Need help---clock is ticking

[LiquidNazgul]

I recently got a nVidia 8800 GTS for Christmas and as my uncle was taking my
computer apart, he realized that not only was there not enough room to put
the card but the Hard Drive would need to be moved. As he was moving the Hard
Drive, a tiny peice of the copper inside the socket of the Hard Drive fell
off---and my entire computer was erased in that instant.
So, I decided to re-use the Vista key I got. UNFORTUNATELY, the key is
technically only for "one" computer, and thus Windows will refuse to active
because I'm on a "different" computer (I replaced the broken Hard Drive and
sucesfully installed the Video Card).
I tried to get Vista Professional help but the fee is 60 bucks and I'm not
paying that much just to get decent help---and I REALLY dont want to spend
100$ for a new Vista Premium.
Is there any way Microsoft could give me a activation key for free? Again,
I'm essentially using the same computer but since my Hard Drive broke,
apparently the Vista Key is inside of that Hard Drive and there's no way of
re-using that Hard Drive in any way.
Someone please help. I expect 13 more days before Vista locks down on me
"for not activating it".

 

[AlexB]

My question is YES. definitely not today. You have to contact them by email
or phone. I have done it a few times for a different reason. I am an MSDN
subscriber with a lot of software on my hands and sometimes keys do not
work. You call them and they will issue a key for you in no time.

 

[Alias]

I recently got a nVidia 8800 GTS for Christmas and as my uncle was taking my
computer apart, he realized that not only was there not enough room to put
the card but the Hard Drive would need to be moved. As he was moving the Hard
Drive, a tiny peice of the copper inside the socket of the Hard Drive fell
off---and my entire computer was erased in that instant.
So, I decided to re-use the Vista key I got. UNFORTUNATELY, the key is
technically only for "one" computer, and thus Windows will refuse to active
because I'm on a "different" computer (I replaced the broken Hard Drive and
sucesfully installed the Video Card).
I tried to get Vista Professional help but the fee is 60 bucks and I'm not
paying that much just to get decent help---and I REALLY dont want to spend
100$ for a new Vista Premium.
Is there any way Microsoft could give me a activation key for free? Again,
I'm essentially using the same computer but since my Hard Drive broke,
apparently the Vista Key is inside of that Hard Drive and there's no way of
re-using that Hard Drive in any way.
Someone please help. I expect 13 more days before Vista locks down on me
"for not activating it".

Ain't activation grand? Use the phone activation option and explain to
the activation clerk that your hard drive went south and they should
activate it for you.

If you're tired of this crap, check out Open Source. I highly recommend
Ubuntu as an operating system. It's free and doesn't require activation
or becoming "genuine". Not only that, it's virtually impossible to get a
virus or malware with Linux Ubuntu and it's FREE. It also comes with
access to over 23,000 FREE programs. To top it off, they will pay the
postage to send you the free CD by post.

Check it out at http://www.ubuntu.com/

Alias

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

I recently got a nVidia 8800 GTS for Christmas and as my uncle was taking
my
computer apart, he realized that not only was there not enough room to put
the card but the Hard Drive would need to be moved. As he was moving the
Hard
Drive, a tiny peice of the copper inside the socket of the Hard Drive fell
off---and my entire computer was erased in that instant.
So, I decided to re-use the Vista key I got. UNFORTUNATELY, the key is
technically only for "one" computer, and thus Windows will refuse to
active
because I'm on a "different" computer (I replaced the broken Hard Drive
and
sucesfully installed the Video Card).
I tried to get Vista Professional help but the fee is 60 bucks and I'm not
paying that much just to get decent help---and I REALLY dont want to spend
100$ for a new Vista Premium.
Is there any way Microsoft could give me a activation key for free? Again,
I'm essentially using the same computer but since my Hard Drive broke,
apparently the Vista Key is inside of that Hard Drive and there's no way
of
re-using that Hard Drive in any way.
Someone please help. I expect 13 more days before Vista locks down on me
"for not activating it".

Use the phone activation method.. it takes less than 10 minutes and will not
cost you a new license key..

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

It is the same computer, you just replaced the hard drive and added a video
card. That does not require the purchase of a new Product Key, all you have
to do is use the phone activation method as the key is currently considered
to be "in use". Open the activation prompt and select the phone method to
get the proper number to call for your location (it's free and should take
less than 10 minutes). If the automated activation does not work, just hold
the line until you get a real person.

You might want to bring the busted drive to a pc specialist. Often times the
platters can be moved to a new housing and data retrieved from it.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

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

 

[Alias]

Use the phone activation method.. it takes less than 10 minutes and will
not cost you a new license key..

The fact that the OP and dozens of other posters here think they may
have to buy a new key says it all about MS FUD.

Alias

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

Take a look at the following tutorial:

(http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/84488-activate-vista-phone.html)

 

[Bob Knowlden]

If the online activation fails, use the telephone method. (Toll free call,
at least in the US. It's available 24/7.)

The automated version of that will probably fail as well, and you'll be
transferred to a human agent.

Explain what happened, Be clear that you'll be running a single instance of
Vista. I'm not an expert on the legalities of the license agreements, but I
believe that you're well within the limits of the most restrictive OEM
licenses. (Upgrades are permitted, but perhaps not to a new type of
motherboard.) I've had to do it a few times, not due to a repair but because
I've re-installed Vista because of major hardware changes (like trying a
RAID10 array for the boot drive).

I'm no fan of Windows Product Activation, but it shouldn't be a major
problem in circumstances like yours.

If I'm feeling cynical, I accuse Microsoft of deliberately doing a poor job
of informing their customers of their rules, so that they can have it both
ways: they can point to an upgrade/repair policy that isn't excessively
restrictive, but their activation information (or lack of it) causes people
to buy new licenses when it isn't really required.

Return address scrambled. Replace nkbob with bobkn.

 

[philo]

Hi,

It is the same computer, you just replaced the hard drive and added a video
card. That does not require the purchase of a new Product Key, all you have
to do is use the phone activation method as the key is currently considered
to be "in use". Open the activation prompt and select the phone method to
get the proper number to call for your location (it's free and should take
less than 10 minutes). If the automated activation does not work, just hold
the line until you get a real person.

You might want to bring the busted drive to a pc specialist. Often times the
platters can be moved to a new housing and data retrieved from it.

That's true. If the HD and video card have been replaced...
the Vista DVD that came with the machine can be re-used...
it's legal..and no tech support is needed other than perhaps the automated
phone activation.

That said:
removing platters and putting them in an other drive is an absurd notation.
that would require a clean room and very *expensive* lab work.

It sound like just a pin was broken of the HD.

If so...if it's a ground pin...they are redundant...and the drive will
certainly work fien with one missing.

If one of the data pins came off...a local computer repair shop could fix
that
without any exceedingly expensive lab work.
I have saved at least a few drives by doing a little bit of soldering

 

[Rick Rogers]

That said:
removing platters and putting them in an other drive is an absurd
notation.
that would require a clean room and very *expensive* lab work.

Not quite what I meant, worded poorly on my behalf I suppose. Simply
replacing/moving the platter housing to another similar drive's electronics
will often allow them to work. The procedure is described here:
http://www.deadharddrive.com/

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

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

 

[philo]

Not quite what I meant, worded poorly on my behalf I suppose. Simply
replacing/moving the platter housing to another similar drive's electronics
will often allow them to work. The procedure is described here:
http://www.deadharddrive.com/

Oh, just swapping the board?

Yes that's easy to do just as long as one takes static precautions.

If a pin comes out...they are actually pretty easy to solder back in.


Your post made it sound like serious lab work (Whew)

 

[Andrew]

I suggest via phone. The techs are usually quite helpful.

The 'email' process for getting support is not as smooth as you might expect
though. MS still refuses to accept my license key despite the fact that I
use their ActiveX gadget to grab it automatically. It keeps telling me that
my license is invalidly formatted.

If I was a conspiracy nut I would think that they are trying to keep their
support call numbers down for the sake of PR.

Andrew

My question is YES. definitely not today. You have to contact them by
email or phone. I have done it a few times for a different reason. I am an
MSDN subscriber with a lot of software on my hands and sometimes keys do
not work. You call them and they will issue a key for you in no time.

<snip>

 

[CB]

Ain't activation grand? Use the phone activation option and explain to
the activation clerk that your hard drive went south and they should
activate it for you.

If you're tired of this crap, check out Open Source. I highly recommend
Ubuntu as an operating system. It's free and doesn't require activation
or becoming "genuine". Not only that, it's virtually impossible to get a
virus or malware with Linux Ubuntu and it's FREE. It also comes with
access to over 23,000 FREE programs. To top it off, they will pay the
postage to send you the free CD by post.

Check it out at http://www.ubuntu.com/

Alias

Alias,

I am not trying to start an argument but for you to state "it's virtually
impossible to get a virus or malware with Linux Ubuntu" is irresponsible,
ludicrous and inherently inaccurate.

Many malware applications are currently being written for OSX and all
versions of Linux. The new malware programmers are writing their applications
in a cross-platform mode. Your money and identity are just as important to
the malware writers as is the money and identity of Windows users, regardless
of the OS you are using.

If you and any others think you are insulated from the dangers of malware
just because you use Linux you are sadly mistaken.

Have a nice day.

C.B. (Not CB)

 

[Alias]

Alias,

I am not trying to start an argument but for you to state "it's virtually
impossible to get a virus or malware with Linux Ubuntu" is irresponsible,
ludicrous and inherently inaccurate.

Really? Are you sure? Methinks you believe FUD and don't know what
you're talking about.

Many malware applications are currently being written for OSX and all
versions of Linux.

False, regarding Linux.

The new malware programmers are writing their applications
in a cross-platform mode. Your money and identity are just as important to
the malware writers as is the money and identity of Windows users, regardless
of the OS you are using.

If you and any others think you are insulated from the dangers of malware
just because you use Linux you are sadly mistaken.

Have a nice day.

C.B. (Not CB)

Please study the architecture of Linux and get back to me.


Alias

 

[CB]

Really? Are you sure? Methinks you believe FUD and don't know what
you're talking about.


False, regarding Linux.


Please study the architecture of Linux and get back to me.


Alias

Alias,

I have made my statements. It is up to each person reading these forums to
believe me or disbelieve me. The choice is theirs to make.

Have a nice day.

C.B.