Vista Product Key

[banker1]

My daughter has a dell laptop with Windows Vista installed by Dell. She has
had the computer for 9 months. Today while trying to startup her computer,
she got a message that her VISTA product key is invalid. Of course the
recommendations involve getting on line with the computer which will not open
windows. The other resolutoin suggested is to type in the product key on the
computer. I am reluctant to do that since it says that if VISTA does not
start up then Windows will be lost and the computer may not work at all.
Anyone else have this problem. Would it be a Dell support issue or Microsoft?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

What's happening is called a Tamper State. There is a program that is
incompatible with Vista and when that program does something that Vista
doesn't allow, Vista goes into a non-genuine (Tamper) state.

1) Click the option Access computer with reduced functionality
2) A Browser will open, type: %windir%\system32 into the address field
3) Find the file cmd.exe
4) Right Click on the cmd.exe and select Run as Administrator
5) Type: net start slsvc
6) Restart your computer.


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience -
Windows Vista Enthusiast

---------------------------------------------------------------

My daughter has a dell laptop with Windows Vista installed by Dell. She has
had the computer for 9 months. Today while trying to startup her computer,
she got a message that her VISTA product key is invalid. Of course the
recommendations involve getting on line with the computer which will not open
windows. The other resolutoin suggested is to type in the product key on the
computer. I am reluctant to do that since it says that if VISTA does not
start up then Windows will be lost and the computer may not work at all.
Anyone else have this problem. Would it be a Dell support issue or Microsoft?

 

[banker1]

This did not work. There was no file name cmd.exe. There were similar
names cmd and cmd.exe.miu. But those did not give me anything to Run as
adminstrator. Any other suggestions

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

How to Get Out of Reduced Functionality Mode in Vista
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/121866-reduced-functionality-mode.html

 

[banker1]

Once this is done, how do I get Vista activated. These instructions make it
sound like the Vista is a limited download or not a genuine program and I
will have to purchase VISTA again

 

[banker1]

Also in the instructions for getting of of REduced functionality mode the
screen shots don't show up and I get a message to login but my login does not
work

 

[Bruce Chambers]

My daughter has a dell laptop with Windows Vista installed by Dell. She has
had the computer for 9 months. Today while trying to startup her computer,
she got a message that her VISTA product key is invalid. Of course the
recommendations involve getting on line with the computer which will not open
windows. The other resolutoin suggested is to type in the product key on the
computer. I am reluctant to do that since it says that if VISTA does not
start up then Windows will be lost and the computer may not work at all.
Anyone else have this problem. Would it be a Dell support issue or Microsoft?

100% Dell.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[banker1]

HELP!! THESE SUGGESTIONS DO NOT WORK.

 

[Jay Moore]

The product key on the bottom of the laptop *SHOULD* be a valid product key
and you should try typing that in. I don't know where you're seeing anything
about "computer may not work at all"...at most it'll either accept or reject
the product key, which is the suituation you're in now. The worst that'll
happen is Vista won't load at all...which is what you're at. It won't
prevent the computer from working "at all"...it just prevents Vista from
working...you're already at that point...your fear is moot.

If that key doesn't work, then it sounds like you should contact Dell, it
should still be under warrenty and from what i've read on some other posts,
it's what MS is going to tell you to do anyway.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

How to Get Out of Reduced Functionality Mode in Vista
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/121866-reduced-functionality-mode.html

and use the "activate by phone" method.

 

[Gordon]

How to Get Out of Reduced Functionality Mode in Vista
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/121866-reduced-functionality-mode.html

and use the "activate by phone" method.

That's a good site Carey, thanks. BUT, it doesn't address the fundamental
question as to WHY, after 9 months of operation, Vista should suddenly
decide that the Product Key is invalid.
Why should it do this?