To: Rick and Richard
First to Rick:
Well 'thanks' Rick - the 'slui 4' hint worked (just like a Windows Easter
egg?) & how is it that I'd never heard of it until your suggestion? But it
is a far cry from making me feel less abused by Microsoft - and here's why:
1. After dialing the activation phone# - a recorded message advised that web
activation would be quicker/easier - without giving me a web address. I
Googled for Windows activation & got a Windows activation address. The web
page was just a FAQ list - that did not include my factual situation
(attempting to reinstall with a retail Vista after having reformatted my
hard drive) - & again - not indicating a web address to begin any kind of
activation procedure.
2. So I dialed in again to complete the phone activation - a long, utterly
ridiculous, and humiliating procedure.
3. Upon completion, a message window advised I had successfully
reactivated - but I had no indication/notification that advised if my
original 25 digit Vista CD activation code had changed or not. What the
hell!
If Microsoft wants to dictate how its licensed users ought to pick their
noses - go to the bathroom - and how many times - for the privilege of using
Microsoft products - then it's an easy bet that the Microsoft empire will
decline & fall under the increasing weight of antitrust litigation,
international piracy, and Microsoft's obvious failure to maintain it's
competitive edge by favoring its profits at the expense of producing less
reliable products, employing shoddy quality controls, lowering standards,
and continuing to lose its customer base.
Now to Richard:
Hey thanks for your Belarc hint. Very cool! I had used Belarc several
years ago but had no idea that it would report the Windows activation code.
I ran Belarc before calling in to reactivate Vista as Rick suggested - and
discovered it reported a completely changed activation code from the one I
had recorded and safeguarded on my retail Vista box.
After reactivating Vista on the phone - & wondering if the reactivated Vista
code would differ from what Belarc had reported, I ran Belarc again & found
that the code had not changed. That was somewhat reassuring.
My sincere gratitude to you, Rick & Richard for your prompt, useful, and
informative assistance. Microsoft does not deserve you.
FYI - this experience coupled with a randomly freezing Vista 64bit for the
past year has led me to the iMac. Thank you for that Microsoft. Steve
Ballmer had soon better look to don his golden parachute.
"Rick Rogers" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Hi,
>
> Did it state invalid or that it was previously activated? Subsequent
> installations of Vista require phone activation (just type slui 4 into the
> start/search line to begin). As the database periodically resets, there is
> no way for activation to recognize that this is the same machine that it
> was previously activated on.
>
> --
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> Vote for my shoe: http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>
> "Skeptic" <> wrote in message
> news:%237SEY7$...
>> When I attempted to reinstall Vista Ultimate on the same PC on which I
>> had originally installed my legitimate, certified, un-pirated, newly
>> purchased, licensed Vista CD - using the correct 25 digit - alpha numeric
>> branded code - the installation advised that I had entered an invalid
>> code.
>>
>> I beg to differ. I had carefully preserved and had copied the code onto
>> a second gummed label I had pasted to the CD cassette. I tried two more
>> times to enter the code and surrendered.
>>
>> Somehow - don't ask how - when so utterly frustrated, I accessed the CD
>> repair options and luckily restored a two week old backup from my
>> portable storage disk.
>>
>> Can anyone explain how Microsoft can abuse its honest users with such
>> harassment? We have rights too! Why not post a suggestion how to obtain
>> re-authentication as part of that error message that erroneously claimed
>> I had entered an invalid code?
>>
>> I feel like a victim falsely charged & arrested.
>>
>> Question: How do I obtain re-certification, verification, and assurance
>> from Microsoft that my overpriced, over hyped, under performing, licensed
>> Vista CD will perform like it's supposed to - if & when I choose to
>> reinstall it on my originally purchased, and solely owned PC? (and if -
>> for some reason - Vista's programming failed to recognize my PC as
>> identical to the one on which I had installed it - why is that my problem
>> & not Microsoft's?)
>>
>> Maybe more users ought to behave like pirates considering the lack of
>> respect Microsoft offers to its 'licensees?' Indeed! Just who are the
>> pirates - given this set of facts?
>>
>> Thanks for your patience, understanding, and your agreement maybe?
>
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