Vista - Activation problem with Vista

I had to reinstall Vista from an OEM disk because I had attempted to put
Linux on in a dual boot setup. It ended up destroying my Windows partition.
Now I have reinstalled Vista, but when it comes to activation it says the key
I have used is already in use. Is this normal? How do I get around it? When I
go through the official technical support system it says my PID is not
recognised as well, so I can't get official technical support for it. I'm
currently wishing I'd brought XP instead of Vista with my new machine.

You would have had the same problem with XP (need to reactivate). Use the
phone option to activate.

"Terry Rozmus" <Terry Rozmus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5055CDB0-4675-4B81-B69F-3C90A9D9D1FD@microsoft.com...
>I had to reinstall Vista from an OEM disk because I had attempted to put
> Linux on in a dual boot setup. It ended up destroying my Windows
> partition.
> Now I have reinstalled Vista, but when it comes to activation it says the
> key
> I have used is already in use. Is this normal? How do I get around it?
> When I
> go through the official technical support system it says my PID is not
> recognised as well, so I can't get official technical support for it. I'm
> currently wishing I'd brought XP instead of Vista with my new machine.

I reinstalled Windows XP a number of times without this happening on my old
machine. Yes, I had to reactivate it, but during activation the system
correctly identified that I was reinstalling on the same machine. This time I
am reinstalling Vista on the same machine, but the system 'thinks' it is an
attempt to install it on a different machine.

"AJR" wrote:

> You would have had the same problem with XP (need to reactivate). Use the
> phone option to activate.
>
> "Terry Rozmus" <Terry Rozmus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:5055CDB0-4675-4B81-B69F-3C90A9D9D1FD@microsoft.com...
> >I had to reinstall Vista from an OEM disk because I had attempted to put
> > Linux on in a dual boot setup. It ended up destroying my Windows
> > partition.
> > Now I have reinstalled Vista, but when it comes to activation it says the
> > key
> > I have used is already in use. Is this normal? How do I get around it?
> > When I
> > go through the official technical support system it says my PID is not
> > recognised as well, so I can't get official technical support for it. I'm
> > currently wishing I'd brought XP instead of Vista with my new machine.
>
>
>

You can get started with phone activation by typing "slui.exe 4"
in the search field in the Start Menu and pressing Enter.
The phone activation process takes about 6 minutes.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Â*-----

"Terry Rozmus" wrote:

I had to reinstall Vista from an OEM disk because I had attempted to put
Linux on in a dual boot setup. It ended up destroying my Windows partition.
Now I have reinstalled Vista, but when it comes to activation it says the key
I have used is already in use. Is this normal? How do I get around it? When I
go through the official technical support system it says my PID is not
recognised as well, so I can't get official technical support for it. I'm
currently wishing I'd brought XP instead of Vista with my new machine.

I assume this dials microsoft from a standard phone modem. I don't have one
of those though because my internet connection is through a LAN.

"Carey Frisch [MVP]" wrote:

> You can get started with phone activation by typing "slui.exe 4"
> in the search field in the Start Menu and pressing Enter.
> The phone activation process takes about 6 minutes.
>
> --
> Carey Frisch
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows - Shell/User
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------Â*-----
>
> "Terry Rozmus" wrote:
>
> I had to reinstall Vista from an OEM disk because I had attempted to put
> Linux on in a dual boot setup. It ended up destroying my Windows partition.
> Now I have reinstalled Vista, but when it comes to activation it says the key
> I have used is already in use. Is this normal? How do I get around it? When I
> go through the official technical support system it says my PID is not
> recognised as well, so I can't get official technical support for it. I'm
> currently wishing I'd brought XP instead of Vista with my new machine.
>

Terry

A reinstall on XP was the same as Vista. If it has been over 120 days since
you last activated, the online activation will succeed. If not, then you
must use the telephone option.

The only change appears to be with the telephone option. When you first
call, you will get a recording that walks you through the activation, if
this still does not work, just stay on the line and a customer service rep
will complete the activation for you.

--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User


"Terry Rozmus" <TerryRozmus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B3DC1CAA-6BF1-4A28-9E75-FA7924267503@microsoft.com...
>I reinstalled Windows XP a number of times without this happening on my old
> machine. Yes, I had to reactivate it, but during activation the system
> correctly identified that I was reinstalling on the same machine. This
> time I
> am reinstalling Vista on the same machine, but the system 'thinks' it is
> an
> attempt to install it on a different machine.
>
> "AJR" wrote:
>
>> You would have had the same problem with XP (need to reactivate). Use the
>> phone option to activate.
>>
>> "Terry Rozmus" <Terry Rozmus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:5055CDB0-4675-4B81-B69F-3C90A9D9D1FD@microsoft.com...
>> >I had to reinstall Vista from an OEM disk because I had attempted to put
>> > Linux on in a dual boot setup. It ended up destroying my Windows
>> > partition.
>> > Now I have reinstalled Vista, but when it comes to activation it says
>> > the
>> > key
>> > I have used is already in use. Is this normal? How do I get around it?
>> > When I
>> > go through the official technical support system it says my PID is not
>> > recognised as well, so I can't get official technical support for it.
>> > I'm
>> > currently wishing I'd brought XP instead of Vista with my new machine.
>>
>>
>>

This is a brand new machine I built myself two weeks ago, so it certainly
hasn't been over 120 days. Am I right in guessing that it should reactivate
as normal?

"Ronnie Vernon MVP" wrote:

> Terry
>
> A reinstall on XP was the same as Vista. If it has been over 120 days since
> you last activated, the online activation will succeed. If not, then you
> must use the telephone option.
>
> The only change appears to be with the telephone option. When you first
> call, you will get a recording that walks you through the activation, if
> this still does not work, just stay on the line and a customer service rep
> will complete the activation for you.
>
> --
>
> Ronnie Vernon
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows Shell/User
>
>
> "Terry Rozmus" <TerryRozmus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:B3DC1CAA-6BF1-4A28-9E75-FA7924267503@microsoft.com...
> >I reinstalled Windows XP a number of times without this happening on my old
> > machine. Yes, I had to reactivate it, but during activation the system
> > correctly identified that I was reinstalling on the same machine. This
> > time I
> > am reinstalling Vista on the same machine, but the system 'thinks' it is
> > an
> > attempt to install it on a different machine.
> >
> > "AJR" wrote:
> >
> >> You would have had the same problem with XP (need to reactivate). Use the
> >> phone option to activate.
> >>
> >> "Terry Rozmus" <Terry Rozmus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:5055CDB0-4675-4B81-B69F-3C90A9D9D1FD@microsoft.com...
> >> >I had to reinstall Vista from an OEM disk because I had attempted to put
> >> > Linux on in a dual boot setup. It ended up destroying my Windows
> >> > partition.
> >> > Now I have reinstalled Vista, but when it comes to activation it says
> >> > the
> >> > key
> >> > I have used is already in use. Is this normal? How do I get around it?
> >> > When I
> >> > go through the official technical support system it says my PID is not
> >> > recognised as well, so I can't get official technical support for it.
> >> > I'm
> >> > currently wishing I'd brought XP instead of Vista with my new machine.
> >>
> >>
> >>
>

I see what you were saying now. I will try that by calling the number for
activation.

"Terry Rozmus" wrote:

> This is a brand new machine I built myself two weeks ago, so it certainly
> hasn't been over 120 days. Am I right in guessing that it should reactivate
> as normal?
>
> "Ronnie Vernon MVP" wrote:
>
> > Terry
> >
> > A reinstall on XP was the same as Vista. If it has been over 120 days since
> > you last activated, the online activation will succeed. If not, then you
> > must use the telephone option.
> >
> > The only change appears to be with the telephone option. When you first
> > call, you will get a recording that walks you through the activation, if
> > this still does not work, just stay on the line and a customer service rep
> > will complete the activation for you.
> >
> > --
> >
> > Ronnie Vernon
> > Microsoft MVP
> > Windows Shell/User
> >
> >
> > "Terry Rozmus" <TerryRozmus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:B3DC1CAA-6BF1-4A28-9E75-FA7924267503@microsoft.com...
> > >I reinstalled Windows XP a number of times without this happening on my old
> > > machine. Yes, I had to reactivate it, but during activation the system
> > > correctly identified that I was reinstalling on the same machine. This
> > > time I
> > > am reinstalling Vista on the same machine, but the system 'thinks' it is
> > > an
> > > attempt to install it on a different machine.
> > >
> > > "AJR" wrote:
> > >
> > >> You would have had the same problem with XP (need to reactivate). Use the
> > >> phone option to activate.
> > >>
> > >> "Terry Rozmus" <Terry Rozmus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > >> news:5055CDB0-4675-4B81-B69F-3C90A9D9D1FD@microsoft.com...
> > >> >I had to reinstall Vista from an OEM disk because I had attempted to put
> > >> > Linux on in a dual boot setup. It ended up destroying my Windows
> > >> > partition.
> > >> > Now I have reinstalled Vista, but when it comes to activation it says
> > >> > the
> > >> > key
> > >> > I have used is already in use. Is this normal? How do I get around it?
> > >> > When I
> > >> > go through the official technical support system it says my PID is not
> > >> > recognised as well, so I can't get official technical support for it.
> > >> > I'm
> > >> > currently wishing I'd brought XP instead of Vista with my new machine.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> >

Thanks everyone. Telephone activation worked, although I had to speak to an
operator. The operator said the online activation only works once, after that
you have to use telephone activation every time you reinstall. If that is
true it is a very annoying limitation on Windows Vista, especially for those
who need to reinstall frequently.

"Terry Rozmus" wrote:

> I see what you were saying now. I will try that by calling the number for
> activation.
>
> "Terry Rozmus" wrote:
>
> > This is a brand new machine I built myself two weeks ago, so it certainly
> > hasn't been over 120 days. Am I right in guessing that it should reactivate
> > as normal?
> >
> > "Ronnie Vernon MVP" wrote:
> >
> > > Terry
> > >
> > > A reinstall on XP was the same as Vista. If it has been over 120 days since
> > > you last activated, the online activation will succeed. If not, then you
> > > must use the telephone option.
> > >
> > > The only change appears to be with the telephone option. When you first
> > > call, you will get a recording that walks you through the activation, if
> > > this still does not work, just stay on the line and a customer service rep
> > > will complete the activation for you.
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > Ronnie Vernon
> > > Microsoft MVP
> > > Windows Shell/User
> > >
> > >
> > > "Terry Rozmus" <TerryRozmus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > > news:B3DC1CAA-6BF1-4A28-9E75-FA7924267503@microsoft.com...
> > > >I reinstalled Windows XP a number of times without this happening on my old
> > > > machine. Yes, I had to reactivate it, but during activation the system
> > > > correctly identified that I was reinstalling on the same machine. This
> > > > time I
> > > > am reinstalling Vista on the same machine, but the system 'thinks' it is
> > > > an
> > > > attempt to install it on a different machine.
> > > >
> > > > "AJR" wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> You would have had the same problem with XP (need to reactivate). Use the
> > > >> phone option to activate.
> > > >>
> > > >> "Terry Rozmus" <Terry Rozmus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > > >> news:5055CDB0-4675-4B81-B69F-3C90A9D9D1FD@microsoft.com...
> > > >> >I had to reinstall Vista from an OEM disk because I had attempted to put
> > > >> > Linux on in a dual boot setup. It ended up destroying my Windows
> > > >> > partition.
> > > >> > Now I have reinstalled Vista, but when it comes to activation it says
> > > >> > the
> > > >> > key
> > > >> > I have used is already in use. Is this normal? How do I get around it?
> > > >> > When I
> > > >> > go through the official technical support system it says my PID is not
> > > >> > recognised as well, so I can't get official technical support for it.
> > > >> > I'm
> > > >> > currently wishing I'd brought XP instead of Vista with my new machine.
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > >

Yes I have complained about this myself.
A system format & install is always faster than a scan and repair with some of the trojans out there anymore.
I don't mean to be negative but somehow I would venture this trend will continue.
The phone activation is really an obsolete format for this in every way.

"Terry Rozmus" <TerryRozmus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:517C72D6-4545-4233-B5B3-3C6637F6D638@microsoft.com...
Thanks everyone. Telephone activation worked, although I had to speak to an
operator. The operator said the online activation only works once, after that
you have to use telephone activation every time you reinstall. If that is
true it is a very annoying limitation on Windows Vista, especially for those
who need to reinstall frequently.

"Terry Rozmus" wrote:

> I see what you were saying now. I will try that by calling the number for
> activation.
>
> "Terry Rozmus" wrote:
>
> > This is a brand new machine I built myself two weeks ago, so it certainly
> > hasn't been over 120 days. Am I right in guessing that it should reactivate
> > as normal?
> >
> > "Ronnie Vernon MVP" wrote:
> >
> > > Terry
> > >
> > > A reinstall on XP was the same as Vista. If it has been over 120 days since
> > > you last activated, the online activation will succeed. If not, then you
> > > must use the telephone option.
> > >
> > > The only change appears to be with the telephone option. When you first
> > > call, you will get a recording that walks you through the activation, if
> > > this still does not work, just stay on the line and a customer service rep
> > > will complete the activation for you.
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > Ronnie Vernon
> > > Microsoft MVP
> > > Windows Shell/User
> > >
> > >
> > > "Terry Rozmus" <TerryRozmus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > > news:B3DC1CAA-6BF1-4A28-9E75-FA7924267503@microsoft.com...
> > > >I reinstalled Windows XP a number of times without this happening on my old
> > > > machine. Yes, I had to reactivate it, but during activation the system
> > > > correctly identified that I was reinstalling on the same machine. This
> > > > time I
> > > > am reinstalling Vista on the same machine, but the system 'thinks' it is
> > > > an
> > > > attempt to install it on a different machine.
> > > >
> > > > "AJR" wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> You would have had the same problem with XP (need to reactivate). Use the
> > > >> phone option to activate.
> > > >>
> > > >> "Terry Rozmus" <Terry Rozmus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > > >> news:5055CDB0-4675-4B81-B69F-3C90A9D9D1FD@microsoft.com...
> > > >> >I had to reinstall Vista from an OEM disk because I had attempted to put
> > > >> > Linux on in a dual boot setup. It ended up destroying my Windows
> > > >> > partition.
> > > >> > Now I have reinstalled Vista, but when it comes to activation it says
> > > >> > the
> > > >> > key
> > > >> > I have used is already in use. Is this normal? How do I get around it?
> > > >> > When I
> > > >> > go through the official technical support system it says my PID is not
> > > >> > recognised as well, so I can't get official technical support for it.
> > > >> > I'm
> > > >> > currently wishing I'd brought XP instead of Vista with my new machine.
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > >