Vista - This copy of Windows is not genuine

Vista has been installed for a while, now it is suddenly saying it is not a genuine copy (was happy the six months or so I had it). Now it is suddenly saying it's not genuine and I have to reinstall, I have internet access over a phone line but since I have a mobile I don't pay for a landline on top of that.

Is it normal for people to have to pay extra on top of the originally buying price to reactivate a Vista or is there some way to reactivate without having to pay more money for something already paid for?

This message is to remind people to activate their copy of Windows. You can get more information by visiting: http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/.

If you have already purchased your copy, then you have no worries. You’ll simply need to verify a few things.

Cheers,

All right I'm happy with verifying my copy is genuine.

The thing which blocks you on start and says you have to reactive only gives me two options, phone them with a mobile phone (do you think it's OK for me to pay some company extra money to reactivate my computer on top of already paying Microsoft for the OS itself. The other option is free via landline, any want to buy me a phone (why pay for two if you already pay for a mobile?) and the 15 pounds sterling a month (minimum 12 months) a month for a talk plan to be allowed to make voice calls instead of just internet.

Please I'm begging for an internet connection option of solving this problem, if I didn't have another OS installed on this computer my work and personal stuff would be completely screwed. I'll send a picture of me holding up my Vista box with the Serial clearly displayed right next to my maniacally smiling face if that will work.


p.s. on the mobile phone charging issue, I don' want to seem like a jerk, but really, paying another company six months to a year after paying Microsoft for getting Vista to carry on working is just tyrannical, this wasn't advertised.

Landlines include payphones (m$ is still a free call from these). Or you could use a friend's if they are willing.
choose the activate by phone method and write down the number it provides
take this number, (and your serial number just in case along with a paper and pen) with you to the phone, you give them the number they provided and they will read you an activation number, when you get home - type the activation number in and you're good to go.