Vista activation woes

KHAN

KHAN

KHAN

Associate
Joined
17 Dec 2004
Posts
413
Location
UK.
Well my Vista 32bit basic edition installed fine, activated fine and done all the updates nice and quick.

I was impressed until I installed the driver for my soundcard, suprise suprise windows is now unvalidated.

I tried the online activation, "Your key is already in use", tried the automated phone line which said the same thing.

I then phoned microsoft support who said that the Vista I had bought I wasn't licensed to use because i'm not a Microsoft registered system builder..

I know OEM software doesn't get support but are they actively hunting us down or what?
 
There has obviously been a mix up at their end. It sounds like your serial number is being seen by them as what's known as a royalty OEM. I'd ring up again and give them the full story.

If that doesn't work (which tbh it should), I can give you a "workaround".
 
KHAN said:
Well my Vista 32bit basic edition installed fine, activated fine and done all the updates nice and quick.

I was impressed until I installed the driver for my soundcard, suprise suprise windows is now unvalidated.

I tried the online activation, "Your key is already in use", tried the automated phone line which said the same thing.

I then phoned microsoft support who said that the Vista I had bought I wasn't licensed to use because i'm not a Microsoft registered system builder..

I know OEM software doesn't get support but are they actively hunting us down or what?
Click to expand...

you do need to be a Microsoft registered system builder when u buy OEM OS's... read the license and the box that it came in.. it'll tell u...
 
gareth170 said:
you do need to be a Microsoft registered system builder when u buy OEM OS's... read the license and the box that it came in.. it'll tell u...
Click to expand...

LOL - A user actually reading the license agreement they are agreeing to before clicking OK/Continue/Yes.
Now that would be a first... :)
 
stoofa said:
LOL - A user actually reading the license agreement they are agreeing to before clicking OK/Continue/Yes.
Now that would be a first... :)
Click to expand...

it even says on the back of the box that it came in.. "for system builders only"
 
gareth170 said:
you do need to be a Microsoft registered system builder when u buy OEM OS's... read the license and the box that it came in.. it'll tell u...
Click to expand...

You're not reading the licence agreement correctly. You don't need to be registered to use OEM software.

Burnsy
 
KHAN said:
I then phoned microsoft support who said that the Vista I had bought I wasn't licensed to use because i'm not a Microsoft registered system builder..
Click to expand...

Phone them again. Say that you are a system builder and that you want your product activated. If they refuse, ask for a supervisor and say that under Microsoft's definition you are a system builder.

Burnsy
 
burnsy2023 said:
say that under Microsoft's definition you are a system builder.
Click to expand...

A link to this might help the OP out whilst he's on the phone matey, in case he needs a quote :)
 
burnsy2023 said:
You're not reading the licence agreement correctly. You don't need to be registered to use OEM software.

Burnsy
Click to expand...

what??? even u said yourself the person have to be a registered system builder for vista oem even xp oem.... u can't say one thing then change what u said before... if a person tells MS they are a registered system builder but they not then they lieing. i thought your the person that says to be honest... it even says on the back of the box that it came in.. "for system builders only"
 
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gareth170 said:
if a person tells MS they are a registered system builder but they not then they lieing. i thought your the person that says to be honest...

it even says on the back of the box that it came in.. "for system builders only"
Click to expand...

Burnsy is not telling anyone to lie. He said you don't have to be registered. So you wouldn't be telling MS your a registered system builder, but merely a system builder. Which is what it says on the back of the box, no?

And if build my own system, am I not a system builder, no?
 
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gareth170 said:
what??? even u said yourself the person have to be a registered system builder for vista oem even xp oem.... u can't say one thing then change what u said before... if a person tells MS they are a registered system builder but they not then they lieing. i thought your the person that says to be honest... it even says on the back of the box that it came in.. "for system builders only"
Click to expand...

Yes, you must be a system builder (I.e build systems) however, you don't need to be registered with MS. And yes, I do pride my integrity.

Burnsy
 
bikes said:
A link to this might help the OP out whilst he's on the phone matey, in case he needs a quote :)
Click to expand...

From the system builder license:

“System builder” means an original equipment
manufacturer, an assembler, refurbisher, or pre-installer of software on computer systems.
Click to expand...

Burnsy
 
burnsy2023 said:
Yes, you must be a system builder (I.e build systems) however, you don't need to be registered with MS. And yes, I do pride my integrity.

Burnsy
Click to expand...

u also said if a person buys it they can't use it for they personal uses... right??
 
burnsy2023 said:
What??:confused: You really need to read my posts better. I said no such thing.

Burnsy
Click to expand...

burnsy2023 said:
One key problem that makes all of your post pointless: what if the System Builder doesn't distribute the machine to a third party?

Answer: it negates most of the system builder licence.

Burnsy
Click to expand...

so u didn't said this???
 
gareth170 said:
so u didn't said this???
Click to expand...

Ok, I apologise, my post was ambiguous.

That post was meant to say that faliure to distribute will negate parts of the sytem builder licence that deal with the transfer of licence though distribution.

For example it renders terms 4 (Software distribution), 5 (hardware distribution) and 6 (preinstallation requirement) mostly pointless and non applicable.

Make more sense now?

Burnsy
 
I purchased the OEM version of Vista from here. I installed and activated, however I then decided I wanted dual boot system so I reformatted and installed XP, then Vista once again (on a different hard drive). Activation failed with a message about licence already in use. I phoned MS and they asked me 10 or so Yes/No questions before asking me to try again. Vista then activated no probs.

the questioned they asked were along the lines of;
- Have you installed Vista on more that one PC.
- Have you borrowed your version of Vista from another person.

Very robotic questions with no room for discussion. Just a simple 'Try again' following the questions.
 
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burnsy2023 said:
Ok, I apologise, my post was ambiguous.

That post was meant to say that faliure to distribute will negate parts of the sytem builder licence that deal with the transfer of licence though distribution.

For example it renders terms 4 (Software distribution), 5 (hardware distribution) and 6 (preinstallation requirement) mostly pointless and non applicable.

Make more sense now?

Burnsy
Click to expand...

ok.. i understand...

i wasn't getting angry at u... sorry if i sounded angry
 
RumbleBee said:
the questioned they asked were along the lines of;
- Have you installed Vista on more that one PC.
- Have you borrowed your version of Vista from another person.

Very robotic questions with no room for discussion. Just a simple 'Try again' following the questions.
Click to expand...

They asked me what make the computer was, I said it was made by myself and I got the OEM online but they said that I wasn't licensed to install or use the software. I would be only if i was a registered microsoft system builder...

Will they have logged what i said last time? what should I say if I phone again?
 
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