Processor Upgrade to Vista Home Basic

WightWalker

New Member
I added a new HD, upgraded the processor & installed 4G RAM on the original motherboard using an OEM version of Windows Vista Home Basic & performed a clean install using the Product Key supplied with the PC.

The key was accepted successfully & as far as I can recall the product was activated as Genuine by Microsoft.

Several months later, Microsoft have deactivated the PC. I tried re-entering the Product Key but Microsoft state that it is a valid key for Windows Vista. Trying to manually activate over the phone failed as there was no group of numbers presented at stage 2 so I couldn't proceed to stage 3.

Talking to Microsoft was a waste of time as I couldn't understand half of what the person was saying due to language barriers. He said it was a bad line & promised to call back, but never did.

I rebooted from the original HD containing the original installation of the Vista OS from the PC supplier & the system has booted up & currently working.

My concern is whether this will also be deactivated by Microsoft. It's the original motherboard but the processor has been upgraded from an Intel Celeron to Intel 2 Dual & RAM increased from 2G to 4G.
 

My Computer

I think what happened is that after the hardware change Windows required activation; that's common with major hardware changes (such as a processor upgrade) but as far as I know there is nothing that you can do for activation issues other than work with Microsoft. If you can't understand someone I find it useful to ask for a supervisor. Also don't depend upon them calling you back.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 8.1 Industry Pro x64
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion Elite HPE-250f
    CPU
    Intel i7 860 Quad core 2.8 ghz
    Memory
    8 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 5770 1 gb ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Alienware 25 AW2521HF
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 &1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    1 TB x2
    Other Info
    https://www.cnet.com/products/hp-pavilion-elite-hpe-250f/
  • Operating System
    Windows 2012 R2 Data center/Linux Mint
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Poweredge T140
    CPU
    i3 9100 3.6GHz, 8M cache, 4C/4T
    Memory
    8GB 2666MT/s DDR4 ECC UDIMM
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    1 TB & 360 GB x2
    Other Info
    https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/productdetailstxn/poweredge-t140?~ck=bt
I think what happened is that after the hardware change Windows required activation; that's common with major hardware changes (such as a processor upgrade) but as far as I know there is nothing that you can do for activation issues other than work with Microsoft. If you can't understand someone I find it useful to ask for a supervisor. Also don't depend upon them calling you back.
Thanks - I guess I'll have wait & see or reluctantly refit the original processor, unless Microsoft have 'blacklisted' this product key.

Have also read that Microsoft have been accused of doing this to extort users into 'forking out' for a new key!
 

My Computer

If you have already activated Windows after another processor change (even to the old one) you would have to reactivate. If Microsoft blacklisted the serial number Windows would eventually tell you that. I forgot the exact wording though.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 8.1 Industry Pro x64
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion Elite HPE-250f
    CPU
    Intel i7 860 Quad core 2.8 ghz
    Memory
    8 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 5770 1 gb ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Alienware 25 AW2521HF
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 &1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    1 TB x2
    Other Info
    https://www.cnet.com/products/hp-pavilion-elite-hpe-250f/
  • Operating System
    Windows 2012 R2 Data center/Linux Mint
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Poweredge T140
    CPU
    i3 9100 3.6GHz, 8M cache, 4C/4T
    Memory
    8GB 2666MT/s DDR4 ECC UDIMM
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    1 TB & 360 GB x2
    Other Info
    https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/productdetailstxn/poweredge-t140?~ck=bt

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770 CPU @ 3.40GHz, 3401 Mhz, 4 Core(s)
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750, Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 27" C27F398 Curved Monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080 (HDMI)
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 840 EVO 250GB
    Seagate ST2000NM001 2TB
    Seagate ST31500341AS 1.5TB
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Lenovo USB
    Internet Speed
    50MB Down, 10MB Up
  • Operating System
    Windows 7 Pro X64
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP xw4400 Workstation
    CPU
    Intel Pentium D Dual 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    HP 0A68h
    Memory
    5GB
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI FireGL V3300
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer KN242HYL 24" (KVMS)
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    Seagate ST3120026As 120GB SATA (boot)
    Toshiba DT01ACA200 2TB SATA
    Mouse
    Logitech via KVMS switch
    Keyboard
    Dell USB via KVMS switch
    Internet Speed
    50 Down, 10 Up
    Other Info
    Apache Web Server since 2001
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