Bypass Windows Vista activation?

I have an HP computer that came with Windows Vista Business/ XP Pro license. On 8/24/2009 I replaced the hard drive because the Seagate 7200.11 that was in it was starting to fail (rather odd) at which time I re-installed Windows Vista, XP & Linux. Everything is fine until last week. I didn't use Windows Vista for about 3 weeks and after I boot up it announced that I "might be the victim of software counterfeiting" and all it said was 1) Buy a new key 2) Contract dell "maybe they can help"

I get no option for phone activation. I tried some instructions which seem to have cleared all the activation info so I no longer "might be the victim of software counterfeiting" instead I "must activate today" and when I try I get the same message which say I can 1) buy a new cd key 2) contact dell

Long story short the Dell Vista discs have some funkyness in the bootloader and that is why I used a Dell disc. It accepted the key from my COA w/o a problem and activated (the first time) w/o a problem.

I've ranted about Windows activation before (this also is not the first time the activation crap tries to lock me out of a legit copy of Windows) and I was always told "do phone activation"... well how can I do that!!?? Is there a way to just totally remove this activation crap from Vista? SLUI.EXE 4 DOES NOT WORK!

I thought the XP Pro licensed offered by OEM's was a downgrade option for Vista Business, meaning that both cannot be used at the same time.

Maybe that triggerred it.

Originally Posted by Lepard

I thought the XP Pro licensed offered by OEM's was a downgrade option for Vista Business, meaning that both cannot be used at the same time.

Maybe that triggerred it.

this.
according to the EULA, if you downgraded to XP, you can no longer use that Vista license.

Irregardless of the technicalities of Microsoft's license, I seem to have resolved the issue.

I don't know how, but I am lazy, so instead of moving the computer and getting the key # I was getting it from a keyfinder... well I just put that key into Google and it is the Dell SLP key... that explains why that key was "not valid for online activation"

Put in the correct key and just did a phone activation, no issues.

THIS Is why I hate WGA and all this related. I logged into a computer right now it is one of my clients who has someone who "works from home"

Windows XP Pro SP2 installed 3/15/2006 and MGADiag says:

Diagnostic Report (1.9.0011.0):
-----------------------------------------
WGA Data-->
Validation Status: Invalid Product Key
Validation Code: 8

Cached Validation Code: N/A
Windows Product Key: *****-*****-P6YMB-G2T6Y-D27X8
Windows Product Key Hash: 73bE7lOhwYB7A7yJ3REk5uog5W4=
Windows Product ID: 55274-645-5919031-23153
Windows Product ID Type: 1
Windows License Type: Volume
Windows OS version: 5.1.2600.2.00010100.2.0.pro
WGA Version: Registered, 1.5.512.0
Signed By: Microsoft


OGA Data-->
Office Status: 114 Blocked VLK 2
Microsoft Office XP Professional with FrontPage - 114 Blocked VLK 2
OGA Version: N/A, 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Office Diagnostics: 025D1FF3-230-1_025D1FF3-238-2_025D1FF3-258-3

I CAN'T USE MY LEGIT VERSION OF WINDOWS FOR MORE THAN 3 MONTHS BUT NO PROBLEMS TO USE A PIRATED VERSION FOR 3+ YEARS.

What twisted bastard came up with the term "Windows Genuine ADVANTAGE!!??"

Originally Posted by athlon1.2

THIS Is why I hate WGA and all this related. I logged into a computer right now it is one of my clients who has someone who "works from home"

Windows XP Pro SP2 installed 3/15/2006 and MGADiag says:



I CAN'T USE MY LEGIT VERSION OF WINDOWS FOR MORE THAN 3 MONTHS BUT NO PROBLEMS TO USE A PIRATED VERSION FOR 3+ YEARS.

What twisted bastard came up with the term "Windows Genuine ADVANTAGE!!??"

I don't necessarily agree with WGA, but I do not know how people have issues with "losing" activations or not being able to activate. If for any reason I could not activate online it takes approximately 5 minutes on the phone.

This includes the thousands of machines I have built and sold and the tens of thousand others that were so bogged down with malware it was easier to wipe and reinstall.

I think it is the messages that Windows presents you with that causes a problem.

In my case yes MGADiag said I was using the SLP key but I didn't think anything because that program and just troubleshooting WGA issues is so convoluted. On top of that the error codes aren't documented in any public document by Microsoft. With that SLP key used there was no activate online option at all, the options where (word for word):

* Buy a new product key online
* Type a different product key
* Contact Dell to help resolve this problem (brings up the Windows Help article "Get customer support or other types of help" it explains e.g. how to use remote assistance)

Once I did enter a proper key I believe the middle option was replaced by "Activate By phone"

On Windows XP when I had a similar issue (it didn't loose the activation but was a reinstall) it said I had "activated too many times" it didn't say "Sorry you have done online activation too many times recently. In order to reduce software piracy please call the Microsoft activations center to continue with the activation process" Instead it says "According to our records, the number of times you can activate Windows with this product key has been exceeded. Please enter a different product key and then click retry..... If you believe you have received this message in error, please contact a Customer Service Representative"

Does any of this wording lead you to believe there is anything you can do but buy a new copy of Windows? I didn't believe I had received that error on XP "in error" because indeed I had been reinstalling Windows alot. Yes it does let you do it by telephone, it has a button on that dialog box that says "Telephone" Telephone my ass? Telephone what exactly?

But above all people can steal Windows and not have to deal with this crap and when they do oh well you get what you pay for... while legitimate users get bullied around, mislead and overall just treated like crap considering you are a paying customer.

Could you imagine if your car did this crap?

Originally Posted by athlon1.2

I think it is the messages that Windows presents you with that causes a problem.

In my case yes MGADiag said I was using the SLP key but I didn't think anything because that program and just troubleshooting WGA issues is so convoluted. On top of that the error codes aren't documented in any public document by Microsoft. With that SLP key used there was no activate online option at all, the options where (word for word):

* Buy a new product key online
* Type a different product key
* Contact Dell to help resolve this problem (brings up the Windows Help article "Get customer support or other types of help" it explains e.g. how to use remote assistance)

Once I did enter a proper key I believe the middle option was replaced by "Activate By phone"

On Windows XP when I had a similar issue (it didn't loose the activation but was a reinstall) it said I had "activated too many times" it didn't say "Sorry you have done online activation too many times recently. In order to reduce software piracy please call the Microsoft activations center to continue with the activation process" Instead it says "According to our records, the number of times you can activate Windows with this product key has been exceeded. Please enter a different product key and then click retry..... If you believe you have received this message in error, please contact a Customer Service Representative"

Does any of this wording lead you to believe there is anything you can do but buy a new copy of Windows? I didn't believe I had received that error on XP "in error" because indeed I had been reinstalling Windows alot. Yes it does let you do it by telephone, it has a button on that dialog box that says "Telephone" Telephone my ass? Telephone what exactly?

But above all people can steal Windows and not have to deal with this crap and when they do oh well you get what you pay for... while legitimate users get bullied around, mislead and overall just treated like crap considering you are a paying customer.

Could you imagine if your car did this crap?

Car and computer analogies rarely work, and in this case it does not. The reason why the option stated to contact Dell, is because it would be their issue to fix not Microsoft's. If you click on the Telephone option, you would then select your Country and it will give you the phone number for your location. You call, spend 5 minutes and you are done. Fairly easy imo.

If you want to steal Windows or any other OS for that matter it is up to you.

Again, I'm not saying that it is right but I'd rather have a legit OS than a "cracked" one.

Your right, had I experienced the sort of frustration that WGD caused me with my car I would probably have ended up driving into a wall while cursing Chris Bangle.