New HD - Vista activation ?

[Phil K]

I am contemplating getting a new Hard Drive (bigger, of course by a large
margin !) and with the problems I have had with activation in the past,
despite being a bloody genuine copy (calm down, Philip, calm down) - how can
I go about activating on a new hard drive without experiencing the same c**p
I have in the past (last one just needed to type in serial and it was
activated, but the 2nd time I had to go via Indian call centre and was on
FORTY FIVE MINUTES FFS !!!!....calm down, lad...calm....)

So....is there a way to avoid chatting with Sanjay in Bangalore ?

 

[TaurArian]

Perhaps something here may be of interest -

A list of Microsoft Knowledge Base articles is available to help you troubleshoot error
codes and error messages that you may receive when you try to activate Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/951287

For more information about Windows Vista activation, visit the following Microsoft Web
sites:

Troubleshooting activation problems

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/57cc0e65-f70c-49fd-bdaa-6da83d6a35af1033.mspx

Frequently asked questions

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/62088be6-3538-46a6-99fb-05e74aeb48b51033.mspx

Activation polices and Reduced Functionality Mode

http://download.microsoft.com/downl...c1db829637f5/10-03-06SoftwareProtectionWP.doc

Activation fails when you try to activate Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 over the
Internet
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/921471


--

TaurArian [MVP] 2005-2008 - Update Services
http://taurarian.mvps.org
======================================
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
Computer Maintenance: Acronis / Diskeeper / Paragon / Raxco


|I am contemplating getting a new Hard Drive (bigger, of course by a large
| margin !) and with the problems I have had with activation in the past,
| despite being a bloody genuine copy (calm down, Philip, calm down) - how can
| I go about activating on a new hard drive without experiencing the same c**p
| I have in the past (last one just needed to type in serial and it was
| activated, but the 2nd time I had to go via Indian call centre and was on
| FORTY FIVE MINUTES FFS !!!!....calm down, lad...calm....)
|
| So....is there a way to avoid chatting with Sanjay in Bangalore ?
|

 

[Gordon]

I have in the past (last one just needed to type in serial and it was
activated, but the 2nd time I had to go via Indian call centre and was on
FORTY FIVE MINUTES FFS

Well I've activated XP and Vista many many times, and it's NEVER taken 45
minutes. 5 minutes yes. I don't know why yours should have taken anything
LIKE as long, unless you were trying to convince them to activate an illegal
copy....

 

[Just.some.guy]

Well I've activated XP and Vista many many times, and it's NEVER taken 45
minutes. 5 minutes yes. I don't know why yours should have taken anything
LIKE as long, unless you were trying to convince them to activate an
illegal copy....

Why would you even suggest that when he said in his original post it was a
*genuine copy*? What was the point of your post?

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

I am contemplating getting a new Hard Drive (bigger, of course by a large
margin !) and with the problems I have had with activation in the past,
despite being a bloody genuine copy (calm down, Philip, calm down) - how
can I go about activating on a new hard drive without experiencing the same
c**p I have in the past (last one just needed to type in serial and it was
activated, but the 2nd time I had to go via Indian call centre and was on
FORTY FIVE MINUTES FFS !!!!....calm down, lad...calm....)

So....is there a way to avoid chatting with Sanjay in Bangalore ?

You are calling the wrong people.

Open Windows Activation..

Start > right click Computer > select Properties > click 'activate Windows
now'.

The 'correct' number to call will be displayed..


--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx

 

[Phil K]

Well I've activated XP and Vista many many times, and it's NEVER taken 45
minutes. 5 minutes yes. I don't know why yours should have taken anything
LIKE as long, unless you were trying to convince them to activate an
illegal copy....

So it hasn't happened to you
That means it hasn't happened to me ?
As for legal/illegal
It is genuine, and you are an offensive prat.

 

[Phil K]

Why would you even suggest that when he said in his original post it was a
*genuine copy*? What was the point of your post?

I would have thought it was simple.
I have loads of trouble DESPITE it being a legit copy, ergo I am annoyed.
Why is that so hard to work out for some of you ?

 

[Phil K]

Thanks Mike, but I went through the Microsoft hoo-haw to get to the Indian
call centres in the first place.
Oh, its activated quite happily there at the moment, and the point wasnt my
Vista's legitability, but the point I TRIED to make was what if I installed
a new Hard Drive instead of the current Hard Drive ? I would therefore have
problems in avtivation, right ?

Sadly, apart from yourself, and Taurian, I seemed to have also attracted a
couple of unhelpful, pompous types contributing nothing of any worth, other
than trying to be clever without the actual cleverness to back it up.

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

So it hasn't happened to you
That means it hasn't happened to me ?
As for legal/illegal
It is genuine, and you are an offensive prat.

If you use the correct method, it takes around 5 minutes to complete.


--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx

 

[Gordon]

Thanks Mike, but I went through the Microsoft hoo-haw to get to the Indian
call centres in the first place.

What do you mean by that? If it fails activation over the internet, you are
asked for your location and are then given a toll-free number to ring.
They ask if your copy is installed on any other machine, you say "no" and in
about three minutes time they give you a new code.

What are you doing that's different to that that takes 45 minutes?

 

[Gordon]

So it hasn't happened to you
That means it hasn't happened to me ?
As for legal/illegal
It is genuine, and you are an offensive prat.

And it hasn't happened to 99.9999% of people. It NEVER takes FORTY FIVE
MINUTES.
You are doing something wrong.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

If you are changing the hard drive the, yes, you will need to activate and
the chances are that you will not be able to activate via the internet (the
usual sticking point is 'your product key is already in use), so you will
have to use the telephone option (best see this link from my web site:
http://vistasupport.mvps.org/product_key_already_in_use.htm )


--
--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

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..

 

[C.B.]

I am contemplating getting a new Hard Drive (bigger, of course by a large
margin !) and with the problems I have had with activation in the past,
despite being a bloody genuine copy (calm down, Philip, calm down) - how
can I go about activating on a new hard drive without experiencing the
same c**p I have in the past (last one just needed to type in serial and
it was activated, but the 2nd time I had to go via Indian call centre and
was on FORTY FIVE MINUTES FFS !!!!....calm down, lad...calm....)

So....is there a way to avoid chatting with Sanjay in Bangalore ?

Phil K,

I have been lucky. I have replaced my motherboard (same brand, same
type) once and replaced my internal hard drive twice (same brand, different
size) and did not get hit with the reactivation process. I also increased my
RAM on two occasions, 1GB at a time with no problems.
In any event, the way Microsoft goes about this is disgusting.
Microsoft has no problem reading your system and deactivating when
necessary. By the same token, provided your motherboard is not replaced by a
different brand or type, Microsoft should be able to read your system and
ascertain that the OS is indeed on the same computer, which would obviate
the reactivation process.
This is just another instance of Microsoft knowing that users are
having an issue with one of its software applications and choosing to do
nothing about it. I am totally against piracy of any product but I am also
against the unnecessary alienation of innocent, law abiding users.
Your unhappiness with the reactivation process is justified and I stand
in your corner regarding this issue.

C.B.

 

[Gordon]

Your unhappiness with the reactivation process is justified and I
stand in your corner regarding this issue.

But he's doing something VERY VERY WRONG if it takes 45 minutes each
time.....I have re-activated dozens of times in the past three or four years
and it's NEVER taken longer than about 6 minutes....I suspect he's not using
the correct telephone number as given in the activation dialog box...

 

[The poster formerly known as 'The Poster Formerly]

Thanks Mike, but I went through the Microsoft hoo-haw to get to the
Indian call centres in the first place.
Oh, its activated quite happily there at the moment, and the point wasnt
my Vista's legitability, but the point I TRIED to make was what if I
installed a new Hard Drive instead of the current Hard Drive ? I would
therefore have problems in avtivation, right ?

Sadly, apart from yourself, and Taurian, I seemed to have also
attracted a couple of unhelpful, pompous types contributing nothing of
any worth, other than trying to be clever without the actual cleverness
to back it up.

When you call for activation, being an educated consumer is beneficial.

Quoted from the MS website:

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation_facts.mspx

"Mandatory Product Activation Data

* The Installation ID is unique to each product and comprises two
components:

1. Product ID. Unique to the product key used during installation
2. Hardware hash. Non-unique representation of the PC

* The country in which the product is being installed (for Office
XP and Office XP family products only)"

MS activation 1-888-571-2048
You are never required to provide any other info in order to get
activated. The agent is required to activate you immediately if you
phone in and provide only the product ID, hardware hash, and
occasionally the country in which the product(s) is being installed! It
is none of their business if you made hardware changes, why you are
reinstalling, etc and you do not need to answer questions like that. If
they give you a hard time, politely remind them of this policy posted on
their company's website. If still they persist, request politely to
speak to a supervisor and escalate the issue until they give YOU the
paying customer the treatment you deserve!

On the flipside, if you are sick of the activation crap, you may want to
check out the other alternatives like linux.



--
"Fair use is not merely a nice concept--it is a federal law based on
free speech rights under the First Amendment and is a cornerstone of the
creativity and innovation that is a hallmark of this country. Consumer
rights in the digital age are not frivolous."
- Maura Corbett

DRM and unintended consequences:
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/security/?p=435&tag=nl.e101

 

[C.B.]

But he's doing something VERY VERY WRONG if it takes 45 minutes each
time.....I have re-activated dozens of times in the past three or four
years and it's NEVER taken longer than about 6 minutes....I suspect he's
not using the correct telephone number as given in the activation dialog
box...

Gordon,

Yes, you are, in all probability, correct in your assessment. However,
unless the motherboard or CPU is replaced by another brand or model there
should be no question concerning the components of the machine. Hard drives
and RAM should not trigger a reactivation as the motherboard remains
untouched.
Let's look at another scenario. I upgrade from Vista Home Premium to
Vista Ultimate. I, of course, get a new license with the Vista Ultimate. I
then activate my new Ultimate license. I find, upon trying to run DreamScene
or another application that requires a better graphics card that I need to
upgrade my graphics card. In this case Microsoft knows that I upgraded from
Home Premium to Ultimate and Microsoft knows the graphics card was upgraded.
Common sense tells me that the graphics card upgrade was due to the OS
upgrade. Why should I have to reactivate my Vista Ultimate?
Microsoft needs to rewrite the software that triggers reactivation.
The current software is written to be overly broad and seems to be
willy-nilly inasmuch as whose computer is selected for reactivation. You and
I can change the same graphics card on two identical machines running
identical software with identical settings and I am selected for
reactivation while you are not. The same applies to hard drive and RAM
changes.
You and I both know what the software engineers at Microsoft are
capable of and we both know the software that triggers the reactivation
process could be rewritten to eliminate unnecessary reactivations.
Microsoft certainly has the right to ensure their products are not
misused or misappropriated to the detriment of the company. Microsoft also
has a responsibility to avoid unnecessarily alienating its customers for no
good reason.

C.B.

 

[Not Me]

I have never been able to get it done in less than 14-15 minutes.
I guess it depends on who you get on the other end.
Last time I didn't even change anything, just moved the RAM around in the
slots to make the DDR actually work.

 

[Phil K]

If you use the correct method, it takes around 5 minutes to complete.

Mike - I repeat - because it takes 5 minutes for most, doesn't automatically
follow thats what it takes for all.
And also - THAT was what had me in a rage.
Added to which, it's still not what I was asking about, for God's sake
And that was - if I change my main HD (and it may have to come about) would
I have problems activating Vista ?
Different make up of computer, etc. I have already replaced the graphics
card, and THAT was what the post was supposed to be about.
Because one or two seemed to be insinuating that my Vista ISN'T pukka, I
think we've then strayed off the path

 

[Phil K]

What do you mean by that? If it fails activation over the internet, you
are asked for your location and are then given a toll-free number to ring.
They ask if your copy is installed on any other machine, you say "no" and
in about three minutes time they give you a new code.

What are you doing that's different to that that takes 45 minutes?

Was I talking to you, troll ?

 

[Phil K]

THANK YOU John !!!
This is just the info I was asking about before the trolls snuffled in !
Thanks again.