Only 8 days left to install Vista

[Martin ©¿©¬]

Hi
I installed Vista home premium OEM about 9 months ago and today I got
a balloon message saying
"I have 8 days left to install Vista. Back up all important data"
The balloon messages have appeared recently, but I wasn't quick enough
to read it all and I didn't believe it anyway

Just to see, I went through the process of reinstalling, but it was
going to be a new install wiping all files and data from my C drive,
so I cancelled the install

Would anyone know why this is happening after 9 months and is there
anyway I can get around a new install ?

I have been using Acronis to back up, can I use it to put my
settings/files/data back, or will I end up with balloon messages
again?

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

You are prompted to activate Windows Vista after you install Windows Vista
Service Pack 1: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947519

--
click the Ratings button. Voting helps the web interface.
http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales/help/help_en-us.htm see ''rate a post''
Mark L. Ferguson

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[Dave]

You already have Vista "installed".
Perhaps the message say 8 days to "activate"?


--
Vista Home Premium 32 SP1
http://get.live.com/wlmail/overview


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[Martin ©¿©¬]

You are prompted to activate Windows Vista after you install Windows Vista
Service Pack 1: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947519

Thanks Mark & Dave
Windows is already activated ?

 

[Hiren]

The balloon message must be associated with a particular icon appearing in
the system tray/notification area.Check out which icon it is.Better
still,click on that icon to see what options are available and please post
here the complete and accurate error message which you get.

in message
Hi
I installed Vista home premium OEM about 9 months ago and today I got
a balloon message saying
"I have 8 days left to install Vista. Back up all important data"
The balloon messages have appeared recently, but I wasn't quick enough
to read it all and I didn't believe it anyway

Just to see, I went through the process of reinstalling, but it was
going to be a new install wiping all files and data from my C drive,
so I cancelled the install

Would anyone know why this is happening after 9 months and is there
anyway I can get around a new install ?

I have been using Acronis to back up, can I use it to put my
settings/files/data back, or will I end up with balloon messages
again?

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

If you installed a beta or release candidate version of SP1 then you need to
uninstall it and install the final. Pre-release SP1 expires at the end of
this month so it sounds more like you are seeing messages that your copy of
Vista is a trial and not that you need to reinstall it. Pre-release SP1
would give such a message.

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[Martin ©¿©¬]

If you installed a beta or release candidate version of SP1 then you need to
uninstall it and install the final. Pre-release SP1 expires at the end of
this month so it sounds more like you are seeing messages that your copy of
Vista is a trial and not that you need to reinstall it. Pre-release SP1
would give such a message.

Colin, how could I find out which version of SP1 I have?
I have looked in review update history, but it doesn't show up
Windows updates says I'm up-to-date

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Being up to date has nothing to do with SP1 since Windows Update sees that
you already have it. That refers to any current offerings on Windows Update
that you don't have.

If your desktop has the "For Evaluation Purposes" watermark in the lower
right, you have a pre-release version of SP1. The last couple of builds did
not have this however.

You can type 'winver' in Start/Search and see if an expiration date is
listed.

If you still can't make up your mind, there are many files that can show you
the version number for SP1 final. One I know of for sure that will
establish whether or not you have SP1 final is shell32.dll. Try checking
C:\windows\system32\shell32.dll by right clicking on it, choosing Properties
and then the Details tab. Read down it a ways. Is the Product Version
6.0.6001.18000? If it is you have the final. If not, uninstall SP1 and
install from Windows Update or use the downloadable standalone package.

If you are just plain nervous about it you can always 'just do it', as they
say.


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[Martin ©¿©¬]

Hi Colin
I do have the "For Evaluation Purposes" watermark in the lower
right, so that answers the question
I will work through your Try checking C:\windows\system32\shell32.dll
instructions tomorrow, hopefully delete my SP1 evaluation copy and
install from windows update keeping fingers xx
Thank you very much

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

There's no need to check anything else.

The SP1 uninstaller is found in Control Panel/Programs/Programs and
Features/Uninstall a Program. Be sure to click the link on the left to show
Installed Updates. Scroll the window until you see the section Microsoft
Windows. Look for "Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KBxxxxxx)",
highlight it, and then click "uninstall" at the top. Uninstall does not
appear until you highlight an entry. You may have Office 2007 SP1 so don't
choose that.

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[Martin ©¿©¬]

There's no need to check anything else.

The SP1 uninstaller is found in Control Panel/Programs/Programs and
Features/Uninstall a Program. Be sure to click the link on the left to show
Installed Updates. Scroll the window until you see the section Microsoft
Windows. Look for "Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KBxxxxxx)",
highlight it, and then click "uninstall" at the top. Uninstall does not
appear until you highlight an entry. You may have Office 2007 SP1 so don't
choose that.

Hi Colin
You've just answered my next question, how to uninstall my SP1
That was successful, and the "For Evaluation Purposes" watermark
disappeared too. I was busy searching the net on "how to"

Windows has downloaded and installed a large number of updates though
a couple have failed

My product version is 6.0.6000.16386, so perhaps I'm not fully
up-to-date yet
Many thanks for sticking with me on this.
I have learned lots these past few days
The hard part will be remembering

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

You're welcome. Use the windowsupdate newsgroup for the updates that
failed. Sometimes an update is reported as failing because it is already
being installed in the background. Another thing that often works is to
download the update manually (search microsoft.com on the KB number) and
install that way.

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[Martin ©¿©¬]

You're welcome. Use the windowsupdate newsgroup for the updates that
failed. Sometimes an update is reported as failing because it is already
being installed in the background. Another thing that often works is to
download the update manually (search microsoft.com on the KB number) and
install that way.

Hi Colin
Updates are coming thick & fast
I looked at the Product Version and it is 6.0.6001.18000 now
So I'm up-to-date
Thank you again for all your help
Aren't computers a pain sometimes

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

You're welcome. Yes, they can be a pain. But as you can see by scanning
this newsgroup, so can some users.

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[Benjamin Ross]

When you buy a laptop or PC with preloaded windows Vista ultimate. its a evaluation version. Hope you have registered your product and activated it as soon as you bought. When you get the pop-up message saying 'your windows license will expire in 8 days backup your files...', : Do not worry about the pop, in case if it is expired it will ask for the product key to activate it.
You need to type the 25 character product key which is underneath the notebook on white sticker.