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

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

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

JaseUK · 31 Jul 2010 at 22:57

I'll give them another call tomorrow

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.

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

JaseUK · 1 Aug 2010 at 15:16

WooHoo the Dell Recovery DVD worked

cheers guys

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

JaseUK · 1 Aug 2010 at 19:00

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

Anyone know why this works?