Activation problem on re-install of Vista

[xiowan]

Hello all:
I just finished re-installing my full retail version of Vista Home
Premium on a different machine and expected activation to fail with a new
motherboard and hard drive. But, when I clicked for it to activate
expecting to have to phone in for approval since it was on a different
machine, it activated automatically. I think this may be related to
installing SP1 from a purchased disk from NewEgg and may have confused
Windows into thinking it was already activated before SP1 was installed?
The problem is I don't think the O.S. is being recognized as valid when
I try to download the Media Center Guide. I get a constant error code 13 and
can't download the guide. I have been to Windows Update and downloaded a
number of post SP1 updates without problem but no go with the Guide. Is
there a window site I can go to to make sure my installation is validated?
Perhaps after it is properly validated the Guide downloads will work? I
installed SP1 from the disk right after the O.S. install without going to
Window Update and I think I may have skipped a step where my O.S. gets
validated. Any suggestions........Media Center without a Guide is a bummer!

xiowan........in tucson

 

[Mick Murphy]

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/faq.aspx

 

[xiowan]

Hi Mick Murphy:
I ran the validation check and the O.S. validated ok. But I still had
a problem with the code 13 on any Guide Download attempts so I had an idea it
was a problem with anything to do with Updates and remembered the last time I
installed an O.S. and went to Update the first thing automatically downloaded
was a "required "Windows Update Update" or something like that. I tried
going to Windows Update to see if it would install that but it didn't. So,
I re-stored the O.S. back to right after the Intel motherboard software was
installed and went to Windows Update. The first thing it required was that
Update Update LOL. After that I went ahead and installed SP1 from my
purchased dvd and now the Guide updates fine and the clock now updates the
time ok. I don't know if the Update Update was the problem but the problem
is thankfully solved. Thanks for your assistance, it is appreciated!

xiowan.............in tucson

p.s. I had to re-activate again after re-storing the pc to before the
previous activation and re-installing SP1. Surprisingly it activated online
and I still wasn't required to phone into an actual human being as I always
have before. Nice!

 

[xiowan]

Hello "wysiwyg":
This is the first time I've ever been able to re-install the O.S.
without having to call in and have it ok'd by a Microsoft customer service
rep. I have a full retail Home Premium and an Ultimate Vista and both have
been re-installed in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions and even with all the
same hardware they wouldn't activate without a phone call. This time I used
a newer board, same processor, new system hard drive, different DVD drive,
and 3 hard drives re-cycled from a previous build and it activated twice
without a phone call. They must have gotten tired of me phoning them!
(Actually I think it has something to do with using the SP1 dvd I bought from
NewEgg. It is labeled "Licensed for distribution only with a new PC" and I
noticed that right after I ordered it they quit selling it as an individual
purchase at NewEgg. I'm glad I got the SP1 DVD though......using my dial-up
connection it would have taken me many hours to download SP1!)
Thanks for your input though. I appreciate your trying to help out.

xiowan..............in tucson