Driver updates require new product key

[Conor]

I used the product key when I installed Vista. But now Vista requires a new
key because I have updated some drivers/bios/firmware. I do not think
Keyfinder is able to give me a new key.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931573

SYMPTOMS
You may be prompted to activate Windows Vista on a computer on which
Windows Vista activation was not previously required. Although this
problem rarely occurs, it may occur during typical use of a Windows
Vista-based computer. For example, this problem may occur under one or
more of the following conditions:
? You install a device driver.
? You install a program.
? You run a new program.
? You remove a program.

 

[Sly Dog]

Ras,

The reality of your situation is that THERE IS NO WAY AROUND THIS BUG.

The RIGHT ANSWER is TO CALL THE REACTIVATION HOTLINE.

END OF DISCUSSION!

 

[Guest]

As I have explained previously, this KB does not help either - I get
something like "does not apply to this system" when I try to reinstall this
update. To repeat - my computer is on automatic updates, it still does not
prevent this problem.

I have tried to activate by phone, and this is quite amusing (if I forget
that my computer will lock down tomorrow):
The first attempt ended with not accepting my ID number (9 groups of 6
digits), telling me I would be connected to the first available person.
However I got the hang up signal almost instantly.
The second attempt had the same result, but I got a few seconds of music
before the hang-up signal.
The third attempt was a bit different. After entering the ID, I was asked if
I had more than 1 computer with XP. Since I have 2 other computers running XP
perfectly, I confirmed. Then I was told to contact Microsoft, because I
needed more licenses for XP. This is just insane - I am activating Vista!


So activating by telephone does not work either. Any suggestions?

 

[Sly Dog]

Ras,

Activation by telephone is not rocket science.

Train yourself to respond with the *correct* answers:

1) NO. This is not the first time I am activating Windows.

2) Yes. This is the only computer this copy of Windows is installed on.

3) I am reactivating Windows because my hard drive failed and I have
reinstalled Windows on the replacement drive.

Print this script and follow it during your next activation telephone call.

 

[Guest]

You are answering other quisteions I got:
1) I was not asked if this was the first activation.
2) I was not asked if I had other computers this copy of Windows was
installed on.
3) No question why I was reactivating.

So your guideline cannot help me at all! Are you just guessing?

 

[DevilsPGD]

In message <[email protected]> Rasmus

You are answering other quisteions I got:
1) I was not asked if this was the first activation.
2) I was not asked if I had other computers this copy of Windows was
installed on.
3) No question why I was reactivating.

So your guideline cannot help me at all! Are you just guessing?

Those three are the standard questions, I've gotten them at least nine
out of the last ten times I've called to activate.

*shrugs*

If you can't manage to complete a phone activation, you are in all
honesty, probably too dumb to operate a computer anyway.

You might try reality TV.

 

[Sly Dog]

Ras,

Re-activating Windows is not rocket science.

Keep calling the Activation hotline until you are connected with a
representative who is trained to ask the *correct* questions.

THEN, follow the script I mercifully wrote out for you.

 

[Donald McDaniel]

You are answering other quisteions I got:
1) I was not asked if this was the first activation.
2) I was not asked if I had other computers this copy of Windows was
installed on.
3) No question why I was reactivating.

So your guideline cannot help me at all! Are you just guessing?

Actually, Rasmussen, his advice is very good. Following slydog's advice
should almost always result in a successful activation (even if you're not
entitled to one), IF you speak to an Activation Technician, rather than a
computerized voice.

 

[DevilsPGD]

In message <[email protected]> "Donald McDaniel"

Actually, Rasmussen, his advice is very good. Following slydog's advice
should almost always result in a successful activation (even if you're not
entitled to one), IF you speak to an Activation Technician, rather than a
computerized voice.

Not only that, but if you let the computerized voice do it's thing,
you'll take even less of the activation tech's time.

This is a good thing, they're highly protective of their call times,
unless a call generates an exception that allows them to spend more
time.

In other words, you want a painless activation, make it painless on the
rep too.

 

[Donald McDaniel]

In message <[email protected]> "Donald McDaniel"


Not only that, but if you let the computerized voice do it's thing,
you'll take even less of the activation tech's time.

This is a good thing, they're highly protective of their call times,
unless a call generates an exception that allows them to spend more
time.

In other words, you want a painless activation, make it painless on the
rep too.

Except, of course, for those instances when the computerized voice decides
your OS has been installed too many times, or your key is already in use, in
which case, you MUST speak with an Activation "technician".

Maybe MICROSOFT should be the one which is concerned about a "painless
activation", by creating an Activation process which is truly "painless".

It's kind of hard to interact with a machine when only YOUR personal
explanation will clear a matter up, wouldn't you agree?

So I say, "Screw 'their' time: it's 'OUR' time which is being spent
needlessly."

THEY are being PAID to use "their" time on OUR activation problems , which are
caused by an unfeeling, impersonal and (sometimes malfunctioning) program
written by Microsoft in the first place.

 

[DevilsPGD]

In message <[email protected]> "Donald McDaniel"

Except, of course, for those instances when the computerized voice decides
your OS has been installed too many times, or your key is already in use, in
which case, you MUST speak with an Activation "technician".

In which case you don't have to read it again to the rep, the rep has
the number.

Maybe MICROSOFT should be the one which is concerned about a "painless
activation", by creating an Activation process which is truly "painless".

It's kind of hard to interact with a machine when only YOUR personal
explanation will clear a matter up, wouldn't you agree?

So I say, "Screw 'their' time: it's 'OUR' time which is being spent
needlessly."

THEY are being PAID to use "their" time on OUR activation problems , which are
caused by an unfeeling, impersonal and (sometimes malfunctioning) program
written by Microsoft in the first place.

*shrugs* Have a fast activation, or not, your choice.

 

[Adam Albright]

In message <[email protected]> "Donald McDaniel"


In which case you don't have to read it again to the rep, the rep has
the number.


*shrugs* Have a fast activation, or not, your choice.

I'll relate a story that played out about 5-6 years ago in another
microsoft "support" group. One of the hot topics then was the new
moronic activation scheme Microsoft dreamed up. I was my usual
brutally frank self, under another name, I'll assume most of you know
Adam Albright isn't my real name. <wink>. One thread was running a
long time and then one day somebody posted that claimed he was the
Product Manager for XP or maybe he claimed to be just on the team, too
long ago, I forget. He did have the usual Microsoft telltale signs
including the disclaimer, the header to his posts looked real, if he
was or not, who knows.

Anyway I asked him point blank what the real intent of the activation
scheme was and if honestly he thought it was effective in stopping
pirated copies. His response was refreshingly honest. He said Micosoft
understands that their activations scheme hasn't and won't stop
hackers or priates. That isn't its purpose. Rather the goal was and
obviously remains to squeeze Joe Six Pack and mom and pop little
businesses to cough up some extra cash to buy a second copy of Windows
instead instead of "cheating" and just buying one copy for home, then
copying same to their laptop or maybe do it again at the office or
whatever.

So call me cynical if you must, but the purpose of every business is
to make as much money as they can and they take the path of least
resistance to accomplish that goal. So just so you know, the real
purpose of the activation scheme is to stick to its base of loyal
customers, who mainly are indviduals and mom and pop companies. They
don't even try to block pirating because Microsoft admits that would
indeed be a tough cookie to stop. So when you pony up to the counter
to buy a second or third copy of Windows, bugs and all, remember
Microsoft really doesn't care if right now there are some factories
somewhere in China and probably other parts of the world cranking out
tens of thousands of pirated copies of Windows. They got you
suckers... oops, customers, to make up the difference.

 

[Guest]

I am answering the questions the automatic activation is making.

1) The process ends with a promise to let me talk to a person - but hangs
on. I cannot do anything about that. This happened the first 2 times.

2) In the third attempt the process after some time go on to ask about my XP
licenses, which I answer, and tell me I need to contact MS for more licenses
for XP. I am trying to reactivate Vista.

3) The voice and questions were identical the first 2 times - the 3. time a
slightly different voice and slightly different words were used. I am
answering the questions I get. If Microsoft think I should answer other
questions, they must ask them.

Is this activation guesswork?

 

[Guest]

How can reality TV help me activate Vista?

In message <[email protected]> Rasmus


Those three are the standard questions, I've gotten them at least nine
out of the last ten times I've called to activate.

*shrugs*

If you can't manage to complete a phone activation, you are in all
honesty, probably too dumb to operate a computer anyway.

You might try reality TV.

 

[Donald McDaniel]

In message <[email protected]> "Donald McDaniel"


In which case you don't have to read it again to the rep, the rep has
the number.


*shrugs* Have a fast activation, or not, your choice.

Something tells me we are both speaking about entirely different things.

On the one hand, I have never had an activation via telephone take more than 5
minutes (longer if I want to keep fighting the computerized voices). On the
other, I've never had an activation directly via the Internet take more than 5
seconds. But I have NEVER been blessed with NEVER having to use the telephone
to activate my OS, as apparently you have.

 

[Donald McDaniel]

I am answering the questions the automatic activation is making.

1) The process ends with a promise to let me talk to a person - but hangs
on. I cannot do anything about that. This happened the first 2 times.

2) In the third attempt the process after some time go on to ask about my XP
licenses, which I answer, and tell me I need to contact MS for more licenses
for XP. I am trying to reactivate Vista.

3) The voice and questions were identical the first 2 times - the 3. time a
slightly different voice and slightly different words were used. I am
answering the questions I get. If Microsoft think I should answer other
questions, they must ask them.

Is this activation guesswork?

You MIGHT try forcing the Microsoft Activation Centre answering machine to
give you a real person right off the bat.

How?

Simply fail to answer ANY questions at least 3 times. You will be placed in
a queue to speak with a human. Usually takes about 3 minutes or less after
this before the human comes online.

Tell him/her immediately your problem. Be polite, honest and upfront, and NOT
argumentative. He/she will ask you for the 40 character string of numbers the
Activation wizard shows, you will in return receive a 50 character string of
numbers, 5 characters at a time, which you will enter into the boxes in the
Activation wizard, then press Enter. If you enter the characters correctly,
you will have an activated OS immediately afterward.

This entire process, from calling the provided number to finishing the
activation process, hardly ever takes longer than 7-10 minutes (including
waiting time in a queue).

If you are unable to do that, you will NEVER get your OS activated unless
you wait a minimum of 120 days for the activation records to be wiped, at
which point you should have no problems activating via the Internet.

 

[Guest]

I have now succeeded activating - and it was quite fast. But here is a puzzle:

Yesterday I sent an e-mail to a Microsoft representative, with a screenshot
of my activation screen numbers, telling about the phone activation that will
not accept the numbers, and then cut me off.

Well, this morning he tried the phone activation using my numbers, and
confirmed that the numbers were not accepted. However he was not cut off, and
got to talk with a person. To help me he sent new numbers for me to try, but
unfortulately the last group were missing, so I could not use them.

So I used my numbers once more, hoping that I eventually would come to the
stage where I could talk to a person. But to my surprise, my numbers were not
rejected, and I got a new code to activate!

Why where these numbers rejected yesterday (confirmed by a Microsoft emplyee
- I have got his e-mail reply), but accepted today?

Yesterday I had 1 day left of the activation period. Before activation today
it was changed to "This copy of Windows is not genuine". Of course this is
also wrong.

End of story.

 

[Brian W]

If you are unable to do that, you will NEVER get your OS activated
unless you wait a minimum of 120 days for the activation records to be
wiped, at which point you should have no problems activating via the
Internet.

IS this confirmed for Vista, as I know XP activation resets after 120 days?