Reduced Functionality Mode

How to Get Out of Reduced Functionality Mode in Vista

information   Information
This will show you how to get out of Reduced Functionality Mode if you did not activate Vista within the 30 day activation trial period and the period has expired, Vista determines or thinks that it is installed on a different computer than it was originally activated on, or you have a non-genuine version of Vista.

For more information, see: Microsoft Help and Support: KB925582 Article and Genuine Microsoft Software

warning   Warning
Microsoft no longer provides support for OEM copies of Vista. If you have one of these, then you must contact the OEM, instead of Microsoft in this tutorial, to activate your OEM Vista. OEM contact information should be included in the documentation that came with your computer or OEM Vista installation CD/DVD package.




METHOD ONE
If you Have Vista SP1/SP2 Installed

NOTE: For more information, see: Windows Genuine Advantage : Taking the next step with Windows Vista SP1
1. Whe you logon to Vista, you will see this message with a window with the options below if Vista is running in reduced functionality mode. To use Vista again, select the option (see table below) in the window that you want to do. (See screenshot below table)​
NOTE: You will have to wait 15 seconds for the Activate Later option to not be grayed out.​

Option

Description

Activate now

This will attempt to activate Vista now.

Activate later

This will take you to the desktop again, but with reduced functions and features available in Vista until you activate Vista.

Step1.jpg

2. If you click on Activate Later, then you will notice that you will have a message in the lower right corner of the desktop that says Windows Vista ™ Build 6001 This copy of Windows is not genuine.​
A) Features like DreamScene will not longer function until you activate Vista. (See screenshot below)​
NOTE: DreamScene is only available for the Vista Ultimate edition.
DreamScene.jpg






METHOD TWO
If You DO NOT Have Vista SP1/SP2 Installed

1. You will see this message with a window with the options below at the startup of Vista if Vista is running in reduced functionality mode. To use Vista again, select the option in the window that will best resolve the problem. See the table below the screenshot for a description of each option.​
WARNING: If you click on the Cancel button, you will be taken to the logon screen. However, after you logon, you will be taken back to this window.​
Reduced_Functionality.jpg

Option

Description

Activate Windows online now

If you did not activate Windows within the 30-day activation period, or you typed a valid product key but might have ignored previous activation notifications, select this option to activate Windows on the Internet.

Access your computer with reduced functionality

If you need to buy another product key, or you’re running a version of Windows that was detected as non-genuine and you did not activate Windows within the 30-day activation period, select this option to go to a website where you can buy a new product key. You can also use this option to extend the 30-day activation period. (See step 1 below)

Retype you product key

If you mistyped your product key, or have not yet typed a product key, select this option.

Show me other ways to activate

If you did not activate Windows within the 30-day activation period, or you typed a valid product key but might have ignored previous activation notifications, select this option to activate Windows with a modem or by phone. Also select this option if you made a hardware change that requires activating Windows again and you did not activate Windows within the allotted 3-day activation period.


2. Click on Access your computer with reduced functionality.​
NOTE: This option will get you out of the Reduced Functionality mode for now and extend you trial period to 30 more days so you can activate Vista later.​
3. This will open Internet Explorer.​
4. Check the Do not show me the warning for this program again box. (See screenshot below)​
5. Click on the Allow button in the IE Security Warning prompt.​
Allow.jpg

6. Type C:\ into the address bar and press Enter. (See screenshot below)​
NOTE: This will open a Windows Explorer window.​
IE7_Address_Bar.jpg

7. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32 (See screenshot below)​
8. Scroll down until you find the file cmd.exe.​
9. Right click on cmd.exe and click Run as administrator.​
NOTE: This will open a elevated command prompt window.​
CMD.jpg

10. Click on the Continue button in the UAC prompt.​
11. In the command prompt, type slmgr -rearm and press Enter. (See screenshot below)​
NOTE: This will only work if you have not already did this 3 times, or installed the Vista SP1 (Service Pack). If you have, you will receive a denied error.
Command_Prompt.jpg

12. It will take a few moments, but you will hear a ding and get a pop-up success prompt soon. (See screenshot below)​
NOTE: If you do not see it, then minimize the IE7 window to be able to.​
13. Click on OK.​
Success_Prompt.jpg

14. Click on the Cancel button on the window in the example at the top. (See screenshot below step 1)​
NOTE: This will log you off and take you back to the logon screen.​
15. In the log on screen, click on the red box arrow at the bottom right corner to expand it. (See screenshot below)​
16. Click on Restart.​
Logon_Screen.jpg

17. When the computer restarts, you will see another window with these options:​
NOTE: Choose the option you want to do. See the table below the screenshot for a description of each option.​
30_Days.jpg


Option

Description

Activate windows online now

This will attempt to activate Vista now.

Ask me later

This will take you to the desktop again.


That's it,
Shawn




 

Attachments

  • thumb_Activation.png
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Last edited by a moderator:
Thank you Sid.

Done.
 

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
Hey Shawn, When in Reduced functionality mode its possible to bring the entire desktop up aswell...

1. Click on Access your computer with reduced functionality.
-This will open Internet Explorer.
2. press alt and click File > open and type explorer.exe
3. click OK when asked if IE can open the file in a new window
4. then click Run on the File Download Window

You then have access to the entire desktop and all the programs/files...Just dont close the activation Window and you can keep using the entire desktop for awile.


Steven
 

My Computer

Thank you Steven.
 

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
Does not work. :cry: After the rearm command this is what it says: C:\Windows\system32\slmgr.vbs<303, 9> <null>: 0xC004E017 :cry:

Please I need help, my computer was working just fine yesterday and I have a real key. I have vista home premium 32-bit. My email is <EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED by Brink> if anybody has any advice. When I tried to use my key to activate it gives this error code: 0xC004F050 When I tried to activate through internet it says the key is already in use (by the same computer) When I tried phone activation the field in step 2 where there should be number codes in empty. :cry::cry::cry:
 

My Computer

Hi JaakkoA,

Double check to make sure that you entered the product key number in correctly.

From: How to troubleshoot Volume Activation error codes on Windows Vista-based computers
Error code 0xC004F050
Symptom
When you try to use KMS, a KMS client, or a MAK to activate one or more computers, you may receive the following error message:
0xC004F050
The Software Licensing Service reported that the product key is invalid.
Cause
This issue may occur if the KMS key is not entered correctly. Also, this issue may occur if the key for a beta version of the operating system has been entered when you are using the release version of the operating system.
Workaround
To work around this issue, install the appropriate KMS key on the corresponding version of Windows. Verify that the key is entered correctly. If you copy and then paste the key, make sure that em dashes (—) are not substituted for en dashes (-) in the key.

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 have checked and tried my product key for like about 20 times but the activation does not work and I get that error always. I have used this computer half year. This same thing has happened to me a few times before but in the first time the product key worked and next time after I restarted my computer the activation requirement was mysteriously gone. I have the real version and key but it does not work, I have never had any beta version.

Why can't I rearm my activation period??

And is there any good reason why in the phone activation thing all I see is the blank field where there should be numbers?

Nothing seems to work I hate this. Vista shut me out of my own computer.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

JakkoA,

You might try doing a System Restore using a restore point dated before this happened, then check to make sure that your Vista is activated before you enter the Reduced Functionality Mode again.
 

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
You might try doing a System Restore using a restore point dated before this happened, then check to make sure that your Vista is activated before you enter the Reduced Functionality Mode again.
How do I do this? The last thing I want is to loose all the data I have stored in the computer.
 

My Computer

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 am unable to get out of reduced functionality mode neither command prompt is showing nor the desktop.
Earlier IE was working but now its also not workng I am having dual boot system with Windows 7 and vista:confused::cry:
 

My Computer

Hello avni0710,

Are you able to click on Activate Now to activate Vista with your product key number?
 

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
Hi brink,

Earlier when I used to log on it shows 3 options

1. Activate online
2. reduced functionality mode
3. type product key

when I tried to type my product key which I have, it showed me message that this has been expired type different key. then showed me options:

1. ??? (Not remembering)
2. Activate online
3. Remind Later

Then I clicked remind later, then system restarted and now it showing me 3 options:

1. phone activation
2. reduced functionality mode
3. type different product key

Earlier IE was working in reduced functionality mode but its not working now. page expired message is coming. I am using vista since 2009 september. :(

Please help!!!!!
 

My Computer

Is this a store bought computer that came with Vista preinstalled, or one that you installed a retail copy of Vista on?

If you installed, where did you get your copy of Vista from?

For now, see if you may be able to do a phone activation with an operator.
 

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
Hi.. Brink,

Yes this a store bought computer that came with Vista preinstalled.

Do you still want me to do phone activation??? or is there still any hope left?? :confused:
 

My Computer

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
Hi there, I am having the same problem as well after I made a restoration using the recovery system. I am left with three choices: 1. Reduced Functionality 2. Type a different product key 3. Contact Acer

I tried finding solutions through the net and none of the methods work. To find acer will be my last choice because they told me I will be charged 50 bucks just to bring the laptop in which I refused to pay because this is clearly not a service.

The Product Key at the back of my panel is valid/genuine, but somehow the system said it is an invalid product key. I think I have this problem before when I made restoration using the recovery system but this is the first time I am being blacked out to reduce functionality windows.

The 25 product key of mine doesn't have any OEM in the 25 letters though, as from what I saw on other forums an OEM product Key will have OEM in between the 25 letters.

I have no problems re-activate my windows vista usually and this is the first time I am unable to activate it, any suggestion?
 

My Computer

Hello Noel, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Is this the SLP key number that your preinstalled Vista came actived with, or the key number on the COA sticker on your computer?

The SLP number is a OEM volume license number that the OEM uses to activate all the same model computers with, and can only be activated with if you do a factory recovery/restore.

The COA number, is the unique product key number for your specific Vista and computer. If you install Vista using any other method than with a factory recovery/restore, then you would have to use the COA number to activate Vista with. If this is what you are using, then double check to make sure that you have the correct number on the COA sticker and that you have type it in correctly. It's not hard to make a mistake with it.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/85023-product-key-number.html

Hope this may help some for now,
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
Hi Brink,

I made a recovery/restore using the acer recovery mode to make it back to factory default settings.

According to your product key article, if this windows is under OEM license it should be a 25 characters which will have OEM in between, however the sticker on the back panel of my laptop doesn't have any OEM in between. Is it a retail version? I doubt so.

However the product ID that is on displayed in my system panel have an OEM, but I don't think the letter O and E is valid in the product key as it can't be type so there shouldn't be any OEM in between the product key? It's a 20 character including an OEM in between for the product ID that is on displayed in my system.

The sticker behind my laptop stated its a Windows Vista HmPRem OA (EM)-(SEA) Acer Incorporated.

Is there any chance that I can use the SIW System Information for Windows in the reduce functionality windows mode? I always get the not enough quota error. I can't seems to do anything as for now.
 

My Computer

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