Vista Reinstall and Activation

Flanno

Flanno

Flanno

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18 Jun 2005
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Bought Vista 64 OEM from OcUK the other day. I understood going into it that this is only good for the board you are installing on. Fine. So installed it, set it to activate automatically which it did I assume as no notification came up. Now for various reasons I need to reinstall. Hardware is the same. Will it activate again or do I have to ring some call centre ?
 
When I needed to re-install it failed to activate over the internet, had to use the automated call system, they ask a few questions then key in the 16 digit number.

Rob
 
Bummer...This seems rather annoying. So I installed Vista yesterday, will be reinstalling tommorrow on same machine (nothing has changed in the hardware). And MS don't know that ? So this means I have to ring up, possibly be put on hold and explain the situation to someone ?

Or was your reason for the failure to activate due to some hardware i.e. board changing ?

thanks
 
you don't have to explain the situation, a computed voice tells you to put in a 16digit code, then they ask if you changed any hardware, as long as you say no which is the truth in this case, she will give you a 16 digit code that you input and bam, activated.
 
Sadly yes, You will use the automatic system, it will ask a few questions, ie are you running this on one machine press 1 for yes 2 for no.
Once you asked the questions correctly you will need to enter the 16 digit code which Vista will display type this in using the the telephone keypad.
Then the system will give you a 16 digit code which you type in the blank box's on screen then press ok! hopefuly your system will be activated.

Rob
 
I've formatted and reinstalled vista OEM x64 twice on my desktop pc and once on my laptop and the both activated again without any problems. Maybe i'm just lucky. :)
 
Well, I will know tommorrow.
Thanks for the help guys.

It just seems silly to me. When it activates the first time surely the activation program generates a hash key based on your mac address and other assorted hardware and sends that back to MS. How easy would it be to check this without having to annoy the customer ?
 
Windows is easy to activate - the way XP worked was that you had so many online activations after that it would fail and you'd have to ring them up.

I've rang them quite a few times for customers when i used to work in IT repair and they just asked a quick reason for activation, i just say i'm reinstalling for a customer due to hardware failure. No problems.

Bottom line is, if you're not doing anything you shouldn't be then you've nothing to be afraid of by ringing them up :)
 
Always let Vista 3 days auto activate it reduces the chance of Already In Use as trying to reactivate same Product Code in less time after being on the net is asking for it.
 
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