f061 saying the code is for
an upgrade not a clean install.

James

 

[JamesJ]

Why didn't the product get activated when I upgraded?????

James

 

[philo]

There is no option to activate by phone after I enter the key code then
click next. I just get the error message 0xc004f061 saying the code is for
an upgrade not a clean install.

<snip>

I re-read your original post and see you formatted the drive and did a clean
install.
A clean install is not an upgrade...

 

[JamesJ]

But, right after the format and install I did an uipgrade as per
a response to me post a week ago.

James

 

[philo]

But, right after the format and install I did an uipgrade as per
a response to me post a week ago.

Ok I missed that post I guess...

I just gave it a try by typing in a random number...
and you are right...there is no phone activation option.

With XP, that was an option I've used and it only took a few minutes.
The only option Microsoft offered was to purchase a new product number for
$359.00

WOW

I hope someone here can give you the phone # for activation...
I could not come up with one...sorry

 

[JamesJ]

Maybe do another upgrade install?

James

Ok I missed that post I guess...

I just gave it a try by typing in a random number...
and you are right...there is no phone activation option.

With XP, that was an option I've used and it only took a few minutes.
The only option Microsoft offered was to purchase a new product number for
$359.00

WOW

I hope someone here can give you the phone # for activation...
I could not come up with one...sorry

 

[philo]

Maybe do another upgrade install?

James

Since I missed your original post...I guess I am not sure why you
(apparantly)

performed a clean install, then immediately performed an upgrade install.

At any rate, now that you did all the work...I'd think for sure someone here
would
have the number to call for a phone activation...


I've only done phone activations with XP...
so someone else will hopefully come to your assistance

 

[philo]

I found the phone number:


1 866 740 1256 for USA non-commercial

 

[JamesJ]

Correct me if I'm wrong. There are 3 types of installation for
Windows Vista. Clean, Format and install and Upgrade
I bypassed the key code and had Vista format and then install
then did an upgrade using my key code.
I didn't do a clean install. Apparently there's a difference between what I
did
and a clean install??

James

 

[JamesJ]

Got it resolved through Microsoft Tech Support.
My problem was the fact that my version of Vista is an upgrade.
Formatting the hard drive erased any evidence of previous version (XP).
MS tech support walked me through a resolution which took
about 20 mts.
btw to get to the Other ways to activate Windows (or what ever it is)
I needed to disconnect the modem and then click activate windows now.

Thanks much for the help it was appreciated,
James

 

[philo]

Correct me if I'm wrong. There are 3 types of installation for
Windows Vista. Clean, Format and install and Upgrade
I bypassed the key code and had Vista format and then install
then did an upgrade using my key code.
I didn't do a clean install. Apparently there's a difference between what I
did
and a clean install??

I'm glad you finally got it sorted out...

An upgrade takes an existing Windows installation and over-writes it with
the upgraded version.
If it goes well, all your original settings should remain and none of the
data would be erased.

A clean install means that Windows is installed fresh...but does not
necessarily mean the drive is formatted.
Vista will take your former version of windows and put it all in an "old"
folder.

The format and install is also a clean install, but the drive is completeley
formatted (erased) first

 

[John Barnes]

The format and install is also a clean install, but the drive is
completeley
formatted (erased) first

Not accurate. Vista does a quick format. Only the indexes areas are
formatted

 

[philo]

Thanks for the correction

 

[JamesJ]

It didn't take long for the format.