Authentication failure

[Skeptic]

When I attempted to reinstall Vista Ultimate on the same PC on which I had
originally installed my legitimate, certified, un-pirated, newly purchased,
licensed Vista CD - using the correct 25 digit - alpha numeric branded
code - the installation advised that I had entered an invalid code.

I beg to differ. I had carefully preserved and had copied the code onto a
second gummed label I had pasted to the CD cassette. I tried two more times
to enter the code and surrendered.

Somehow - don't ask how - when so utterly frustrated, I accessed the CD
repair options and luckily restored a two week old backup from my portable
storage disk.

Can anyone explain how Microsoft can abuse its honest users with such
harassment? We have rights too! Why not post a suggestion how to obtain
re-authentication as part of that error message that erroneously claimed I
had entered an invalid code?

I feel like a victim falsely charged & arrested.

Question: How do I obtain re-certification, verification, and assurance
from Microsoft that my overpriced, over hyped, under performing, licensed
Vista CD will perform like it's supposed to - if & when I choose to
reinstall it on my originally purchased, and solely owned PC? (and if -
for some reason - Vista's programming failed to recognize my PC as identical
to the one on which I had installed it - why is that my problem & not
Microsoft's?)

Maybe more users ought to behave like pirates considering the lack of
respect Microsoft offers to its 'licensees?' Indeed! Just who are the
pirates - given this set of facts?

Thanks for your patience, understanding, and your agreement maybe?

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

Did it state invalid or that it was previously activated? Subsequent
installations of Vista require phone activation (just type slui 4 into the
start/search line to begin). As the database periodically resets, there is
no way for activation to recognize that this is the same machine that it was
previously activated on.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
Vote for my shoe: http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Richard Urban]

When I attempted to reinstall Vista Ultimate on the same PC on which I had
originally installed my legitimate, certified, un-pirated, newly
purchased, licensed Vista CD - using the correct 25 digit - alpha numeric
branded code - the installation advised that I had entered an invalid
code.

I beg to differ. I had carefully preserved and had copied the code onto a
second gummed label I had pasted to the CD cassette. I tried two more
times to enter the code and surrendered.

Somehow - don't ask how - when so utterly frustrated, I accessed the CD
repair options and luckily restored a two week old backup from my portable
storage disk.

Can anyone explain how Microsoft can abuse its honest users with such
harassment? We have rights too! Why not post a suggestion how to obtain
re-authentication as part of that error message that erroneously claimed I
had entered an invalid code?

I feel like a victim falsely charged & arrested.

Question: How do I obtain re-certification, verification, and assurance
from Microsoft that my overpriced, over hyped, under performing, licensed
Vista CD will perform like it's supposed to - if & when I choose to
reinstall it on my originally purchased, and solely owned PC? (and if -
for some reason - Vista's programming failed to recognize my PC as
identical to the one on which I had installed it - why is that my problem
& not Microsoft's?)

Maybe more users ought to behave like pirates considering the lack of
respect Microsoft offers to its 'licensees?' Indeed! Just who are the
pirates - given this set of facts?

Thanks for your patience, understanding, and your agreement maybe?

If you have successfully restored your computer to an earlier time why don't
you verify your install key with one of the many small apps available that
dig deep into your system information.

You can use Belarc Advisor (FREE) from
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html to do so.

 

[Skeptic]

To: Rick and Richard

First to Rick:
Well 'thanks' Rick - the 'slui 4' hint worked (just like a Windows Easter
egg?) & how is it that I'd never heard of it until your suggestion? But it
is a far cry from making me feel less abused by Microsoft - and here's why:

1. After dialing the activation phone# - a recorded message advised that web
activation would be quicker/easier - without giving me a web address. I
Googled for Windows activation & got a Windows activation address. The web
page was just a FAQ list - that did not include my factual situation
(attempting to reinstall with a retail Vista after having reformatted my
hard drive) - & again - not indicating a web address to begin any kind of
activation procedure.
2. So I dialed in again to complete the phone activation - a long, utterly
ridiculous, and humiliating procedure.
3. Upon completion, a message window advised I had successfully
reactivated - but I had no indication/notification that advised if my
original 25 digit Vista CD activation code had changed or not. What the
hell!

If Microsoft wants to dictate how its licensed users ought to pick their
noses - go to the bathroom - and how many times - for the privilege of using
Microsoft products - then it's an easy bet that the Microsoft empire will
decline & fall under the increasing weight of antitrust litigation,
international piracy, and Microsoft's obvious failure to maintain it's
competitive edge by favoring its profits at the expense of producing less
reliable products, employing shoddy quality controls, lowering standards,
and continuing to lose its customer base.

Now to Richard:
Hey thanks for your Belarc hint. Very cool! I had used Belarc several
years ago but had no idea that it would report the Windows activation code.
I ran Belarc before calling in to reactivate Vista as Rick suggested - and
discovered it reported a completely changed activation code from the one I
had recorded and safeguarded on my retail Vista box.

After reactivating Vista on the phone - & wondering if the reactivated Vista
code would differ from what Belarc had reported, I ran Belarc again & found
that the code had not changed. That was somewhat reassuring.

My sincere gratitude to you, Rick & Richard for your prompt, useful, and
informative assistance. Microsoft does not deserve you.

FYI - this experience coupled with a randomly freezing Vista 64bit for the
past year has led me to the iMac. Thank you for that Microsoft. Steve
Ballmer had soon better look to don his golden parachute.

 

[Rick Rogers]

No easter egg, Skeptic, it's a well documented method for invoking a phone
activation.

"Microsoft does not deserve you."

Thanks, but niether of us work for them. We both spend our free time
voluntarily helping other users like yourself, not Microsoft.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
Vote for my shoe: http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com