Activation request on new HP desktop with Vista pre-installed

My HP slimline s7700n PC came with Vista Home Premium pre-installed. It is
now 3 months old. Last week a message appeared asking me to validate my copy
of vista. I closed it and hoped it would go away but it has not. So, today I
tried to activate the copy using the activation code on the sticker on the
machine. It tells me that number is already taken. I assume that is because
it is already taken by itself. This is an amusing catch 22. I cannot find any
notes about this. Can anyone help?
Thanks.

That can happen if you make changes to hardware, or flash the BIOS. I
would just call and activate by phone after they ask you some questions.

Cheers,
Chris

CJO wrote:
> My HP slimline s7700n PC came with Vista Home Premium pre-installed. It is
> now 3 months old. Last week a message appeared asking me to validate my copy
> of vista. I closed it and hoped it would go away but it has not. So, today I
> tried to activate the copy using the activation code on the sticker on the
> machine. It tells me that number is already taken. I assume that is because
> it is already taken by itself. This is an amusing catch 22. I cannot find any
> notes about this. Can anyone help?
> Thanks.

"CJO" <> wrote in message
news8EC0706-7E33-4769-A342-...
> My HP slimline s7700n PC came with Vista Home Premium pre-installed. It is
> now 3 months old. Last week a message appeared asking me to validate my
> copy
> of vista. I closed it and hoped it would go away but it has not. So, today
> I
> tried to activate the copy using the activation code on the sticker on the
> machine. It tells me that number is already taken. I assume that is
> because
> it is already taken by itself. This is an amusing catch 22. I cannot find
> any
> notes about this. Can anyone help?
> Thanks.
When you invoke activation, use the activate by phone option.
--
Michael Solomon
Backup is a PC user's best friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

Interesting, I was under the impression that an OS installed & BIOS locked
by the manufacturer wouldn't have to be reactivated like that.
Apparently MS doesn't even trust their partners.
Unless the MB or BIOS was changed, I'd scream about that one!
I would call HP and tell them what I thought about it.
The only way things will change is if enough people/companies pressure MS to
back off their draconian ways.

--
A Professional Amateur...If anyone knew it all, none of would be here!

Change Alpha to Numeric to reply
"CJO" <> wrote in message
news8EC0706-7E33-4769-A342-...
> My HP slimline s7700n PC came with Vista Home Premium pre-installed. It is
> now 3 months old. Last week a message appeared asking me to validate my
> copy
> of vista. I closed it and hoped it would go away but it has not. So, today
> I
> tried to activate the copy using the activation code on the sticker on the
> machine. It tells me that number is already taken. I assume that is
> because
> it is already taken by itself. This is an amusing catch 22. I cannot find
> any
> notes about this. Can anyone help?
> Thanks.

NotMe wrote:
> Interesting, I was under the impression that an OS installed & BIOS locked
> by the manufacturer wouldn't have to be reactivated like that.
> Apparently MS doesn't even trust their partners.
> Unless the MB or BIOS was changed, I'd scream about that one!
> I would call HP and tell them what I thought about it.
> The only way things will change is if enough people/companies pressure MS to
> back off their draconian ways.
>

Fortunately for computer repair techs, most people will call up India to
ask permission to use something for which they have already paid and
think it's completely normal and stick with Windows. This newsgroup is
full of people like that.

Alias

"NotMe" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Interesting, I was under the impression that an OS installed & BIOS locked
> by the manufacturer wouldn't have to be reactivated like that.
> Apparently MS doesn't even trust their partners.
> Unless the MB or BIOS was changed, I'd scream about that one!
> I would call HP and tell them what I thought about it.
> The only way things will change is if enough people/companies pressure MS
> to back off their draconian ways.
>
> --
> A Professional Amateur...If anyone knew it all, none of would be here!
>
> Change Alpha to Numeric to reply
> "CJO" <> wrote in message
> news8EC0706-7E33-4769-A342-...
>> My HP slimline s7700n PC came with Vista Home Premium pre-installed. It
>> is
>> now 3 months old. Last week a message appeared asking me to validate my
>> copy
>> of vista. I closed it and hoped it would go away but it has not. So,
>> today I
>> tried to activate the copy using the activation code on the sticker on
>> the
>> machine. It tells me that number is already taken. I assume that is
>> because
>> it is already taken by itself. This is an amusing catch 22. I cannot find
>> any
>> notes about this. Can anyone help?
>> Thanks.
>
>
Actually, he wasn't getting an activation prompt, it was a validation prompt
and usually OEM setups will not generally validated as "Genuine Windows."
That's a problem if you need to download various updates as they require
validation. I thought this was something that could be resolved with the
activation center but, I might be wrong, he may need to at least check with
his OEM first regarding this issue.
--
Michael Solomon
Backup is a PC user's best friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

If validation fails, it asks for the key.
Since it is on the same machine, and the BIOS identifies it as the proper
manufacturer, you would think the key would validate it.
If not, MS has created a bigger mess than anyone imagined.

I doubt MS has noticed the 35 machines I have migrated off of Windows so
far...but when enough people do, they will!
--
A Professional Amateur...If anyone knew it all, none of would be here!

Change Alpha to Numeric to reply
"Michael Solomon" <user@#notme.com> wrote in message
news:AFF1F7FF-921D-4F4E-822D-...
>
>
> "NotMe" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> Interesting, I was under the impression that an OS installed & BIOS
>> locked by the manufacturer wouldn't have to be reactivated like that.
>> Apparently MS doesn't even trust their partners.
>> Unless the MB or BIOS was changed, I'd scream about that one!
>> I would call HP and tell them what I thought about it.
>> The only way things will change is if enough people/companies pressure MS
>> to back off their draconian ways.
>>
>> --
>> A Professional Amateur...If anyone knew it all, none of would be here!
>>
>> Change Alpha to Numeric to reply
>> "CJO" <> wrote in message
>> news8EC0706-7E33-4769-A342-...
>>> My HP slimline s7700n PC came with Vista Home Premium pre-installed. It
>>> is
>>> now 3 months old. Last week a message appeared asking me to validate my
>>> copy
>>> of vista. I closed it and hoped it would go away but it has not. So,
>>> today I
>>> tried to activate the copy using the activation code on the sticker on
>>> the
>>> machine. It tells me that number is already taken. I assume that is
>>> because
>>> it is already taken by itself. This is an amusing catch 22. I cannot
>>> find any
>>> notes about this. Can anyone help?
>>> Thanks.
>>
>>
> Actually, he wasn't getting an activation prompt, it was a validation
> prompt and usually OEM setups will not generally validated as "Genuine
> Windows." That's a problem if you need to download various updates as they
> require validation. I thought this was something that could be resolved
> with the activation center but, I might be wrong, he may need to at least
> check with his OEM first regarding this issue.
> --
> Michael Solomon
> Backup is a PC user's best friend
> DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

and this newsgroup has you, Alias, the marketing department for Ubuntu!

"Alias" <aka@masked&anonymous.li> wrote in message
news:...
> NotMe wrote:
>> Interesting, I was under the impression that an OS installed & BIOS
>> locked by the manufacturer wouldn't have to be reactivated like that.
>> Apparently MS doesn't even trust their partners.
>> Unless the MB or BIOS was changed, I'd scream about that one!
>> I would call HP and tell them what I thought about it.
>> The only way things will change is if enough people/companies pressure MS
>> to back off their draconian ways.
>>
>
> Fortunately for computer repair techs, most people will call up India to
> ask permission to use something for which they have already paid and think
> it's completely normal and stick with Windows. This newsgroup is full of
> people like that.
>
> Alias

Bill Yanaire wrote:
> and this newsgroup has you, Alias, the marketing department for Ubuntu!

I am just a happy user, nothing more.

Alias
>
> "Alias" <aka@masked&anonymous.li> wrote in message
> news:...
>> NotMe wrote:
>>> Interesting, I was under the impression that an OS installed & BIOS
>>> locked by the manufacturer wouldn't have to be reactivated like that.
>>> Apparently MS doesn't even trust their partners.
>>> Unless the MB or BIOS was changed, I'd scream about that one!
>>> I would call HP and tell them what I thought about it.
>>> The only way things will change is if enough people/companies pressure MS
>>> to back off their draconian ways.
>>>
>> Fortunately for computer repair techs, most people will call up India to
>> ask permission to use something for which they have already paid and think
>> it's completely normal and stick with Windows. This newsgroup is full of
>> people like that.
>>
>> Alias
>
>

yes, you keep believing that.

"Alias" <aka@masked&anonymous.li> wrote in message
news:...
> Bill Yanaire wrote:
>> and this newsgroup has you, Alias, the marketing department for Ubuntu!
>
> I am just a happy user, nothing more.
>
> Alias
>>
>> "Alias" <aka@masked&anonymous.li> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> NotMe wrote:
>>>> Interesting, I was under the impression that an OS installed & BIOS
>>>> locked by the manufacturer wouldn't have to be reactivated like that.
>>>> Apparently MS doesn't even trust their partners.
>>>> Unless the MB or BIOS was changed, I'd scream about that one!
>>>> I would call HP and tell them what I thought about it.
>>>> The only way things will change is if enough people/companies pressure
>>>> MS to back off their draconian ways.
>>>>
>>> Fortunately for computer repair techs, most people will call up India to
>>> ask permission to use something for which they have already paid and
>>> think it's completely normal and stick with Windows. This newsgroup is
>>> full of people like that.
>>>
>>> Alias
>>