Tom's Hardware > Forum > Windows Vista > Vista General Discussion > Windows won't activate, says product key in use?

Windows won't activate, says product key in use?

Forum Windows Vista : Vista General Discussion - Windows won't activate, says product key in use?

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Finger13   12-31-2008 at 07:17:26 PM

Alright so I have an OEM copy of Vista Home Premium that I got from Tigerdirect. I've been using it for about half a year now and have done several installs on my desktop, and also installed it on my tablet.

But I just went out and bought a new motherboard and CPU, and now it won't let me activate Windows saying that my key code is in use?

What gives? I didn't spend $130 on it to have it become useless half a year and maybe 5-8 installs later. Is it because my tablet is running the same copy that it is making a fuss now? Because they have both been using the same one since September and I haven't had any issues and they both registered.

What can I do about this? Windows wants me to buy another key, which is BS.

I've got 26 days before it expires, and I will be pissed if I have to spend more money again on something that could just end up doing the exact same thing.


Message edited by Finger13 on 12-31-2008 at 07:18:43 PM
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Zoron   12-31-2008 at 07:26:35 PM
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No, it's NOT BS... it's called you tried to get away with running a single copy of Windows on multiple computers. You have to purchase one copy of Windows PER computer. Just because you got away with it initially, doesn't make it any more legal than it is now. You're going to have to choose one computer to install and run it on and purchase another copy for the other computer.

Read the license agreement... you would have avoided this headache. Don't blame MS for your ignorance.

------------------------------ Desktop: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit; Intel Q6600 CPU; E-VGA 780i SLI motherboard; E-VGA E-GeForce 8800GT; OCZ Vista 4GB dual-channel kit; Ultra X2 750W power supply; 2 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB in RAID 0. Laptop: Acer Aspire 8730-6314;
 Reply to Zoron
Finger13   12-31-2008 at 07:30:42 PM
- 0 +

I always thought you could run it on multiple. My bad. I wasn't trying to cheat Microsoft, I just thought that once you paid that hefty sum of cash that you would be good to go haha.

Does this mean that if I uninstall it off of my tablet, then my desktop will be able to activate? Because I'm pretty sure that my college course will be providing us with a copy of whatever OS to run on our laptops anyway.

Because how will Microsoft know that I uninstalled it from my tablet?


Message edited by Finger13 on 12-31-2008 at 07:32:29 PM
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Zoron   12-31-2008 at 07:37:35 PM
- 0 +

Yes, if you uninstall it from the laptop and then phone MS for activation, it will work again on the desktop. Then when they ask if this is the only computer that copy of Windows is installed on you can honestly say yes.

MS's license agreement has always been this way... they just never enforced it the way they do now. Up until XP it was possible to install many copies of the same OS and same product key on multiple computers. Product activation is working to nip this in the bud. It's actually quite surprising you were able to install and activate Windows on both computers... that is something that product activation is supposed to eliminate.

------------------------------ Desktop: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit; Intel Q6600 CPU; E-VGA 780i SLI motherboard; E-VGA E-GeForce 8800GT; OCZ Vista 4GB dual-channel kit; Ultra X2 750W power supply; 2 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB in RAID 0. Laptop: Acer Aspire 8730-6314;
 Reply to Zoron
Finger13   12-31-2008 at 07:51:28 PM
- 0 +

Yeah they both installed fine and activated fine, and I was able to run them both simultaneously.

Oh well, I guess I'll have to make due with Ubuntu on my tablet until I find out what OS my college will be giving me. Maybe I can find some drivers for my tablet's touchscreen abilities in Ubuntu.

Thanks for your help, I appreciate it.

Oh and one other thing, is there any other way to get them to reactivate my key without having to call? I'm trying to find details on how to get them to reactivate my code, but am finding them hard to come by.

I was just curious if I could just email them or something. I guess calling is the best way to get it done immediately though.

Reply to Finger13
Zoron   12-31-2008 at 07:54:41 PM
- 0 +

If it won't activate automatically, the only way to do it is over the phone.

------------------------------ Desktop: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit; Intel Q6600 CPU; E-VGA 780i SLI motherboard; E-VGA E-GeForce 8800GT; OCZ Vista 4GB dual-channel kit; Ultra X2 750W power supply; 2 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB in RAID 0. Laptop: Acer Aspire 8730-6314;
 Reply to Zoron
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