Vista deactivated on a BIOS update :(

[Durzel]

Updated my BIOS yesterday on my Asus motherboard, and when I got back into Windows (Vista x64) it had deactivated itself. Worse still even though I've got a retail copy I couldn't reactivate it online, it simply said "Product ID already in use".

I was able to ring the helpline and they told me that online activation only works once, which seems odd to me since I've installed VLK copies of Windows at work lots of times.

Still, bit ominous for OEM users so I thought I'd report it.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Activation drives me insane.

I have a legal, licensed copy of Windows XP Professional and I have had it for many years. Like most of us on here, Im always reinstalling and upgrading.

As a result, it now wont let me activate online any more. It says I've exceeded the maximum amounts of time. Instead I have to phone a call centre.

Every time I install Windows. It's very, very annoying.

Meanwhile all the software pirates use Windows without the pain and hassle of activation. Good one Microsoft, almost as pointless a copy protection method as CD Keys.

 

[skanky]

I was able to ring the helpline and they told me that online activation only works once, which seems odd to me since I've installed VLK copies of Windows at work lots of times.

but there isnt a VLK version of vista.
i had to reactivate after ghosting a machine to a different hdd, annoying as i thought it was only mobo change which prompted for that.

it'd better not prompt me for reghosting to the exact same hardware!

 

[Durzel]

[TW]Fox hit the nail on the head.

I paid a fair whack for Vista Ultimate Retail (admittedly cheaper as it came from the States, but still) and I know of at least two people who have installed a warezed copy and they didn't even have to activate, have no trouble with downloading updates, etc.

It seems like having to have game CDs in the drive to play, actually going legal is more aggro than getting it illegitimately. It should be the other way around surely?

 

[tomos]

what's to stop you having a legit copy of vista but treating it like a warez copy to get around all this nonsense?