Windows vista ultime wanting me to re-activate

[RainbowShooter]

Hello, I recently purchased vista ultimate OEM for a new system, I registered
it with Microsoft or at least I thought I had.

Today I then noticed a message in the system properties saying: "3 days
until automation activation. Activate windows now"

So I clicked activate now to get it done with but it's saying that the key
is already in use, anyone got any ideas or tips?

 

[Not Me]

click through to phone activation, call them and explain it
it may take 10-15 mins, but you should get activated.

 

[Dustin Harper]

You can select "Activate by Phone", and call Microsoft and they will get you
back up and running.

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

You will encounter problems trying to activate by the Internet, so simply
make a call which is free of charge and explain the situation and Windows
Vista will be reactivated for you no problems.

Take a look at the following tutorial:

 

[john]

Hello, I recently purchased vista ultimate OEM for a new system, I
registered
it with Microsoft or at least I thought I had.

Today I then noticed a message in the system properties saying: "3 days
until automation activation. Activate windows now"

So I clicked activate now to get it done with but it's saying that the key
is already in use, anyone got any ideas or tips?

...in addition to the "party line" advise you've received so far, and what
they won't tell you, is you'd better keep that phone activation number handy
as you're likely to need it more than just this once. There's a pretty good
chance you may need it every month. Just scan this ng for posts from people
who have had to "reactivate" just because they downloaded a device driver
using Microsoft's own Automatic Updates, which ended up rendering their
machines de-activated. Your PC and all your data is then held hostage by
Microsoft until you to prove that you are not a thief. Now repeat this
scenario over and over and over again . Get used to it.

 

[The poster formerly known as 'The Poster Formerly]

Hello, I recently purchased vista ultimate OEM for a new system, I registered
it with Microsoft or at least I thought I had.

Today I then noticed a message in the system properties saying: "3 days
until automation activation. Activate windows now"

So I clicked activate now to get it done with but it's saying that the key
is already in use, anyone got any ideas or tips?

Hi RainbowShooter.

When you call for activation, being an educated consumer is beneficial.
Quoted from the MS website:

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)"

You are never required to provide any other info in order to get
activated. The agent is required to activate you immediately if you
phone in and provide only the product ID, hardware hash, and
occasionally the country in which the product(s) is being installed! It
is none of their business if you made hardware changes, why you are
reinstalling, etc and you do not need to answer questions like that. If
they give you a hard time, politely remind them of this policy posted on
their company's website. If still they persist, request politely to
speak to a supervisor and escalate the issue until they give YOU the
paying customer the treatment you deserve!

It is also relevant for you to be aware that there are other OS options
out there if you become tired of activation.

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free speech rights under the First Amendment and is a cornerstone of the
creativity and innovation that is a hallmark of this country. Consumer
rights in the digital age are not frivolous."
- Maura Corbett

 

[Emil Lulic]

..in addition to the "party line" advise you've received so far, and what

they won't tell you, is you'd better keep that phone activation number
handy as you're likely to need it more than just this once. There's a
pretty good chance you may need it every month. Just scan this ng for
posts from people who have had to "reactivate" just because they
downloaded a device driver using Microsoft's own Automatic Updates, which
ended up rendering their machines de-activated. Your PC and all your data
is then held hostage by Microsoft until you to prove that you are not a
thief. Now repeat this scenario over and over and over again . Get used
to it.

To RainbowShooter:
I can't tell you anything about the above being not true (IS true), but I
can give you my case, with 90% of drivers (motherboard, graphics card,
monitor, modem, printer, scanner,...) downloaded via Windows Update, and my
OS is still activated... Don't forget, that people here mostly post their
problems, and don't usually post about a successful activation, without any
problems...

Emil Lulic

 

[Andrew Murray]

In case it's simply that you're confusing the two, Registration and
Activation are two different things. Activation is compulsory, Registration
is not.