Vista Activation

[Guest]

Windows Vista is asking me to re-activate windows after upgrading from .5GB
RAM to 1.5GB. When I tried activating using my old product key and it says,
"The product key you typed is already in use." My computer originally shipped
with Windows XP and I used the "Express Upgrade CD" that HP gave me to
upgrade to Vista. Here's some info about my computer:

Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit
HP Pavilion Slimline s7600n

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Brett I. Holcomb]

Use the phone method of activation. Just explain what you did and they
will activate you.

 

[MatyxCZ]

I have the same issue. Have Vista Home Basic OEM through Express Upgrade from
the last release of OEM XP that went out end of 2006.
I had an HDD failure. Had RAID0 from 2 HDD's, sent the failed one for
warranty replacement, but of course want to use the PC until it comes back
(can take 1,5 month due to Xmas :-((.
So I had to set it back to SATA with the remaining HDD, installed XP again,
upgraded to Vista and now I have the message of "key in use".
Since I have OEM version, I'm wondering whether I should use the phone
activation? Hardware haven't really changed, I guess it's because the SATA
instead of RAID controller, Vista is getting different serial number of the
HDD identifier.
But ..... if I do the phone activation, will it allow me to do that with OEM
version ? And if yes, won't OEM expire later on, when I have the HDD back
repaired and reinstall back with RAID ? I really wouldn't like to lose the
licence.
I.e. what would be your advice ... should I leave it running without
activating the copy, and once HDD is back, reinstall with RAID and it will
activate OK ? Or should I do phone activation now, and again once reinstalled
back to RAID ?

Thanks a lot in advance for your help. I would have gone with retail Vista,
but don't have the cash right now. Maybe later on ....

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

You can activate and reactivate the key on the same hardware as often as you
feel necessary. If this is a temporary setup, less than 30 days, then I
wouldn't bother until you reinstall to the more permanent setup. The phone
activation method will be necessary in any case, and it will work with the
OEM key.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

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

 

[MatyxCZ]

Thanks a lot for help, most appreciated !