Reduced Functionality

Escape the Fate

New Member
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.
 

My Computer

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
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
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.;)
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    E6850
    Motherboard
    EVGA 122-CK-NF67-A1 680i
    Memory
    4 x OCZ Platinum 1GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 5850 1GB
    Sound Card
    SB X-Fi X Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 23" 5MS
    Screen Resolution
    2048 x 1152
    Hard Drives
    2 x Barracuda 7200.10 320GB RAID 0 / 1 x 500GB Maxtor
    PSU
    Seasonic 600W M12
    Case
    CM Centurion 5
    Cooling
    air
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
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