Windows Product Key doesn't work

I bought my laptop with Vista Home Premium about a month ago. I tried to get
help from Microsoft about a problem I have with Vista using the 'Contact a
support professional by phone or e-mail' option, which is active for 90 days
after product activation. I entered my product ID correctly, but I get the
following message:

'The product ID number you entered is not valid or is not in the correct
format. Please enter a valid product ID number and try again. Make sure the
product ID number is of the form: 12345-XXX-7654321-98765.'

How can that be?

Windows Vista came on the computer and is OEM.
What you are seeing is normal, Microsoft does not support OEM.
Contact the manufacturer for support.
This is one of the many reasons you paid less for your OEM than
retail.

You could post a new message in the appropriate newsgroup giving
details of the problem and someone will probably be able to help.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"Shaw" <> wrote in message
news:EB029279-A23A-4BA9-A7FA-...
>I bought my laptop with Vista Home Premium about a month ago. I
>tried to get
> help from Microsoft about a problem I have with Vista using the
> 'Contact a
> support professional by phone or e-mail' option, which is active for
> 90 days
> after product activation. I entered my product ID correctly, but I
> get the
> following message:
>
> 'The product ID number you entered is not valid or is not in the
> correct
> format. Please enter a valid product ID number and try again. Make
> sure the
> product ID number is of the form: 12345-XXX-7654321-98765.'
>
> How can that be?

Shaw,
If the Vista came with the computer, you probably have an OEM version (your
ID should have OEM in in somewhere). If that is the case support is provided
by the manufacture of your laptop, not Microsoft (that is why the Vista
costs less than retail boxed version).

Michael

"Shaw" <> wrote in message
news:EB029279-A23A-4BA9-A7FA-...
>I bought my laptop with Vista Home Premium about a month ago. I tried to
>get
> help from Microsoft about a problem I have with Vista using the 'Contact a
> support professional by phone or e-mail' option, which is active for 90
> days
> after product activation. I entered my product ID correctly, but I get
> the
> following message:
>
> 'The product ID number you entered is not valid or is not in the correct
> format. Please enter a valid product ID number and try again. Make sure
> the
> product ID number is of the form: 12345-XXX-7654321-98765.'
>
> How can that be?