Product Code Invalid after logging in

[Just Guessing]

My kid has a Dell XPS laptop with Windows Vista Home Premium. For some
reason, after logging in, a window appears indicating the product code is
invalid for my version of Windows and it prompts me to enter a new code or
purchase a new code. If I enter the product code from the Microsoft label on
the bottom of the laptop, I get an error that the code is invalid. If I boot
into safe mode without networking, I can log in successfully and I can see
that the product code on the machine is not the same as the product code on
the label. The laptop is almost a year old. How did this happen and how do
I successfully change my product code?

I'm sure my kid was messing with it but won't own up to it. Thanks!

I think the laptop is contacting Microsoft with the code I'm entering, and
Microsoft is rejecting it. How do I convince Microsoft my product code is
valid?

 

[Just Guessing]

Additional info: I called Microsoft activation - they said to talk to Dell.
I called Dell - they said to reinstall. Any other less destructive ideas
would be appreciated!!!!

 

[David A. Spicer]

Type this in a Command Prompt with Administrator rights:

SLMGR.VBS -ipk Your_Product_Key

Wait for the verification that the product key has been changed, then reboot.
---
Pooc, Talisay City
Cebu, Philippines
http://daspicer.com
My kid has a Dell XPS laptop with Windows Vista Home Premium. For some
reason, after logging in, a window appears indicating the product code is
invalid for my version of Windows and it prompts me to enter a new code or
purchase a new code. If I enter the product code from the Microsoft label on
the bottom of the laptop, I get an error that the code is invalid. If I boot
into safe mode without networking, I can log in successfully and I can see
that the product code on the machine is not the same as the product code on
the label. The laptop is almost a year old. How did this happen and how do
I successfully change my product code?

I'm sure my kid was messing with it but won't own up to it. Thanks!

I think the laptop is contacting Microsoft with the code I'm entering, and
Microsoft is rejecting it. How do I convince Microsoft my product code is
valid?

 

[Just Guessing]

The only way I can get to a command prompt is if I boot into safe mode And I
don't think the service runs in safe mode. I get an access denied error.

 

[David A. Spicer]

The only other thing I can think of, short of a reinstall, is make sure you're entering the correct key. Sometime 6's look like G's, etc.
---
Pooc, Talisay City
Cebu, Philippines
http://daspicer.com

The only way I can get to a command prompt is if I boot into safe mode And I
don't think the service runs in safe mode. I get an access denied error.