re-activating Vista on the same PC

  • Thread starter Thread starter dougt53
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dougt53

My PC crashed on me last month. The hard drive had to be erased and
re-loaded. Microsoft will not allow me to activate the same Vista version
that came with my PC. Error message says it is in use by another computer.
The Microsoft web site Help and Support solution did not work - same error
message. They now want to charge me to get a new product code or contact them
for help. Can anybody help resolve this?
 
You can select Activate by Phone, and you can call Microsoft and they will
get you back up and running in about 5 minutes. Vista only allows you to
activate over the internet once. This has caused a lot of issues and
confusion with people, and is my #1 complaint with Vista. But, the phone
call will get you activated and back up and running at no cost.
 
Try the activation again. When it fails, call the telephone number.
Enter the bunch of numbers, and answer the robot. You should be able to get
a new key. If not, stay on the line until a real person comes on. Tell them
what you changed.
 
Dave said:
Try the activation again. When it fails, call the telephone number.
Enter the bunch of numbers, and answer the robot. You should be able to get
a new key. If not, stay on the line until a real person comes on. Tell them
what you changed.

Dave - it worked. You have to call the phone activation number. Got a live person. Thanks for your help
Click to expand...
 
dougt53 said:
My PC crashed on me last month. The hard drive had to be erased and
re-loaded. Microsoft will not allow me to activate the same Vista version
that came with my PC. Error message says it is in use by another computer.
The Microsoft web site Help and Support solution did not work - same error
message. They now want to charge me to get a new product code or contact them
for help. Can anybody help resolve this?
Click to expand...


It's in use by you, because of your initial Activation. Simply
follow the on-screen instructions to activate by telephone.



--

Bruce Chambers

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killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
You can select Activate by Phone, and you can call Microsoft and they will
get you back up and running in about 5 minutes. Vista only allows you to
activate over the internet once. This has caused a lot of issues and
confusion with people, and is my #1 complaint with Vista. But, the phone
call will get you activated and back up and running at no cost.
Click to expand...

Dustin, I really don't know what your problem is:

1) You say "Vista only allows you to activate over the Internet once."
This is oviously misspoken, since I myself have activated via the
Internet several times so far.
2) If a non-existent policy is your "#1 complaint", I advise you to
throw your belief out the window, and come over to the side of the
truth.

However, you are correct about the phone call.

Just so others will know what is really happening when they receive
this error:

If you receive an error stating that you are unable to activate your
OS because you are already using it, it is for a simple reason:
As far as the Activation server knows, you HAVE already installed and
activated your OS. And it would be completely right.

1) Uninstalling your OS will NOT "de-activate your OS" on the Server.
Remember that. It is VERY important. Even with Vista removed, your
CD key will STILL be associated with a valid activation record on the
Server.
2) The result when you attempt to activate an already activated OS (to
the server, remember) will ususally be the "Already activated" error.
3) This does NOT mean that Microsoft is somehow accusing you of
STEALING your copy. KEEP THAT IN MIND!!! It will allow you to
approach the Activation technicians with a little more understanding
later on, when you have to do a phone activation.
4) There IS NO DEACTIVATION method. Because of this, there is NO WAY
to really distinguish between a valid PID and an invalid one. So,
Microsoft does the next best thing: It refuses to activate ANY PID
which is already activated, and requires EVERYONE who attempts to
activate a previously-activated OS to obtain a new activation record.
An inelegant and brute-force solution? Yes. But the "brute-force"
method is the best way to handle a crowd.

Could Microsoft have done a better job? Possibly.
Is what they HAVE done so odious to everyone? Maybe, maybe not.
Does Microsoft disrespect its customers because of its Activation
policies? Absolutely not!!!
Is this method unfair? NO!!!
Is their method of activation too difficult for the average computer
user? Certainly not!!!
Does activation REALLY take up so much of our time? ONLY if you are
on your death-bed, with only a few minutes of life remaining.
Otherwise, you've already wasted more time reading this than you would
if you had to do a phone activation.

Donald L McDaniel
 
Wow, Donald.

So, my simplified description of your long detailed description was a little
too simple. Sorry about that. And yes, I have activated several times over
the internet, but I have the MSDN version of Vista, so I am allowed 10. I
have also installed MANY other copies of Vista, and one install is activated
over the internet and subsequent installs using the same key (same computer,
just reinstalled at a later date) and the phone call is needed. XP has a
timeout period where you can wait 6 months (or so) and activate over the
internet with no issues.

And yes, that is my only compaint that Vista isn't as 'lenient' as XP was in
its activation scheme. And in that, it's not that big of an issue. I am a
huge Vista fan and supporter. And if that is my biggest complaint, Vista
must be pretty damn good in my eyes. And I won't throw my belief out the
window, as it still holds true for myself and many others.

Next time, I'll try to give a more detailed answer for a simple question. It
should give the reader a much deeper explaination and understanding of an
issue that they can use many times in the future. I'm glad you have had much
better success at Vista's activation that many others. I was just trying to
give a simple answer for the user so they can get activated and move on to
enjoy Vista.

Is it unfair? No. Is it too difficult for the average user? No. But, as you
said: Microsoft could have done a better job. Hence, my complaint. It's not
a huge one, not even a big one. But, it is there. And there are some more...
Little ones... Nothing is perfect, and if it were, we wouldn't have updates,
service packs, or newer versions of Windows. I'm not saying don't go with
Vista because of it. I'm not saying its horrible. It's just an reoccuring
issue with many users. I see the question on here more than any other. I'm
not switching to a different OS, or recommend doing so.
 
Wow, Donald.

So, my simplified description of your long detailed description was a little
too simple. Sorry about that.
Click to expand...

Well, sometimes simpler descriptions leave out important information.
And yes, I have activated several times over
the internet, but I have the MSDN version of Vista, so I am allowed 10. I
have also installed MANY other copies of Vista, and one install is activated
over the internet and subsequent installs using the same key (same computer,
just reinstalled at a later date) and the phone call is needed. XP has a
timeout period where you can wait 6 months (or so) and activate over the
internet with no issues.
Click to expand...

I don't use the MSDN version. I always purchase a new OS when I
purchase a new computer.

As far as XP's "time out period", I believe you are referring to the
fact that Activation records are only left on the Activation server
for 120 days (4 months), after which they are destroyed, allowing one
to easily Activate via the Internet rather than a phone call.

I will leave any implications of easy misuse of this policy for you to
discover for yourself.
And yes, that is my only compaint that Vista isn't as 'lenient' as XP was in
its activation scheme.
Click to expand...

What I don't understand is WHY people think this about Vista...It is
certainly nowhere to be found in the Vista EULA. No limits on the
number of activations, nothing... This may be true for MSDN OS
licenses, though I do believe you are misunderstanding the EULA.

My experience with Windows Product Activation is that no matter how
many times I install or reinstall my license on the same machine, I am
always able to activate it, either automatically via the Internet, or
via a phone call to an Activation tech. I have never been denied an
activation for a valid license at any time.

Nor could Microsoft legally deny you an activation, as long as you
have a vaid license, and are using it properly, according to the
License terms.

I believe that the MSDN license allows you to install the product on
10 discrete machines, not one machine 10 times. If I am mistaken,
hopefully, a more knowledgeable person will correct me in kindness?
And in that, it's not that big of an issue. I am a
huge Vista fan and supporter. And if that is my biggest complaint, Vista
must be pretty damn good in my eyes. And I won't throw my belief out the
window, as it still holds true for myself and many others.
Click to expand...

Nor should you. Vista is a great OS, IF it is running on a great
machine.
Next time, I'll try to give a more detailed answer for a simple question. It
should give the reader a much deeper explaination and understanding of an
issue that they can use many times in the future. I'm glad you have had much
better success at Vista's activation that many others. I was just trying to
give a simple answer for the user so they can get activated and move on to
enjoy Vista.

Is it unfair? No. Is it too difficult for the average user? No. But, as you
said: Microsoft could have done a better job. Hence, my complaint. It's not
a huge one, not even a big one. But, it is there. And there are some more...
Little ones... Nothing is perfect, and if it were, we wouldn't have updates,
service packs, or newer versions of Windows. I'm not saying don't go with
Vista because of it. I'm not saying its horrible. It's just an reoccuring
issue with many users. I see the question on here more than any other. I'm
not switching to a different OS, or recommend doing so.
Click to expand...

There will always be problems while a new OS is being shaken out by
the Public. This is to be expected.

Remember, there are many millions of users who are installing Vista,
some on older machines, and some on newer ones. We are all finding
out (Microsoft included) just how well their work was.

Donald L McDaniel
 
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