License

[Reinaldo Gomes]

Hi
For my participation in the beta program, Microsoft offered me a Vista
Ultimate License.
This week my hard disk just die. So I bought a new one and installed Vista.
Going to the activation process, I cannot activate because it says my serial
is in use.
Phoning to the activation center, in Portugal, when I enter my ID, it says
not know.
How can I activate the serial?
Thanks.

 

[Paul Riemerman]

If you have a full, retail license (sounds like you do from your
description) just call MS and explain you had to put a new hard drive in
your computer and need to reinstall -- you should be able to activate at
that point.

Paul Riemerman

 

[Reinaldo Gomes]

Thanks Paul.

If you have a full, retail license (sounds like you do from your
description) just call MS and explain you had to put a new hard drive in
your computer and need to reinstall -- you should be able to activate at
that point.

Paul Riemerman

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

When the automated phone activation fails, don't just hang up, instead hold
on the line for a real person. They should be able to activate your
installation.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Reinaldo Gomes]

So it seems.
Except on weekends. The call is disconnected.
Thanks.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

You need to get through the 'automated' part of the activation process. If
the automated activation process cannot activate your copy then you will be
passed over to a 'real' person. Just explain what has happened to the
support person you speak to.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[Guest]

- wow! What a way to waste valuable time - going through this activation
process for legitimately purchased software !!!!!! How many hours have you
spent on this ?

 

[John Barnett MVP]

It doesn't take hours. Automated activation takes around 10 minutes. If you
need to speak to a support technician you are probably looking at 20 minutes
max.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[Frank]

20 minutes time US$ .25 per minute equals US$ 5.00. No matter how one
looks at this situation it still costs money.

 

[Mike Brannigan]

20 minutes time US$ .25 per minute equals US$ 5.00. No matter how one
looks at this situation it still costs money.

Where do you get the $.25 per minute from ? The vast majority of the
activation clearing houses world wide are on toll free numbers.
Looks suspiciously like you are trying to spread a little FUD around this.

 

[mgm]

About 6 months ago I replace 2 hard drives withing about 10 days of each
other. When I attempted to re-activate my XP Pro reinstall on the 2nd new
hard drive install, it wouldn't activate. It recognized too much new
hardware and thought it was a different PC. No problem- within less than 5
minutes I went through the auto process, was passed to a human (and a real
helpful one at that), explained the circumstance and was activated.--- No
sweat.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

Frank the activation telephone numbers are free phone (toll free). Perhaps
if you live in a country that doesn't have a Microsoft presence, then maybe
you would have to pay for the call but, as far as I know, the calls are, as
I've stated above, free.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..