Vista Activation?

[OWA]

Has anyone activated Vista-64 more than once? I just had it installed and activated but today changed the hard drive since my other one was clicking. I got everything installed again and tried to activate a few minutes ago. It's telling me my product-id is already in use so I basically have to call MS to get it activated. Is that normal? With XP, I usually had a few activations before I had to call.

[Lfctony]

I reactivated when I decided to install Vista x64 after installing x86 already and activating. Took a while but it was sorted out in the end. You should be fine. I made images myself so I won't have to reinstall and reactivate if I format.

[slaWter]

I activated Vista 32 and 64 bit already a few times on the same hardware, no problem.
Sold my Vista 32 to a friend and he had to call MS for a reactivation, no problem as well :)

[$n][pErMan]

With XP if you waited 90 days you had no problem. Wonder is Vista is that way too.... id hate to have to call MS in a few months when I redo my system.

[Roliath]

I reactivated when I decided to install Vista x64 after installing x86 already and activating. Took a while but it was sorted out in the end. You should be fine. I made images myself so I won't have to reinstall and reactivate if I format.
Quick question what are you using to make images of your setup for those "just in case" moments?
thanks in advance
and op didn't mean to hijack your thread

[Lfctony]

I use Acronis True Image Home 10. Very nice program, and cheap too. :)

[einstein_314]

I use Acronis True Image Home 10. Very nice program, and cheap too. :)
Acronic True Image is great :thumbsup: I've used it with many WinXP systems and it works flawlessly. Haven't tried it with Vista yet...

[einstein_314]

Has anyone activated Vista-64 more than once? I just had it installed and activated but today changed the hard drive since my other one was clicking. I got everything installed again and tried to activate a few minutes ago. It's telling me my product-id is already in use so I basically have to call MS to get it activated. Is that normal? With XP, I usually had a few activations before I had to call.
Well microsoft did say that you can't install it on 2 computers simultaneously...So I guess it thinks you still have it installed on the old hard drive? I guess you'll have to call them and see what they say...do you have the OEM version? or retail?

[OWA]

It's the retail version.

[Dr.Nick]

I also had to call in for my second activation; the bastards don't give you 2-3 activations before calling anymore:( Only changed HD's to setup a raid array

[Stoneyguy]

I've heard that while XP was more dependent on your NIC card to determine when there was a significant change, Vista instead is linked to your HDD. That's why I went with a 74 gig Raptor as my host for Vista. It would seem by the stories I'm hearing that this does indeed seem to be the case.

[Toss3]

It's the retail version.
w00t? Isn't this supposed to be the difference between retail and oem; I thought you wouldn't have to call to get it activated with the retail version? :wtf:

[XDanger]

[pErMan']With XP if you waited 90 days you had no problem. Wonder is Vista is that way too.... id hate to have to call MS in a few months when I redo my system.

Yes those easy automated 2 minute phone calls can be a real hassle cant they????





DISCLAIMER - Im only speaking from my own experience.

[OWA]

w00t? Isn't this supposed to be the difference between retail and oem; I thought you wouldn't have to call to get it activated with the retail version? :wtf:
Yeah, I thought that was supposed to be the case and that's why I was so surprised. I'll probably wait until the end of the trial period this time before calling to activate it just in case I need to change anything else.

[grey_1]

Yeah, I thought that was supposed to be the case and that's why I was so surprised. I'll probably wait until the end of the trial period this time before calling to activate it just in case I need to change anything else.
That's what I'm doing, I haven't activated mine at all yet.

[Stoneyguy]

w00t? Isn't this supposed to be the difference between retail and oem; I thought you wouldn't have to call to get it activated with the retail version? :wtf:

Actually the difference is that with Retail you CAN call and get it reactivated on a new machine as long as it's removed from your previous one. With the OEM your not supposed to be able to reactivate it on a new machine. With XP, Microsoft still allowed people to move their OEM license from machine to machine just to stop people from complaining and not to get into a legal battle on what really is defined by a "new machine". It's assumed that this policy will continue with Vista, but at any time Microsoft can choose to enforce it's OEM policy.

Personally I don't see Microsoft ever enforcing the OEM policy because now Vista is tied into one's HDD. Forcing people to buy a new license every time one's HDD fails would be a PR nightmare.

[scott123]

Not to mention the fact that Vista sales are very poor right now. Seems M$ is haveing a lot of trouble getting people (other than new retail computers) to make the switch.

I'm not loosing any sleep with my Ult. OEM version. If I need to reactivate, I'll just call them. M$ is smart enough to understand that enforcing the OEM would be a marketing disaster.

[XDanger]

I thought the os was "tied" to the motherboard, not the hdd.

[OWA]

Doesn't seem to be the case. My system hardware was identical except for swapping out the hard drive.

[Stoneyguy]

I thought the os was "tied" to the motherboard, not the hdd.

That was the case for XP. The OS was tied to your NIC. With Vista it's more tied into your HDD.