product key

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Guest

Hi, this might seem like a daft question but, i am new to vista and it was
already on my new comp but i cant find my product key to get registered and
have only 29 days left, please help me find it, thanks
 
Hello Michelle,
you have at least 119 days yet, because you can postpone the time to activate
vista by opening a command prompt and executing "slmgr –rearm". this works
with every vista edition besides enterprise.
 
You are mixing terminology:

You needed the product key to install Vista.
Changing the Product Key can be found under Computer Properties near
the bottom. (I doubt you need this.)

You need to activate to get rid of the timed trial period.
Activation can be found under Computer Properties near the bottom.
(Just click the link. Wait for the Properties page to fill in all
fields.)

Registration is for active support and junk mail.
 
I am sorry about mix-up, i have tried activating it and it wont accept the
product key that i have found
 
The Product Key is a sequence of 25 alpha-numerics grouped into five groups.
Typically found on a label on your computer or on the Vista DVD box.

It is not the numerical Product ID found on the Computer Properties tab
which may contain the letter sequence "OEM".

If you are entering the 25 character key and it is failing, use the phone
activation method and wait for a person to answer. Then, tell them your
Product Key and the problem you are having. They should be able to fix you up
in less than 10 minutes.
 
Normally the product code on OEM (original equipment manufacturer) machines
where the manufacturer has pre-installed your copy of Vista is, usually,
situated on a sticker on the rear of the PC and consists of a 25 alpha
numeric code. The number is automatically inserted when Vista is installed
and shouldn't need inputting again.

If you are getting the 'so many days left to activate' message then click on
the message to start the activation process.

If you do need to insert the product code number, take a look on the rear
of the PC case to see if it is there. If it is not there then contact the
store that you purchased the PC from and ask them where the product key can
be found.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..
 
michelle said:
Hi, this might seem like a daft question but, i am new to vista and it was
already on my new comp but i cant find my product key to get registered and
have only 29 days left, please help me find it, thanks
Click to expand...
 
You don't need your product key. The 29 days you have left is for you to
Activate your copy of Vista. Just click the activation icon and follow the
prompts to activate online. You 'do not' need to register the copy of Vista.
This is a voluntary option which even I don't both with.

As a further suggestion for the future, if you still can't find your product
key number, one you have activated I suggest you image your hard drive using
something like Acronis True Image (this isn't free ) and store the image
either on a DVD or a separate hard drive. If you get any problems in the
future you can then, at least, restore the image back to your hard drive.
Failing that you would need to re-install and, for that, you do need that
product key.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..
 
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