Bought used copy of Vista, License still activated

I recently bought a used copy of Vista Home Premium on eBay. Last time I
ever buy a used OS. From the description, I got the impression that it had
not been installed at all. However, according to the seller, it had been
installed and became unusable after the first reboot, so he reformatted the
hard drive and reinstalled XP.

I tried activating the license, but it has already been activated. So, the
product key is apparently still locked into that previous installation. How
can I or the seller free up the license in order to attach it to my
installation of Vista?

Don't you have the option to contact Microsoft and activate it by phone?

"Quixizous" <> wrote in message
news:582CD607-48C9-4819-97E8-...
> I recently bought a used copy of Vista Home Premium on eBay. Last time I
> ever buy a used OS. From the description, I got the impression that it
> had
> not been installed at all. However, according to the seller, it had been
> installed and became unusable after the first reboot, so he reformatted
> the
> hard drive and reinstalled XP.
>
> I tried activating the license, but it has already been activated. So,
> the
> product key is apparently still locked into that previous installation.
> How
> can I or the seller free up the license in order to attach it to my
> installation of Vista?
>

'Activate Vista by Phone'
> (http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/84...sta-phone.html)
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"Quixizous" <> wrote in message
news:582CD607-48C9-4819-97E8-...
>I recently bought a used copy of Vista Home Premium on eBay. Last time I
> ever buy a used OS. From the description, I got the impression that it
> had
> not been installed at all. However, according to the seller, it had been
> installed and became unusable after the first reboot, so he reformatted
> the
> hard drive and reinstalled XP.
>
> I tried activating the license, but it has already been activated. So,
> the
> product key is apparently still locked into that previous installation.
> How
> can I or the seller free up the license in order to attach it to my
> installation of Vista?

The license is already registered as being in used, so I don't know if using
the automated phone system would make a difference... unless I'd be talking
to a real live person.

Thanks for responding.

- Robert

"Sam Crawford" wrote:

> Don't you have the option to contact Microsoft and activate it by phone?
>
> "Quixizous" <> wrote in message
> news:582CD607-48C9-4819-97E8-...
> > I recently bought a used copy of Vista Home Premium on eBay. Last time I
> > ever buy a used OS. From the description, I got the impression that it
> > had
> > not been installed at all. However, according to the seller, it had been
> > installed and became unusable after the first reboot, so he reformatted
> > the
> > hard drive and reinstalled XP.
> >
> > I tried activating the license, but it has already been activated. So,
> > the
> > product key is apparently still locked into that previous installation.
> > How
> > can I or the seller free up the license in order to attach it to my
> > installation of Vista?
> >

The license is already registered as being in used, so I don't know if using
the automated phone system would make a difference... unless I'd be talking
to a real live person.

Thanks for responding.

- Robert


"Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]" wrote:

> 'Activate Vista by Phone'
> > (http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/84...sta-phone.html)
> --
> Andre
> Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
> My Vista Quickstart Guide:
> http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
> "Quixizous" <> wrote in message
> news:582CD607-48C9-4819-97E8-...
> >I recently bought a used copy of Vista Home Premium on eBay. Last time I
> > ever buy a used OS. From the description, I got the impression that it
> > had
> > not been installed at all. However, according to the seller, it had been
> > installed and became unusable after the first reboot, so he reformatted
> > the
> > hard drive and reinstalled XP.
> >
> > I tried activating the license, but it has already been activated. So,
> > the
> > product key is apparently still locked into that previous installation.
> > How
> > can I or the seller free up the license in order to attach it to my
> > installation of Vista?
>
>
>

You will get the option to talk to a real person if necessary.
However this applies as long as what you purchased is retail.
If you purchased OEM, there may be other issues since normally OEM is
permanently tied to the first computer regardless the condition of
that computer.
If you bought OEM, you may need to contact the seller for a refund.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar



"Quixizous" <> wrote in message
news:0B39B441-B7BE-400F-B01A-...
> The license is already registered as being in used, so I don't know
> if using
> the automated phone system would make a difference... unless I'd be
> talking
> to a real live person.
>
> Thanks for responding.
>
> - Robert

Yes, you will if you wait a few minutes.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"Quixizous" <> wrote in message
news:C05B65FE-72BA-4CB3-A022-...
> The license is already registered as being in used, so I don't know if
> using
> the automated phone system would make a difference... unless I'd be
> talking
> to a real live person.
>
> Thanks for responding.
>
> - Robert
>
>
> "Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]" wrote:
>
>> 'Activate Vista by Phone'
>> > (http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/84...sta-phone.html)
>> --
>> Andre
>> Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
>> My Vista Quickstart Guide:
>> http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
>> "Quixizous" <> wrote in message
>> news:582CD607-48C9-4819-97E8-...
>> >I recently bought a used copy of Vista Home Premium on eBay. Last time
>> >I
>> > ever buy a used OS. From the description, I got the impression that it
>> > had
>> > not been installed at all. However, according to the seller, it had
>> > been
>> > installed and became unusable after the first reboot, so he reformatted
>> > the
>> > hard drive and reinstalled XP.
>> >
>> > I tried activating the license, but it has already been activated. So,
>> > the
>> > product key is apparently still locked into that previous installation.
>> > How
>> > can I or the seller free up the license in order to attach it to my
>> > installation of Vista?
>>
>>
>>

Great. It's in the golly gee whiz curvy packaging, so I have to assume it's
the retail version. I'll try calling tomorrow. Thanks a bunch.

- Robert

"Jupiter Jones [MVP]" wrote:

> You will get the option to talk to a real person if necessary.
> However this applies as long as what you purchased is retail.
> If you purchased OEM, there may be other issues since normally OEM is
> permanently tied to the first computer regardless the condition of
> that computer.
> If you bought OEM, you may need to contact the seller for a refund.
>
> --
> Jupiter Jones [MVP]
> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
>
>
>
> "Quixizous" <> wrote in message
> news:0B39B441-B7BE-400F-B01A-...
> > The license is already registered as being in used, so I don't know
> > if using
> > the automated phone system would make a difference... unless I'd be
> > talking
> > to a real live person.
> >
> > Thanks for responding.
> >
> > - Robert
>
>

That is retail if that is the original package.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar



"Quixizous" <> wrote in message
news:57B72F91-79A4-4C14-B3F2-...
> Great. It's in the golly gee whiz curvy packaging, so I have to
> assume it's
> the retail version. I'll try calling tomorrow. Thanks a bunch.
>
> - Robert

After you make your call, please post back to this thread to let us know
how your phone experience with MS went.

Quixizous wrote:
> Great. It's in the golly gee whiz curvy packaging, so I have to assume it's
> the retail version. I'll try calling tomorrow. Thanks a bunch.
>
> - Robert
>
> "Jupiter Jones [MVP]" wrote:
>
>> You will get the option to talk to a real person if necessary.
>> However this applies as long as what you purchased is retail.
>> If you purchased OEM, there may be other issues since normally OEM is
>> permanently tied to the first computer regardless the condition of
>> that computer.
>> If you bought OEM, you may need to contact the seller for a refund.
>>
>> --
>> Jupiter Jones [MVP]
>> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
>>
>>
>>
>> "Quixizous" <> wrote in message
>> news:0B39B441-B7BE-400F-B01A-...
>>> The license is already registered as being in used, so I don't know
>>> if using
>>> the automated phone system would make a difference... unless I'd be
>>> talking
>>> to a real live person.
>>>
>>> Thanks for responding.
>>>
>>> - Robert
>>