err, activate please!!!....

[tigerboyce]

ok my HDD failed that had OEM vista activated on and was bought from scan and it was rma'd succesfully.

The only problem now is that the windows automatic activation bubble just popped up saying:

(via internet)

activating windows..
actiation failed, this key is already activated..

ok so my OEM vista liscence that was already activated by phone as i had no internet the first time around, seems to have not want to activate on this pc that is exactly the same, just a replacement HDD.

How can i sort this out as it is not my fault the HDD failed.

I guess its a MS phone call but is this the solution?

[nickp8]

You got to ring Mircosoft. They will give you a new Key to use.

[tigerboyce]

i thought so, is this the number?




that £40 charge is VERY offputting.

will i pay it or am i in that free section?

[Gunwitch]

I've had to activate my winxp oem version about 6 times over the phone since day 2 of getting it, thanks to the shop dishing out the activation key. I've never been charged so i can't see them charging you as you can prove you've got it and already done so over the phone.

[Agent]

You do not ever get charged for activation - the above is for something entirely different

[Blademrk]

can you not activate over the phone instead of the internet? the number given by the activation window should be the one you want

[Guy]

Unless they've changed the system since xp what you would do is enter your product code then your pc would say code invalid or something along those lines, then would generate about a 100 digit code which you needed when you phoned an activation number, then you quoted that code told them what you did i.e mobo change or your hard drive failed etc, then they gave you a new code to punch in, which validated your copy of windows?

[tigerboyce]

ok i phoned and they wouldnt give me key because said im not a registered OEM builder or something. and he said i would have to buy a retail copy of windows vista and the product is not supported!!

thats not fair, why wonr it work?

[tigerboyce]

i now tried phone and a message after entering all the numbers, says the installation key was not verified.

[Lucio]

ok i phoned and they wouldnt give me key because said im not a registered OEM builder or something. and he said i would have to buy a retail copy of windows vista and the product is not supported!!

thats not fair, why wonr it work?

This is the downside to purchasing the OEM copy of Windows, you have to give exactly the right answers on the phone to get them to release a new code. I don't honestly know whether or not you'll win this one and you might have to purchase another copy

[vdbswong]

ww.pcpro.co.uk/custompc/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=226004

Check that post out from the Scan section at CPC.

Basically if you go to ww.microsoft.com/oem/default.mspx then you can register yourself as an OEM System Builder.

Add in the extra "w" for both urls.... I don't have enough posts to let me use url's

[tigerboyce]

ok how do i actually register as an system builder because i am not part of an organisation.. and i tried to create a made up one but unfortunatly i have to enter a domain name which is one i dont have.. and i cannot register as an individual as i need to join an organisation

[Chris P]

Anyone can register as a system builder

[tigerboyce]

but after clicking www.microsoft.com/oem/default.mspx and then i guess i click the "enroll now" on the big box called MS partner programe with the two strange people on, and then click "enroll now" on step 1 there are 2 options..

enroll as an individual - asks to join a current organisation

enroll an organisation - am i right that i have to create a fake organisation, but i have no website that it asks for later on in registering process..

or am i doing the wrong thing completely?

[markbrown83]

but after clicking www.microsoft.com/oem/default.mspx and then i guess i click the "enroll now" on the big box called MS partner programe with the two strange people on, and then click "enroll now" on step 1 there are 2 options..

enroll as an individual - asks to join a current organisation

enroll an organisation - am i right that i have to create a fake organisation, but i have no website that it asks for later on in registering process..

or am i doing the wrong thing completely?

You have to pay to enroll as a microsoft partner... my work has and it costs around £300 for the year. But you get all the latest software - pretty good.

[tigerboyce]

well £300 is quite alot of money for 1 oem liscence key..