Vista - Reduced Functionality

Well, I've pretty much given up, I've tried everything, and I just can't seem to fix my problem. I'm hoping that someone here will have the solution to my problem. Let's start at the beginning; My dad had bought a new computer for himself, a HP computer, with it came a Windows Vista Installation CD, which was already installed on his computer. I still had Windows XP, and decided to go ahead and use it to upgrade. So, I put it in, everything worked fine, I don't remember correctly, but I'm pretty sure I either didn't enter a product key or it never prompted me to. Everything was fine though...for now.

It is now a few months later and yesterday I logged on to my computer to find a bright yellow screen with "Windows Vista Build 6000 Windows is not genuine" in the bottom corner of the screen and box that had three options. "Access Your Computer With Reduced Functionality", "Type A Different Product Key", and "Contact Dell For Support" (Weird, because the computer was an HP, maybe it's because his Monitor, mouse and keyboard was from Dell). At the top of this box it says "The Windows Vista Home Premium product key you typed is invalid for activation".

So, first thing I do is type in the correct product key on the second option, it works, but then error code 0xC004E003 comes up (The Software Licensing Service reported the License Evaluation Failed). Next, I tried scavenging the interwebs for a solution. I found a tutorial on extending the expiration for Windows, I did that (the slrmgr -rearm thing), still had the problem. I system restored to the day before, I still had this problem.

I really don't know what else to do. I have all of my recovery disks except one, so I can't do that, and I've tried using the Vista install disk again but it says "F:\Sources\SPWIZENG.DLL is either not designed to run on windows or it contains an error. try installing the program again using the original installtion media or contact your system administrator or the software vendor for support" and then brings up another message "The file autorun.dll could not be loaded or is corrupt setup cannot continue. Error [0xCI]".

Does anybody have any advice on what to do? The only option I see left is to install a new hard drive or buy a new computer. I already have a hard drive and have all my important files backed up on a removable device, and I'd rather not buy a new computer.

Help, please.

Hello Escape the Fate, and welcome to Vista Forums.

This tutorial should help you get out of the Reduced Functionality mode. Afterwards, you will need to use a different product key number than you Dad's. You can only use the same product key number on only one computer at any given time. Plus, since this is a OEM Vista version, that product key number is tied to only your Dad's computer and will not work on another computer.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

I believe it is still true that one product key is for one computer. If you call in and have yours activated then your father's computer will eventually become "not genuine". Let me know if understand you wrong or I am wrong. Seems you are not able to escape the fate this time.