Problem Activating Vista with Acer Product Key

JaseUK · 31 Jul 2010 at 20:51

Hi guys,

Got a Acer Aspire Desktop PC that needed a new motherboard. However now the new motherboard is installed Windows will not activate using the OEM Product key that is on the COA sticker.

Granted its OEM and its a major change of hardware but is there anything I can do?

I have tried recovering the factory installation from the hidden partition but it just keeps throwing up a 'load int15 driver error'.

I think I already know what the answer will be, but before I go and buy another product key I was just hoping something could be done

Capt Doufos · 31 Jul 2010 at 20:54

Have you phoned the activation line? They should give you a key.

Rroff · 31 Jul 2010 at 20:55

Windows OEM keys are tied to a motherboard - if its a straight motherboard replacement for a dead board and is otherwise the same PC then you can phone MS and get them to release the key again one more time.

RJC · 31 Jul 2010 at 20:55

Did you do a fresh install, in the past I needed to use the phone service to activate.

JaseUK · 31 Jul 2010 at 21:11

Yeah it was a fresh install but the hard drive is still partitioned as it was from the factory.

I phoned Microsoft and said it was the hard drive that was replaced thinking they wouldnt activate it if I said I had replaced the motherboard.
Its the 1st time I have been turned down by the big M$ lol

nightmare99 · 31 Jul 2010 at 21:46

On these systems if you use the key from the COA you will always need to do a phone activation.

JaseUK · 31 Jul 2010 at 21:47

nightmare99 said:
On these systems if you use the key from the COA you will always need to do a phone activation.

Yeah I tried but I might give them another call

robinbredin · 31 Jul 2010 at 21:52

Last time I heard, that if you swop a OEM mobo for a retail mobo, then you cannot use OEM software on a retail mobo. Hope im wrong.

Capt Doufos · 31 Jul 2010 at 21:55

All you have to say is the motherboard was replaced under warranty and they will issue a new key.

JaseUK · 31 Jul 2010 at 22:57

I'll give them another call tomorrow

Bint Box · 31 Jul 2010 at 23:14

One possible reason is that if Acer use a BIOS in their motherboards that contains a SLIC then by replacing the motherboard you have lost the SLIC that was inbuilt into the BIOS. When Windows is installed it will check your OEM CoA that you input from the case lable and test if it matches the SLIC.

That is the logic used by the big manufacturers such as Dell, however, I do not know if Acer use SLIC's in their motherboard BIOS.

As other replies have suggested, a phone call should get you activated.

Rgds
Binty

JaseUK · 1 Aug 2010 at 11:38

I am aware that the key on the COA sticker differs from the actual product key on the machine.

My question is if I had retrieved the product key from the machine (i.e using jellybean) could I have used that or would I be in the same predicament.

Deleted member 77746 · 1 Aug 2010 at 11:49

JaseUK said:
I am aware that the key on the COA sticker differs from the actual product key on the machine.

My question is if I had retrieved the product key from the machine (i.e using jellybean) could I have used that or would I be in the same predicament.

That would depend on what licence the machine was purchased with or what licence was purchased after the machine was built. The machine come with a sticker on the system, which was tied to the motherboard. Ring up Microsoft and mention you had to replace the motherboard and you will be fine to activate again.

postmanfw · 1 Aug 2010 at 13:47

If you can get a dell vista disc then it will activate using the coa code

JaseUK · 1 Aug 2010 at 13:52

Just tried phoning MS and there activation servers are down, was told to phone back in 3 hours time. I suppose these things are sent to try us

JaseUK · 1 Aug 2010 at 13:53

postmanfw said:
If you can get a dell vista disc then it will activate using the coa code

I do have one actually so I might give it a bash, thanks

robinbredin · 1 Aug 2010 at 14:43

I used my Dell Vista disc on my retail mobo with my coa, and it activated, i was surprised.

JaseUK · 1 Aug 2010 at 15:16

WooHoo the Dell Recovery DVD worked

cheers guys

Bint Box · 1 Aug 2010 at 16:11

JaseUK said:
WooHoo the Dell Recovery DVD worked

cheers guys

Have you checked to see if your installation of Vista is "Activated". Sometimes, installing from a manufacturers Windows reinstall disk will proceed OK and complete, however, it gives 30 days to activate it. It might be safe to check, just so you are aware, in case it has only licensed it for 30 days.

However, if you were requested to input the key from the CoA sticker and it accepted it, I would guess that it set the activation status to "Activated".

Rgds
Binty

JaseUK · 1 Aug 2010 at 18:57

Bint Box said:
Have you checked to see if your installation of Vista is "Activated". Sometimes, installing from a manufacturers Windows reinstall disk will proceed OK and complete, however, it gives 30 days to activate it. It might be safe to check, just so you are aware, in case it has only licensed it for 30 days.

However, if you were requested to input the key from the CoA sticker and it accepted it, I would guess that it set the activation status to "Activated".

Rgds
Binty

Yeah I checked and it states its activated