Yeah activation in all the latest versions of windows is retarded quite badly, Vista is going to be supported 6-10 years so it should only run say two or three times every 6 months. Microsft is just increasing the problems for customers if the activation system takes a few weeks to get your activation code, if it didnt check activation so often it can let cusotomers use there product longer to give micorsoft a good 6 months or so to catch up on the paperwork and release a better anti-patch system. bios flags can disable activation too.