Solved Activate Windows? (I had a legal copy, but lost product key)

[Ohdear]

Total newbie here.

I've got my brother's computer. It's a Lenovo, and started life with a legally purchased copy of Vista.

Something went weird on the Lenovo, so that you needed a password to get into it, and none of my brother's passwords worked. He also han't kept his copy of Windows with the product key. (I've got the system restore disc, but it doens't have any numbers on it. I hadn't found this until after I'd taken the computer to the computer store, where they'd used their own disc)

The computer store I brought it to wiped out the old stuff, and reinstalled Vista using a disc they had in their store.

I've moved to a new state, and recently fired up the computer, and used it for a couple of days. Today I got a message, "The Windows you have is invalid. Activate Windows."

I close out of that, and everything seems to work normally. I can get on the web, do stuff on my computer, etc. So it seems like Windows and Vista are working.

Is Vista going to shut down on me shortly, or what's the deal? I don't mind purchasing a new version (I'll make my brother pay it), but will I have to reinstall it and will it wipe out everything I've put on the computer in the last few days??


After further work with the computer, it looks like the "To interrupt normal post, press enter" is an error message that is only given on the Lenovo. If I wait for 5 minutes, the computer starts to work, and asks me to "activate Windows" - which I assume is also going to ask me for a product key, which I no longer have. After a few seconds it gives me the option to choose Activate Later, which I select.

I assume I can make it genuine by paying something, which is fine.

But, if I make it genuine, is it going to wipe out everything I've now put on the computer, which I don't want to have to reinstall, redo if I can help it?

That, in a nutshell, is my question!

Again, thanks for any help.

 

[Lorien]

Vista will work OK for 30 days after installation without being activated - then it goes into reduced mode (essentially you can't do anything except activate) until you activate it. The fact that you're receiving prompts means it's getting close to the 30 day point.

If you purchase an identical product to what is installed - same bit-size, same version of Vista (and a full version, not an upgrade version), you should be able to just use that new product key to activate and that's all - no re-installation, no wiping anything out.

If it doesn't activate automatically, then do so manually.

To manually activate, go to start, search box and type in slui 4 and enter. Enter your country and press next. You'll be on a screen with a phone number and a bunch of codes at the bottom. Call the number and wade through the automated prompts until you reach a human. Have your product code handy as it will be requested. Explain the situation. They should give you a code to enter on that screen to activate Vista and you should be good to go.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

P.S. I don't know where to buy a retail copy of Vista anymore myself (and I've looked) - but maybe you'll be able to find a source. Perhaps the computer manufacturer can help - though if they offer to sell you Recovery Disks then those WILL wipe the drive clean when they are installed (and you may or may not still have the activation problem - it depends on how the Recovery Disk process works but you can ask them before you buy anything if it becomes your only option to make sure it really is an option). Incidentally, in case you're wondering, you can't buy an upgrade to Windows 7 (assuming it is compatible with your computer) because the upgrade will not work if Vista isn't activated.

 

[Ohdear]

Thanks, Lorien!

 

[Patonb]

Have you looked on the bottom of the computer?

Every laptop I've had has the sticker on the bottom with the win key code.

 

[Ohdear]

>>>Every laptop I've had has the sticker on the bottom with the win key code.

Well...gee. Now I feel really stupid.

I looked at the bottom of the computer and there it was!

Sheesh. My only excuse is that the tower was placed below my desk so it wasn't at eye level, for me to see it - so clearly placed as it is!!!!!

EDITED TO SAY:
Input the product key from the tower, and it activated fine!

Thanks so much Lorien and PatonB for your patient help for a newbie. Very much appreciated!!!!!

 

[Patonb]

Hahahas...... Glad you got it. I would never expect to find my win key right out in the open either.