I got a copy of Windows Vista on 26th. It was a key gotten from a friend whose parent's owned a software business, and had extra keys. It was taken from the box, so I know it's a legit key. However, technically it's not my key, so I don't want to call Microsoft about it.
Earlier today it worked perfectly well, but it no longer days. Meaning 22 days exactly from the day I got it, it stopped.
What happened was, I turned on the computer, and it informed me that my key activation had expired. 22 Days after I got it, it expired. Reactivating tells me that the license stopped working.
I have no idea what to do. It gives me 1 hour at a time access to the internet, but that's all I can do.
As the computer is incredibly important to me for multiple reasons, and I need my computer to write papers and the like, this is distressing the fuck out of me.
Can anyone help me? Please?
|
AKK's blog
Follow
RSS
Contact
What likely happened is that key was already in use on another machine. Microsoft has a profile for that machine and your using that key is conflicting from what the key was originally validated with.
Your best option is to buy a new license of Vista or go back to XP. You can buy cheap, legal copies of Vista here.
I would highly advise you to purchase this if you want to remain on Vista.
You cannot cheat Vista validation easily anymore. Welcome to teh futurez.
Crap like this was why I switched over to Mac.
However, I know for a fact that the keys weren't being used.
I hear you on this one. Also, Mac = win.
@AKK
If you know for a fact that no one else has it and they gave it to you legally, you can call M$ and try to explain it to them. However, DVD has a point, M$ sees all you do and watches you unceasingly. Roll Mac. Trust us, you'll be glad you did. Also, you can run Windows on it if you absolutely had to, for gaming or w/e.
Ever.
I hate Apple and everything they've ever made. I don't care how bad Microsoft has done.
Maybe I'll just call them. If it doesn't work, I'm back at square one, I guess.
If it's locking you out, odds are that it has been used before.
MS has had one or two occasions where this has not been the case, and it was mistakenly activated without installation on MS' end, but do not look for this to be the case in your instance. Unless he handed you a license key and install CD from a shrink wrapped box, it's most likely been registered to another system and will not work for you. Considering the small problem you've found yourself in, I would again advise you to go back to XP or buy the above linked Vista software. It's as cheap as you'll find it at $110.
All they'll ask (sometimes) is that it's only installed on one computer, and you already know it is. I've never actually had them check anything else the hundreds of times I've done this (PC tech), but you better make sure someone else isn't using that key or they may blacklist it when it pops up on two profiles again.
@Knives - Been running Vista for over 5 months now without any problems, and SP1 is coming. It's time to stop bashing Vista, because the only reason NOT to run Vista at this point is your PC isn't new enough.
Most newer hardware gets a performance boost in the 64-bit environment (dual L2's are actually used), and let's not forget about XP RAM ceiling.
Also for the feature set they brought to Vista, none of it actually benefited my day to day use of a computer. If it wanted to be so much like a mac with how they broke My Computer's standard functions so much, why didn't they just slap an Apple on the side of the box?
@AKK
No one came in here hating on your product choices. You wanted suggestions to help, we offered.
2. Back up your shit
3. Reformat hard drive
4. Install Ubuntu
5. ???
6. Profit
Seriously though, check with your friend's parents and see if they have a record of selling/giving away your key to someone else. If they have, go back to XP or buy a new license. If they haven't, call Microsoft and do what Nyteshade describes.
problem solved