After receiving my download for my complimentary copy of Windows Vista, I
have run into some hardware issues which means this will be the fourth time I
will be activating Windows Vista which is becoming embarrasing now to say the
least. I think I have now tracked down the source of the problem and
hopefully this will be the last tim I will be installing and activating my
copy of Windows Vistga until I upgrade my computer next year to a 64-bit
processor. This means I will then be down to activation 5. How many
activations do we have before we have to contact Microsoft to have this
activated over the phone. Windows XP had 10 activations then you had to call
and get the OS activated, is this still the same case.

"Windows XP had 10 activations"
I believe you are mistaken.
Or where is that documented.
There are many things that can cause activation and it does sometimes seem
the number plays a factor.

In many case, assuming RTM, you can install and activate an unlimited # of
times on the same computer.
You may need to phone Microsoft to activate but typically the calls take
about 5 minutes.

You have 30 days to activate IIRC, so next time do not activate until you
are reasonably sure you are finished making changes.
Normally I activate with about 5 days remaining.
This gives enough time to make changes as well as time for activation
issues, so far, I have never had any.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"PaulJ" <PaulJ@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
newsBC00C99-EF36-4867-8E5E-53D3B021F6B1@microsoft.com...
> After receiving my download for my complimentary copy of Windows Vista, I
> have run into some hardware issues which means this will be the fourth
> time I
> will be activating Windows Vista which is becoming embarrasing now to say
> the
> least. I think I have now tracked down the source of the problem and
> hopefully this will be the last tim I will be installing and activating my
> copy of Windows Vistga until I upgrade my computer next year to a 64-bit
> processor. This means I will then be down to activation 5. How many
> activations do we have before we have to contact Microsoft to have this
> activated over the phone. Windows XP had 10 activations then you had to
> call
> and get the OS activated, is this still the same case.

Jupiter,
I overshot activations myself for Vista; lol
and after 10 I had to call .
no biggy like you said, don't know if 10 was a magic number, but do know i
passed it.

Jeff
-aka Vista reformat king-lol

"Jupiter Jones [MVP]" <jones_jupiter@hotnomail.com> wrote in message
news:ujprT%23ZHHHA.2456@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> "Windows XP had 10 activations"
> I believe you are mistaken.
> Or where is that documented.
> There are many things that can cause activation and it does sometimes seem
> the number plays a factor.
>
> In many case, assuming RTM, you can install and activate an unlimited # of
> times on the same computer.
> You may need to phone Microsoft to activate but typically the calls take
> about 5 minutes.
>
> You have 30 days to activate IIRC, so next time do not activate until you
> are reasonably sure you are finished making changes.
> Normally I activate with about 5 days remaining.
> This gives enough time to make changes as well as time for activation
> issues, so far, I have never had any.
>
> --
> Jupiter Jones [MVP]
> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
> http://www.dts-l.org
>
>
> "PaulJ" <PaulJ@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> newsBC00C99-EF36-4867-8E5E-53D3B021F6B1@microsoft.com...
>> After receiving my download for my complimentary copy of Windows Vista, I
>> have run into some hardware issues which means this will be the fourth
>> time I
>> will be activating Windows Vista which is becoming embarrasing now to say
>> the
>> least. I think I have now tracked down the source of the problem and
>> hopefully this will be the last tim I will be installing and activating
>> my
>> copy of Windows Vistga until I upgrade my computer next year to a 64-bit
>> processor. This means I will then be down to activation 5. How many
>> activations do we have before we have to contact Microsoft to have this
>> activated over the phone. Windows XP had 10 activations then you had to
>> call
>> and get the OS activated, is this still the same case.
>

The problem was with a HDD causing the ARAY to fail, but only after the
installtion was complete, which was rather odd to say the least. New SATA
drives installed now and working like a dream.

Windows XP had 10 activations then you had to call a helpdesk... um... yes
this is correct, Although I had an American installation even though I
purchased this from the UK, I installed it probably around about 50 times
before I called to activate the product.

It's not an issue because I am not bothered having to call the helpdesk to
have my OS activated.

"Jupiter Jones [MVP]" wrote:

> "Windows XP had 10 activations"
> I believe you are mistaken.
> Or where is that documented.
> There are many things that can cause activation and it does sometimes seem
> the number plays a factor.
>
> In many case, assuming RTM, you can install and activate an unlimited # of
> times on the same computer.
> You may need to phone Microsoft to activate but typically the calls take
> about 5 minutes.
>
> You have 30 days to activate IIRC, so next time do not activate until you
> are reasonably sure you are finished making changes.
> Normally I activate with about 5 days remaining.
> This gives enough time to make changes as well as time for activation
> issues, so far, I have never had any.
>
> --
> Jupiter Jones [MVP]
> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
> http://www.dts-l.org
>
>
> "PaulJ" <PaulJ@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> newsBC00C99-EF36-4867-8E5E-53D3B021F6B1@microsoft.com...
> > After receiving my download for my complimentary copy of Windows Vista, I
> > have run into some hardware issues which means this will be the fourth
> > time I
> > will be activating Windows Vista which is becoming embarrasing now to say
> > the
> > least. I think I have now tracked down the source of the problem and
> > hopefully this will be the last tim I will be installing and activating my
> > copy of Windows Vistga until I upgrade my computer next year to a 64-bit
> > processor. This means I will then be down to activation 5. How many
> > activations do we have before we have to contact Microsoft to have this
> > activated over the phone. Windows XP had 10 activations then you had to
> > call
> > and get the OS activated, is this still the same case.
>
>

> You have 30 days to activate IIRC, so next time do not activate until you
> are reasonably sure you are finished making changes.
> Normally I activate with about 5 days remaining.
> This gives enough time to make changes as well as time for activation
> issues, so far, I have never had any.

This has always been what I've done with XP, wait to activate until
everything is updated, working and tested; this has been made more difficult
with the genuine validation (therefore activation) needed before installing
updates, but things could be worse:

Imagine trying to upgrade with an upgrade version of Vista and a
(relatively) clean install. First you have to install and activate XP, not
always completely problem-free, then install Vista. While even phone
activation is not too big a deal, with a stubborn problem, you'll be calling
to activate XP so you can install Vista which you have to validate
(therefore activate) if you want the updates, I suppose. Only then do you
really know that it's "working". Do that a few times with a stubborn
problem and jumping through all the hoops will get old quickly.

I really don't understand why they're making things so difficult for the
people who build their own and install their own OS, I guess they just want
us to buy a Dell and stay in the corner. It seems like the activation of XP
is pretty effective in curbing rampant abuse, so why now this upgrade mess
where it won't boot to the disk, you have to install from XP? Someone might
borrow a disk to qualify for the install (which is not that likely with XP
and activation anyway), so that means I have to go through a lot of extra
hassle even though I paid for mine. Or on second thought, maybe I don't...

I read something here that indicated we may not be able to make a system
backup (Ghost, etc.) unless you buy the ultradeluxe whatever version...if
that's true, it's another hassle because that's the first thing I do when I
get an OS all installed, updated, apps and drivers loaded, to avoid having
to do it all over. If that really is the case, I may just skip the upgrade
thing and wait until I buy something that comes with it, which since I build
my own, may be never.

Gary