ambiance Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 It was a day like any other in the world of eXPeriences and Vistas. That was until I was prompted by Windows Update to install new Windows Defender definitions (which I never use) and an nForce4 SATA driver update. Normally I would never install driver updates from Windows Update, but I made an exception since Nvidia is taking their sweet time rolling out (if ever) new ones. Click. After the installation it prompted me to restart as expected and once again to finalize. (Less reboots my ass) This story is too descriptive for a few simple clicks so I'll get to the twist. I logged in and everything seemed fine until a pop up message notified me Windows needed to be activated. Not a problem, just another click. Guess not. Now I had to contact Microsoft and go through the automated phone activation,"DING!" only to be forwarded to a representative as it couldn't validate my key. I was finally able to get this sorted after 10+ minutes on the phone and was pleased to find out this will happen next minor, I mean major hardware change. This ****es me off for a few reasons: 1) There was no hardware change whatsoever, just an updated driver. 2) It was a driver rolled out from Microsoft Update so this shouldn't happen. Even if it was a driver from a manufacturers website this shouldn't happen, but I would be less surprised if it did. 3) Every time Vista thinks a minor change has occurred I have to spend 30 minutes sorting it out. This feature almost tops Windows Photo Gallery's lack of animated gif support. Almost... *4) I purchased a retail upgrade of Vista Ultimate and was assured I could transfer the license as long as it was on one computer at a time. I hope they don't treat my copy like an OEM because I could have saved money. *May be inaccurate and subjective as writer thinks Vista sucks today. I don't need any help with this, but would like to know if this has happened to anyone else. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/573925-vista-activation/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaTeTaTeLLyA Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 this has happened to me a few times after loading new nvidia divers. It's frustrating as hell. I've also experienced a time when Vista stated it was updated, but according to Microsoft's genuine advantage tool, my copy of Vista wasn't activated. Only way to fix - call microsoft and deal with the activation representatives. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/573925-vista-activation/#findComment-588703023 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViperAFK Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 I've known people that have "acquired vista by other means" and they have never had this problem, Microsoft's anti pirate technology seems to only affect legal users. Ridiculous. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/573925-vista-activation/#findComment-588703060 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pharos Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 I've known people that have "acquired vista by other means" and they have never had this problem, Microsoft's anti pirate technology seems to only affect legal users. Ridiculous. So true. It is so ridiculous to the point where there was one time I almost used a crack (2 clicks is all it takes to activate) just so I would not have to bother calling Microsoft, waiting 10 mins and talk to a representative with broken English... sigh Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/573925-vista-activation/#findComment-588703073 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leddy Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 Haven't had this happen to me yet. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/573925-vista-activation/#findComment-588703638 Share on other sites More sharing options...
1759 Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 A few months ago, I had to reinstall Vista and reactivate it. Except that my hardware never changed. So I'm expecting the next time I reformat, I'll have to call MS back. :( Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/573925-vista-activation/#findComment-588703759 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olemus Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 yeah happened rto me before, a friend of mine has a dodgy copy though which never did it to him after an nforce 4 driver update. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/573925-vista-activation/#findComment-588703767 Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeta_immersion Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 hhahhaaha, this is funny ... oh man .... you guys have no idea how funny this is ... MS with all the propaganda they have and is this user friendly company that tucks you in bed at night and solves all your problems ... welll ... at least you have the money to sped on an OS that gives you gray hair Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/573925-vista-activation/#findComment-588703773 Share on other sites More sharing options...
gollux Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 Haven't had this happen to me yet. Well Goody for you! :^) The Vista reactivation problems are starting to sound like the airplane pilot's truism about retractable landing gear, "There are pilots who have done a gear-up landing and there are pilots who will do a gear-up landing." It's somewhere out there waiting in your future. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/573925-vista-activation/#findComment-588703820 Share on other sites More sharing options...
gollux Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 I've known people that have "acquired vista by other means" and they have never had this problem, Microsoft's anti pirate technology seems to only affect legal users. Ridiculous. Well, that's always been the story on DRM. It's there to annoy and distress the honest, deter the stupid dishonest (until the kiddie script bypasses are released) and do absolutely nothing to prevent the high level thieves from distributing it worldwide. Nothing's really changed since cracking Lotus 123 so you wouldn't accidentally run out of installs. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/573925-vista-activation/#findComment-588703835 Share on other sites More sharing options...
0sit0 Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 happened to me the other day.. gotta love WPA Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/573925-vista-activation/#findComment-588704085 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Schieldrop Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 I had to reactivate once because of a new chipset drivers. Took about 2 minutes on the phone. No big deal. I had the phone on speaker and was doing other things. I have more important things to worry about in my life than getting all bent out of shape over making a phone call and typing some numbers in a box. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/573925-vista-activation/#findComment-588704510 Share on other sites More sharing options...
stereopixels Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 I've had to phone three times in all to reactivate and not once has it ever taken only two minutes; they make me go through the whole enter the numbers on screen to an automated phone system first, then when that fails (what a surprise; it failed to activate me on the net), I then have to sit there reading out and confirming back and forth several boxes of numbers whilst being asked silly questions like 'how many computers is this software installed on?'. At the end, I've wasted about ten minutes reactivating software I legally purchased when instead pirates get it for free and they don't have to put up with this rubbish. Where's the incentive for the honest consumer? :pinch: Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/573925-vista-activation/#findComment-588704535 Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 Not a problem on this end Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/573925-vista-activation/#findComment-588705818 Share on other sites More sharing options...
blachole Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 So this is why my system prompted me for the reactivation...I've been kicking myself for days trying to figure out what caused the WPA alert. When I called the rep, they just acted like their dumb selves saying I had to have made a change. Oh well. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/573925-vista-activation/#findComment-588705943 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrCheese Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 yup I had this when I ran Vista on this PC, pretty much the same driver as well. Its extremely damn annoying to be forced to reactivate because of a driver change and the most annoying thing about it is that the pirates sit there and enjoy the software with no problems at all. This is what's always bugged me about anti piracy stuff. It only ends up affecting the legit users and not the pirates as they disabled it ages ago. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/573925-vista-activation/#findComment-588706195 Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris.baldwin Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 Choose the ACTIVATE VIA TELEPHONE type in all the numbers and stuff, they will pass you onto someone in India, tell them that this is YOUR key and that you used the CD that came with the computer to re-install it after you formatted you HDD after a virus. They will then give you a number type it in and hey Vista Ultimate. I have done it before and it works! They can't stop you from activating it. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/573925-vista-activation/#findComment-588706207 Share on other sites More sharing options...
UJANGSAN_516 Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 Sucks to be you guys I got a shiny new Dell with Vista preloaded ... I can change around ANYTHING I want and not be asked to activate. Owned. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/573925-vista-activation/#findComment-588708613 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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