The product key you typed is already in use

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I installed Vista and then discovered my motherboard was defective. I
received a new motherboard, re-installed Vista, and now my product key won't
work because it thinks it is already in use.

You would think that Microsoft would take this into account, but apparently
not. I try live chat support, but it won't take my product ID because I
can't activate! So I call the phone support. 45 minutes later, I have
talked to four live people and two automated systems, and I am still not able
to activate. Everyone keeps transferring me back to the activation
department (which is an automated system) and it keeps saying it can't
recognize my product ID. So I am still on hold with Microsoft, and
apparently no closer to being able to activate my $399 doorstop of an OS.

I can't believe that I am going to have to go through this mess every time I
rebuild...thanks for wasting so much of my time, Microsoft.

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http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/co...osoft.public.windows.vista.installation_setup
 
"Diamondlod--

Try calling and asking for Vista activation, and if you already have, I'm
sorry this happens.

Nick White, PM for Vista Marketing, posted this on his blog Nov. 2, 2006:

http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/w...-to-windows-vista-retail-licensing-terms.aspx

What happened to you doesn't square with this, and I don't doubt your
account for a minute, but it is regrettable.

I thought that MSFT had resolved to modify this. Nick White blogged on this
(above), and Ed Bott blogged on this. They expressly said that those of us
who are computer buiders or enthusiasts wouldn't be penalized. I have
added two pieces of hdw but not in current Vista RTM. I had already
activated though (it was a few betas ago) and I didn't have any trouble
because I was installing subsequent builds--but from your account had I
added them on a Vista RTM box, I would have had a similar predicamant.


I think it's high time that the engineers who make Vista face up to the
reality that the Business end of MSFT ultimately under Steve Ballmer screws
their customers and has a reprehensible regaurd for their time. This is a
great example of the two Microsofts. They are great to talk technical
parts of the OS with in person, but they don't seem to want any part of the
support that sucks.

One MSFT has devoted computer science engineers and product managers, some
of them MBAs who care about customers but can't do a thing about the other
MSFT composed of accountants and business types who foster this eggregiously
stupid support.

MSFT PSS that screwed with you is contracted out to a multibillion dollar
company who was written up in IBD (Investor's Business Daily ) this week.
They employ more people than MSFT.

The business end of MSFT makes this decision: It's basic objective is
"Screw the customer." Let 'em eat cake.>They then implement this decision
by hiring Convergys of Ohio at the minimum price point>Convergys of Ohio
then outsources to India where they are equally as poor at speaking and
understanding English as they are in knowing jack about Windows and Office.
A stray cat can do an equal job of handling a PC with Windows or Office than
they can. I literally believe that to be the truth.

Who is Convergys of Ohio--the company who partners with MSFT to provide an
eggregiously horrendous support experience? They have more employees than
MSFT. They make billions by putting warm bodies with vital signs
acceptable with survival into seats that pretend they will give you PSS.
They have employees in Canada who can offer a good help experience and some
of the Phillipine tech support can, but the Indian tech support
paradoxically in a company that is producing brilliant scientists,
engineers, and professionals are not among them.

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/IBD-0001-14754238.htm

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ibd/20070224/bs_ibd_ibd/2007223tech01&printer=1

www.ossnewsreview.com/convergys-dave-dougherty-president-coo.html

http://cincinnati.dbusinessnews.com/shownews.php?newsid=109167&type_news=latest

www.investors.com/breakingnews.asp?journalid=32368195&brk=

www.topix.net/com/cvg

While it's helpful for you to post here, and you should let the reader's
know, I think you ought to let people deeply involved with Vista on the
Redmond campus know.

Post your comments on the Vista team blog so that Nick White, PM for Vista
Marketing can read them--he's in a position to try to contact the people who
might prevent experiences like this. I appreciate them and others do, and I
think you expressed what is a wide spread experience very well, but we
can't make changes at MSFT anymore than I can redesign the new Porsches.

CH
 
I'll be real p*sh, how long ago did you get your vista?, is it still in
allowed return period.? If it is then just return it to the store and say
the disk is defective or something and get a new one.
 
I installed Vista and then discovered my motherboard was defective. I
received a new motherboard, re-installed Vista, and now my product key won't
work because it thinks it is already in use.
Click to expand...
Which is correct.
You would think that Microsoft would take this into account, but apparently
not.
Click to expand...

They have. You have to call the telephone number to activate over the
phone. Explain what has happened.

I can't believe that I am going to have to go through this mess every time I
rebuild...thanks for wasting so much of my time, Microsoft.
Click to expand...
Should have bought the right version then you stupid ****. It clearly
states the restrictions of the OEM version.
 
Since it is a new installation, try reinstalling.
Then if you get the same message, choose the option for phone activation.
Up to and including that point all is normal since Windows has been
previously installed.
And with your hardware changes, it looks like a new computer.
For this reason it should work as Microsoft has taken this type of situation
into account.

You could also take it back for an exchange.
Many stores will not give refunds, but most will exchange like for like.
 
But he already said that he called them on the phone and still no help. I am
actually having the same problem when I upgraded XP SP2 to Vista, it wouldn't
shut down when I wanted to get off the computer. So my uncle told me to just
reformat and install Vista clean. I did that and now I can't activate because
the "product code" is in use.

The thing is, I bought this from online at a community college discount
site. I don't think they take returns. On top of that, why should we have to
return it anyway? All of the advertisements said that Vista made things
easier. I'm not seeing it! I can't return my product and I doubt that I will
be able to get anyone on the phone. But I guess that's how Microsoft makes
their money!

Bri
 
"community college discount site"
Assuming you got a deep discount for that version...
Hopefully you are also a student at that community college.
Otherwise are you sure the site and thus the product is reputable?

"why should we have to return it anyway?"
Nothing can be guaranteed to work in all conditions.
That leaves the possibility that even with appropriate research in advance,
there may be unforeseen problems.

"I doubt that I will be able to get anyone on the phone"
Have you tried?
My experience is someone answers almost right away with total phone time
from dialing to hang-up about 5 minutes, 10 on a bad day.
Select the option to activate by phone.
 
First, yes. It is a reputable site. I have ordered many times before with no
problems. The actual address is www.collegesoftware.org, if you want to check
it out.

Secondly, yes! I am a college student. Riverside Community College in
California. This site sells the products cheaper because they know we can't
afford a whole lot.

Third, the "product", as you call it is a genuine microsoft product because
"your" Genuine Microsoft Advantage Tool recognizes it thus. Not only that,
but I have the "special" certificate that microsoft always packages with
their products.

Next, it is obvious that I am not the only one having this problem, so what
is the "excuse" outside of the copious number of people that cannot re-enter
their activation code? Is it something wrong with them? Let's think about it.

And finally, I wouldn't be surprised if your experience differs from the
"rest of the world" because you are actually WITH microsoft. You may be
calling from in-house to another person in-house. And as soon as you let me
know WHERE that option is to activate by phone, I will use it. It's not like
I am just going off for no reason. I have exhausted the options that Vista is
offering me.

I can read, I can fix a lot of problems that may come up with computers, but
I cant get this one. So why not help instead of criticizing me and my choice
to buy cheaper.

Thanks for not a whole lot!
Bri
 
Are you calling Microsoft's general customer support line or the
activation hotline? Only the latter can help you.

Gary VanderMolen
 
I haven't been able to call anyone because I can't find the number the other
guy was refering to. Tomorrow I will look in the knowledge base or at the
Vista main site to see if I can find that number.

Thank you for your suggestion. I will definitely follow it.
Bri
 
In at least part you are incorrect.
I do not work for Microsoft.
When I need to activate, I use the same process as everyone else.
I have no one in house to call.

Do not confuse Microsoft employees with MVPs:
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpfaqs

"criticizing me and my choice to buy cheaper."
No criticism at all.
Regularly people come here with activation issued caused by pirated
software they unknowingly bought.
Your circumstances sounded like some of them until you gave the
additional information.

On the activation page, there is a link to phone for activation.
The correct number for your particular region will be displayed once
you select the phone option.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org
 
Bri said:
I haven't been able to call anyone because I can't find the number the other
guy was refering to. Tomorrow I will look in the knowledge base or at the
Vista main site to see if I can find that number.
Click to expand...
You don't need to. Run the Activation Wizard and select the option to
activate by phone then follow the bouncing ball.
 
The only reason I am having the activaton issue is because I had to do a
clean install after I tried to upgrade. I did the upgrade part first, the
activation went fine. Everything was good. But the computer wouldn't shut
down.

My uncle told me to reformat through Command Prompt and load Vista as the
OS. That's what I did. When i needed to do the activation, it came back
saying that the Key was already in use. (Because I had already activated it).
So that was my problem. I wish there were more information that we are able
to give Microsoft so that when this problem comes up again, we can give them
that extra info in order to prove that it is just us and we had a problem.

Bri
 
There is no more information because among other things, Microsoft
does not need any more information.
You reinstalled because of problems and the installation is on the
same computer.
That is all Microsoft needs or wants.
 
Then why can't it recognize the fact that it IS the same computer AND let the
registration go through instead of saying its already in use?
 
Bravo Bri, This is not a crack at Jupiter, but I have been coming to these
forums now since aorund the middle of January asking questions, voicing my
opinions, trying to help others if I can. With the exception of a few, I
have been litterarlly put down like I am an idiot because of the questions I
ask. I have been around computers since the late 70's unlike a lot of the
teens Microsoft is giving their MVP status to, I know how to set up
computers, build them legally with legal software, set up networks, repair
computers right down to circuit boards. Am I tooting my own horn, No. Vista
is something new to everyone, MVP's are supposed to help the masses, but all
I read is statements questioning peoples legal software, telling people "if
you google it you will get your answer", and downright nastiness sometimes
when people don't brag how great Vista is. My opinion? I like Vista and it
will only get better, but most MVP's have been running it for months if not
years, don't put the ones like myself who have only been running it now for
a month down, earn your MVP status and help even if you have to answer the
same questions 100 times a day. I used to provide Online technical support
on a couple of online services, and I was asked the same questions hundreds
of times a day I answered them, I even made up Function keys to
automatically send the answer without having to type it again..

I guess the point I am getting at here is think about the people you think
are morons on here, they are the same people who are YOUR doctors,
policemen, firemen etc. How would you like it if I came to your burning
house and said "google how to put out the fire in your house" and proceeded
to laugh under my breath and say what a moron he can't read!

Think about it before you flame me..
 
Usually the same computer is recognized, as long as the hardware,
drivers and BIOS are the same, then activation goes through without a
problem.
However when activation does not happen on the internet, phone
activation is the only option.
 
Hi

Sorry for posting in a wrong "discussion group"
but it so hard to find a correct group
anyway this thread has the right subject : )

Long story short
Laptop came with preinstalled OEM Office 2007
tried to activate it, but keyed in wrong 25 character product key
( used one that was already used to activate another set )

Now, i want to activate the laptop with a correct set of product key
but the activation wizard seems to do not allow me to key in new product key
the "key in product key step" seems to have gone missing
and i cannot update the correct 25 char key to activate the Office 2007

is there anything i can do to remove the initially keyed in 25 char key
and redo it from start with the correct product key ?

Thanks
Lam
 
Diamondlod said:
I installed Vista and then discovered my motherboard was defective. I
received a new motherboard, re-installed Vista, and now my product key won't
work because it thinks it is already in use.

You would think that Microsoft would take this into account, but apparently
not. I try live chat support, but it won't take my product ID because I
can't activate! So I call the phone support. 45 minutes later, I have
talked to four live people and two automated systems, and I am still not able
to activate. Everyone keeps transferring me back to the activation
department (which is an automated system) and it keeps saying it can't
recognize my product ID. So I am still on hold with Microsoft, and
apparently no closer to being able to activate my $399 doorstop of an OS.

I can't believe that I am going to have to go through this mess every time I
rebuild...thanks for wasting so much of my time, Microsoft.

----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/co...osoft.public.windows.vista.installation_setup Follow the activation by phone-this should work,it did for me. Both my motherboard and hard drive were replaced.
Click to expand...
 
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