Windows Vista Product Activation.....

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Boabyboy

Hi folks,

I have Vista 64 Ultimate. I had no problems with the product until one day
there was an update from Microsoft Windows Update to update my Nvidia SATA
drivers which I did. Once I have rebooted the pc after the update was
completed, i noticed a small key icon asking me to reactivated my copy of
Vista. Now, I am confused? I tried to reactivate the copy with the same key
from my OEM disk but no joy as the program is saying that the key is already
in use. Well, yes that is correct because i am using that key since i
installed vista 2 months ago? What is going on?

Has anyone experience this type of problem before?

Thanks,

Boabyboy
 
Hi there,

Vista is a lot more 'hardware aware' than previous versions. Major changes
to the motherboard, hard drives (drivers in your case) will trigger a
re-activation. Just call the number provided for Microsoft and they will
walk you through it over the phone. It takes about 5 minutes, no hassles.

Cheers
Craig
 
Boabyboy said:
Hi folks,

I have Vista 64 Ultimate. I had no problems with the product until one day
there was an update from Microsoft Windows Update to update my Nvidia SATA
drivers which I did. Once I have rebooted the pc after the update was
completed, i noticed a small key icon asking me to reactivated my copy of
Vista. Now, I am confused? I tried to reactivate the copy with the same
key from my OEM disk but no joy as the program is saying that the key is
already in use. Well, yes that is correct because i am using that key
since i installed vista 2 months ago? What is going on?

Has anyone experience this type of problem before?

Thanks,

Boabyboy
Click to expand...

you're not alone - there are many posts here from people in the same boat,
having to reactivate just because they ran Windows Update and updated a
device driver.

you'll have to call MS in order to reactivate.

at least you can come away from all this with that warm & fuzzy feeling you
get when you realize you're doing your part to stop software piracy, by
continuously having to prove that you are not among them.

...and don't lose that reactivation hotline phone number, you're gonna need
it, a lot.

--
=======================================
"I know not a single less irrelevant reason for an update than bugfixes.
The reasons for updates are to present more new features."
-- Bill Gates, on code stability, from Focus Magazine
=======================================
 
Hi folks,

I have phoned Microsoft support to sort out the activation key issue and
this is the results so far:

1. An Indian lady called Deepti advised to wait a week so that they can
generate a new key as they dont have the key for Windows Vista 64 Ultimate
after I gave them my phone, email and my cd key.

2. The 2nd Indian person I spoke said my licence key and cd is wrong as the
company should not be selling OEM cds to consumers. The Vista 64 ultimate cd
purchased from an online site called overclockers.co.uk. Hell, even Amazon
is selling OEM. Which I pointed out to the individual. His reponse is that
they are in breach of the Microsoft Volume licence.

3. Another 3rd Indian bloke called Jugume. Well you know, once he asked me
what does the cd description say as the previous agents asked (probably got
this as he reading my call history) I repied, "blah, blah, blah, For product
support, contact the manufacturer for support" Jugume replied "You will need
to ask them to get you a retail copy as you will get full technical support"
I replied "I dont want tech support, just get the activation problem sorted"
"I am afraid, i cant help to fix this problem" was the only words Jugume
could muster.

Well there you have it. 1/10 for support from Microsoft. Could I try wiping
out Windows Vista and reinstalling again to see if this cure the problem?

Thanks,

Boabyboy
 
Boabyboy said:
Hi folks,

I have phoned Microsoft support to sort out the activation key issue and
this is the results so far:

1. An Indian lady called Deepti advised to wait a week so that they can
generate a new key as they dont have the key for Windows Vista 64
Ultimate after I gave them my phone, email and my cd key.

2. The 2nd Indian person I spoke said my licence key and cd is wrong as
the company should not be selling OEM cds to consumers. The Vista 64
ultimate cd purchased from an online site called overclockers.co.uk.
Hell, even Amazon is selling OEM. Which I pointed out to the individual.
His reponse is that they are in breach of the Microsoft Volume licence.

3. Another 3rd Indian bloke called Jugume. Well you know, once he asked
me what does the cd description say as the previous agents asked
(probably got this as he reading my call history) I repied, "blah, blah,
blah, For product support, contact the manufacturer for support" Jugume
replied "You will need to ask them to get you a retail copy as you will
get full technical support" I replied "I dont want tech support, just
get the activation problem sorted" "I am afraid, i cant help to fix this
problem" was the only words Jugume could muster.

Well there you have it. 1/10 for support from Microsoft. Could I try
wiping out Windows Vista and reinstalling again to see if this cure the
problem?

Thanks,

Boabyboy
Click to expand...

Hi Boabyboy. I'm so sorry you are having to go through this. You are
yet another countless victim of MS's buggy DRM. This is yet more proof
that MS's DRM only treats the paying customer like a criminal instead of
stopping piracy.

Try this:
Call back the activation line. Kindly tell the rep that answers at the
other end that you are being prompted to activate your installed windows
Vista, then provide only the required information:

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation_facts.mspx

Mandatory Product Activation Data

* The Installation ID is unique to each product and comprises two
components:

1. Product ID. Unique to the product key used during installation
2. Hardware hash. Non-unique representation of the PC

* The country in which the product is being installed (for Office
XP and Office XP family products only)

If they ask you anything else, kindly explain the policy on their own
website, point them to the above link, and if necessary, ask to speak to
a supervisor in order to escalate it. It is none of their business what
version you are running, why you are being prompted for activation or
anything else. Good luck and post back to let us know how it turned out.



--
Priceless quotes in m.p.w.vista.general group:
http://protectfreedom.tripod.com/kick.html

Most recent idiotic quote added to KICK (Klassic Idiotic Caption Kooks):
"Very simple Nothing I like better than insulting Linsux losers, fanboys
and trolls like you."

"Good poets borrow; great poets steal."
- T. S. Eliot
 
Installing the SATA driver update will do this. Apparently when you reboot
the hard drive is seen in a totally new light and the operating system
thinks that it is being used on a different computer because of this.

I experienced the same problem - almost. In my case I was informed that my
system was no longer "genuine", yet I was not given the opportunity to
reactivate. The activation was good but the system failed to pass the WGA
test. I could not repair this condition.

Luckily, I had an image I created the day before using TrueImage HOME 10.0.
I was able to go back to before I allowed the update. After going back I
went to Windows Update and hid the offending update so I would not
inadvertently select it in the future.

Another case of "If it ain't broke - Don't fix it".

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
So i will av'e too reactivate,windows vista every time i get updates for
hardware and how much is this hotline to microsoft going too cost in a year?
Thank's
IQON
 
Hi,

You could try a new install, but I doubt it would work since as you
mentioned, which is also true, that this product key is indeed in use (by
you). If you failed again, what I will suggest and would do if I were you:

(1) Gather all information including previous conversations with the three
agents (time, person names, contents), purchase receipt, CD, and prepare to
record the next conversation that you're going to make;

(2) Call the activation center again, and tell the agent that you wish to
speak with the supervisor;

(3) If the agent refuses, ask her/his name, and tell the agent that you are
going to repeat the request again but will record the conversation. Start
recording, repeat the request, and ask the agent for his/her name, and hang
up the phone, if you still can't talk to the supervisor and go to (5).

(4) If you manage to speak with the supervisor, tell the supervisor that the
following conversation will be recorded, and then start recording and
proceed to explain your situation and tell the supervisor about the steps
have been taken and the responses from the three agents. Wait for his/her
responses. If it's favorable, accept it and hang up the phone and keep the
recording for future reference. If not, tell the supervisor that you will
make it a public story and ask the supervisor to reconsider it. If still
can't, hang up the phone and go to (5).

(5) Write a formal letter detailing the entire story and "attempts" that you
have made in order to resolve the issue, with all information including
recording, and mail it (at least) to the company's corporate PR, investor
relations, customer service, and to the supervisor, and also make copies to
local news stations, newspapers, BBB, and Division of Enforcement under
Bureau of Consumer of Protection of Federal Trade Commission, and share your
story on the net and so on.

PS: As part of homework, do read the link provided by Nina Diboy and remind
them about their own policy if anyone is asking more than necessary
information during your conversation with activation center.

Wait and someone will contact you and proceed from there.

Hope this helps and good luck!
 
PS:

If they forced you to take (5), don't let them get away easily this time.
As a customer, you have given them many chances before (5). So up to that
point, they deserve some lessons.
 
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