Vista Retail = OEM?

[EJ]

Dear Readers,

Just over a week ago I shelled out over £200 for Windows Vista Home Premium
*Retail*, from Ebuyer.com. I decided against the OEM version, as I intend to
use it for a while to come, and will no doubt be upgrading various hardware
throughout this time. After studying many websites, forums and usenet posts,
I was under the impression the OEM 'tied' itself to your hardware at point
of install, while Retail gave me the freedom to upgrade my PC as I wished,
so this was the version for me.

Upon taking delivery of Vista, I immediately ventured to the Microsoft site
to order a 64-bit edition. 28 days delivery expected.

Eager to explore this new operating system, I installed my 32-bit version,
and within days my primary hard drive began failing, so I immediately
purchased a replacement. This arrived within days and I re-installed Vista.
The same day, I received an email, notifying that my 64-bit edition had been
dispatched (so much for the 28 days wait). With this in mind, it didn't
occur to me to bother re-activating Vista, as I expected to be re-installing
it again when my 64-bit edition imminently arrived.

A few days later, still awaiting my 64-bit DVD, Windows politely informs me
that it can not auto-activate, as my key is already in use. It then suggests
I buy a new registration key! (There is no option to convince it that the
key was already in use by me!).

I am quite simply astounded and appauled at what I'm reading. Simply
changing a hard drive has voided my entire £200 worth of software which I
have owned for little over a week?! Specifically, software which I even
bought to avoid these kind of issues!

I emailed Microsoft two days ago, who have not bothered to respond as yet.

Can anyone explain why there has apparently been many false statements on
the internet regarding Retail versus OEM? Is there really a difference
between the two versions? It can't be the support, as I'm receiving none so
far! I am experiencing the kind of behaviour I would expect from the OEM
version - are Ebuyer.com selling falsely/illegally labelled copies?

I am utterly disappointed in the way Microsoft have rewarded me as a
legitimate customer so far. Maybe someone can shed some light on my
situation?

Thank you for reading.

Elliot

P.S. There is no way at all that anyone else could have taken my key.

 

[Beck]

Dear Readers,

Just over a week ago I shelled out over £200 for Windows Vista Home
Premium *Retail*, from Ebuyer.com. I decided against the OEM version, as I
intend to use it for a while to come, and will no doubt be upgrading
various hardware throughout this time. After studying many websites,
forums and usenet posts, I was under the impression the OEM 'tied' itself
to your hardware at point of install, while Retail gave me the freedom to
upgrade my PC as I wished, so this was the version for me.

Upon taking delivery of Vista, I immediately ventured to the Microsoft
site to order a 64-bit edition. 28 days delivery expected.

Eager to explore this new operating system, I installed my 32-bit version,
and within days my primary hard drive began failing, so I immediately
purchased a replacement. This arrived within days and I re-installed
Vista. The same day, I received an email, notifying that my 64-bit edition
had been dispatched (so much for the 28 days wait). With this in mind, it
didn't occur to me to bother re-activating Vista, as I expected to be
re-installing it again when my 64-bit edition imminently arrived.

A few days later, still awaiting my 64-bit DVD, Windows politely informs
me that it can not auto-activate, as my key is already in use. It then
suggests I buy a new registration key! (There is no option to convince it
that the key was already in use by me!).

I am quite simply astounded and appauled at what I'm reading. Simply
changing a hard drive has voided my entire £200 worth of software which I
have owned for little over a week?! Specifically, software which I even
bought to avoid these kind of issues!

I emailed Microsoft two days ago, who have not bothered to respond as yet.

Can anyone explain why there has apparently been many false statements on
the internet regarding Retail versus OEM? Is there really a difference
between the two versions? It can't be the support, as I'm receiving none
so far! I am experiencing the kind of behaviour I would expect from the
OEM version - are Ebuyer.com selling falsely/illegally labelled copies?

I am utterly disappointed in the way Microsoft have rewarded me as a
legitimate customer so far. Maybe someone can shed some light on my
situation?

Don't worry you do not have to pay again. Its just a hardware change and
its acting as designed - after all as far as MS is concerned, they do not
know your circumstances and you might have installed it on 2 PCs because
that is what its records state. All you need to do is phone the activation
line (its a free number) and sort it out. Should only take a few minutes of
your time.

 

[James]

Dear Readers,

Just over a week ago I shelled out over £200 for Windows Vista Home
Premium *Retail*, from Ebuyer.com. I decided against the OEM version, as I
intend to use it for a while to come, and will no doubt be upgrading
various hardware throughout this time. After studying many websites,
forums and usenet posts, I was under the impression the OEM 'tied' itself
to your hardware at point of install, while Retail gave me the freedom to
upgrade my PC as I wished, so this was the version for me.

Upon taking delivery of Vista, I immediately ventured to the Microsoft
site to order a 64-bit edition. 28 days delivery expected.

Eager to explore this new operating system, I installed my 32-bit version,
and within days my primary hard drive began failing, so I immediately
purchased a replacement. This arrived within days and I re-installed
Vista. The same day, I received an email, notifying that my 64-bit edition
had been dispatched (so much for the 28 days wait). With this in mind, it
didn't occur to me to bother re-activating Vista, as I expected to be
re-installing it again when my 64-bit edition imminently arrived.

A few days later, still awaiting my 64-bit DVD, Windows politely informs
me that it can not auto-activate, as my key is already in use. It then
suggests I buy a new registration key! (There is no option to convince it
that the key was already in use by me!).

I am quite simply astounded and appauled at what I'm reading. Simply
changing a hard drive has voided my entire £200 worth of software which I
have owned for little over a week?! Specifically, software which I even
bought to avoid these kind of issues!

I emailed Microsoft two days ago, who have not bothered to respond as yet.

Can anyone explain why there has apparently been many false statements on
the internet regarding Retail versus OEM? Is there really a difference
between the two versions? It can't be the support, as I'm receiving none
so far! I am experiencing the kind of behaviour I would expect from the
OEM version - are Ebuyer.com selling falsely/illegally labelled copies?

I am utterly disappointed in the way Microsoft have rewarded me as a
legitimate customer so far. Maybe someone can shed some light on my
situation?

Just phone MS to get reactive also if you are planning Vista 64 you may have
to do it again so hold back a bit until your happy with one or other 32 or
64bit as you can only use one.

 

[Sly Dog]

Your situation is very common.

It is necessary for you to call the activation hotline to obtain a
reactivation code.

VISTA; the new and improved Pandora's Box! :-0

 

[EJ]

Your situation is very common.

It is necessary for you to call the activation hotline to obtain a
reactivation code.

VISTA; the new and improved Pandora's Box! :-0

Thank you all very much for the encouraging replies. I will wait another day
to see if they post me a re-activation code via email (in response to my
original email support request). If still nothing, then I will indeed give
them a call.

Elliot

 

[Mike Hall - MS MVP Windows Shell/User]

To re-activate, you phone them.. is that so difficult?

Thank you all very much for the encouraging replies. I will wait another
day to see if they post me a re-activation code via email (in response to
my original email support request). If still nothing, then I will indeed
give them a call.

Elliot

--


Mike Hall
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/

 

[john]

its acting as designed

lol

Don't worry you do not have to pay again. Its just a hardware change and
its acting as designed - after all as far as MS is concerned, they do not
know your circumstances and you might have installed it on 2 PCs because
that is what its records state. All you need to do is phone the
activation line (its a free number) and sort it out. Should only take a
few minutes of your time.

 

[DevilsPGD]

In message <#[email protected]> "EJ"

Thank you all very much for the encouraging replies. I will wait another day
to see if they post me a re-activation code via email (in response to my
original email support request). If still nothing, then I will indeed give
them a call.

You will need to call -- The activation codes are based on the number
displayed in the activation window. That number changes each time you
open the activation window, so even if Microsoft wanted to, they
couldn't email you a magic fix unless you had the original dialog open.

Just call. Seriously. It will probably take less time then you've
spent discussing it here and emailing Microsoft.

 

[Alias]

In message <#[email protected]> "EJ"


You will need to call -- The activation codes are based on the number
displayed in the activation window. That number changes each time you
open the activation window, so even if Microsoft wanted to, they
couldn't email you a magic fix unless you had the original dialog open.

Just call. Seriously. It will probably take less time then you've
spent discussing it here and emailing Microsoft.

There should be NO reason to call to ask permission to use something one
has paid good money for, no reason at all, being as the program doesn't
stop piracy one iota and, last I heard, not one paying customer has
volunteered to be an MS' cop without pay.

If MS thinks that someone is stealing from them, they should call the
proper legal authorities and not force paying customers to help them in
the cat and mouse game they are losing with the real crackers and pirates!

Alias

 

[EJ]

To re-activate, you phone them.. is that so difficult?

When Windows originally alerted me about the issue, it was midnight, so in
reponse to your sarcastic reply, YES, it was difficult at the time.
Additionally, the error page gave me the option to request help by email, so
I did.

I am also at work during the phone support hours, so if I need to be in
front of my screen, this poses a problem.

As I am awaiting my 64-bit edition, which may require a further
re-activation, it likely makes sense to wait?

Fair enough, going by other responses, it seems the only option is to phone,
but as I recall, they did not make this clear enough on the error page.

If I call them and re-activate, I can just imagine their email support team
finally looking into it and not realising it's been re-activated in the
meantime to be honest. Then causing me some additional problem. Big
companies are generally the same, no communication.

 

[Dale \Mad_Murdock\ White]

Don't worry you do not have to pay again. Its just a hardware change and
its acting as designed - >

I dunno, that seems a bit radical to me. Change a hard drive, re-activate
windows ? I thought it was based on several hardware changes, not just one.
Or is it because it was the primary hard drive ? Now I gotta go play and see
if I can get that error.

 

[Shane Nokes]

It's because it was the primary HDD.

He stated that right in the first post

 

[Shane Nokes]

Hmm interesting you say that about it being midnight.

That activation center is open 24/7 I do believe.

He also wasn't being sarcastic, he was just saying why wait for e-mail when
you can call anytime 24/7 and be done in just a couple minutes.

 

[Dale \Mad_Murdock\ White]

It's because it was the primary HDD.

He stated that right in the first post

Yeah, I saw that, I just didn't know that a single component change was
enough to cause a activation problem. Afterall, HDDs die all the time, seems
like they could do something with the CPU and motherboard and HDD.

 

[Capt Nemo_MSMVXPshelluser]

experience in reactivating Windows (in message

you can call anytime 24/7 and be done in just a couple minutes.

A couple of minutes? Was that to India? If you succeeded in that length
of time you were very fortunate, or I'm very unfortunate. My last call to
activate, to a person in India, required 30 minutes, and my average is not
much better.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

All the activation information is on the hard drive.
With a new installation, Windows has none of the previous activation data.

What do you expect Windows to do to the CPU or memory that will remain when
there is nothing left of the original Windows installation?

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

5 minutes is about par for me.
Once it was close to 10 minutes.

As for where they are located, I never have any idea or care since it is not
relevant to me.

 

[Shane Nokes]

I guess it's because I live in washington so I typically call the local 425
area code # up here.

I wrote it down back in the early XP days, did they switch to an 800 only
scheme?

If so that might be an issue, but then again I work for a call center so I
talk to other call centers with people that are worse than those in india by
far so I'm used to having to decipher notsobrightese.

 

[Donald McDaniel]

Thank you all very much for the encouraging replies. I will wait another day
to see if they post me a re-activation code via email (in response to my
original email support request). If still nothing, then I will indeed give
them a call.

Elliot

If you sit there waiting for Microsoft support to send you a re-activation
code via email, you will wait forever.

Why? Because the re-activation requires you to give the Activation Centre a
series of numbers, then creates a new activation code for you, which you must
enter, before your OS will be re-activated.

Now, you can do this the easy way, or continue beating your head against a
brick wall.

Use a little of sense, and start the Activation Wizard, let it fail, then
choose to Activate via telephone, making sure you DON'T let the automatic
system do it for you. This will just result in the same results over and
over -- no activation for you. Speak with a PERSON to do it. Over in 5
minutes or less.

 

[DevilsPGD]

In message <[email protected]> "Dale

I dunno, that seems a bit radical to me. Change a hard drive, re-activate
windows ? I thought it was based on several hardware changes, not just one.
Or is it because it was the primary hard drive ? Now I gotta go play and see
if I can get that error.

The problem is that if you ignore the hard drive, it's relatively simple
to buy a dozen identical systems and use one OS license cloned out
amongst the various systems.

The drive's serial number is about the only unique identifier that will
vary between otherwise identical hardware configurations.