Re-activate Vista on same machine

  • Thread starter Thread starter beermatt1981
  • Start date Start date
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beermatt1981

I want to reinstall windows vista on my pc as there is a boot problem.
Will I be able to just re-activate it over the internet or will I have
to telephone?
 
I wanted to do the same thing, almost. I went through the install of Vista
over XP, reinstalled all my software and settings etc. but when I went to
activate it said I wasn't entitles to use an upgrade, had to buy the full
package.
No way, called help line and was told I was out of luck. Would have to
reinstall XP and then install Vista again to get it to work. I was madder
than hell, but finally bit the bullet and when through the whole procedure.

It still wouldn't let me activate from an upgrade package so I tried the
phone activation, and after a lot of questions, finally got someone to
activate it for me. This means that if I have a disk error and try to
reinstall a legitimate upgrade copy, I will have to go through the whole
process again. With all the bugs in Vista, this could easily happen.
MS could easily get around this by recording both keys, XP and Vista and
could prevent installing each on different computers. When it happens
again, and it will, I am going to haul their asses into Small Debts Court
and sue for time and agrivation. I won't have too much trouble finding a
judge who is sympethetic. I think its about$10 to $20. bucks to lay a claim
and I have lots of spare time. I think Small debts court in this country
allows claims up to $1,000.

A lot faster than group action, but if everyone did it, I am sure that MS
would give the problem some attention.


rq
 
I am having the same (new) problem with Vista Business. I get a blue screen
flash too quick to read then go to a Safe mode selection screen. Microsoft
help says that I have a bad driver. I have checked every driver but I
continue to have the same problem. I would like to do a "partial" reinstall.

Kaye
 
Kaye said:
I am having the same (new) problem with Vista Business. I get a blue screen
flash too quick to read then go to a Safe mode selection screen. Microsoft
help says that I have a bad driver. I have checked every driver but I
continue to have the same problem. I would like to do a "partial" reinstall.
Click to expand...


This isn't the same problem. You really should start your own thread
to seek assistance, rather than hijack someone else's.

Be that as it may, to get the error message from the blue screen
(a.k.a. the BSOD -- Blue Screen of Death), you'll need to turn off
Vista's automatic reboot "feature:" Right-click Computer > Properties >
Advanced System Settings > Advanced > Startup and Recovery Settings >
Uncheck "Automatically restart." The next time your PC crashes, you'll
be left with a blue screen full of memory addresses and other seeming
gibberish. The top 2 or 3 lines of this screen will contain information
that can help solve your problem. Carefully write down these lines and
post the exact text back here. Hopefully, one of us will be able to
provide some insight.

Additionally, you should check your Event Logs to see if they can
shed any light on the matter, To do so, Right-click Computer >
Manage > Event Viewer > Windows Logs > System and Application. Record
the specifics of any red-flagged error messages that occurred just prior
to the crash and post the exact text back here. Again, hopefully, one
of us will be able to provide some insight.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
 
On booting I get a flash of blue screen -- too fast to read -- followed by a
"safe mode" selection screen. When I am given the opportunity to check with
MS for a solution, I am told I have a driver problem. I have done my best to
check the drivers in Device Manager but all devices appear to be working. My
thought was that if I did a reinstall, or a partial reinstall, it might solve
the problem by overwriting the bad driver.
 
Bruce, thanks for your tip on how to nail the BSOD. In desperation, I
finally took it to the shop. The diagnosis was a corrupted Vista
installation. Whoopie! I get to install Vista again! Thank God I have all my
data backed up.
 
Bruce, thanks for your tip on how to nail the BSOD. In desperation, I
finally took it to the shop. The diagnosis was a corrupted Vista
installation. Whoopie! I get to install Vista again!
Click to expand...

And the cause of the corrupted installation was...?

Before rebuilding the sware, I'd test the hware:
- MemTest86 for 24hrs
- HD Tune or similar to really test the HD

I might also test the optical drive for errors that could corrupt the
OS and driver files as these are being installed.

--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -
Click to expand...
Never turn your back on an installer program
 
"corrupted Vista installation"

Tech-wannabe speak for "I don't know what's wrong. I don't have time (or the
knowledge) to actually figure it out. Starting from scratch is the quickest
solution to get this machine out of my shop and get paid".

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
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