Vista needs to reactivate, and won't take my key.

Shizzle · 08-14-2009, 02:55 AM

Vista Enterprise 32bit SP2

Hello,

12 days ago my motherboard burned, quite literally.
So I replaced my motherboard, my RAM and my processor.
When I turned on my computer it worked fine, except I had a notification saying windows needs to activate. When I tried entering my legal key - it didn't let me input some of the digits.

When my uncle moved to London, he gave me this computer with vista already installed on it, only he forgot to leave me the installation CD - so I can't reinstall vista.
I do, however, have an XP installation CD. But I'm afraid I'll lose all my data if I uninstall vista and install XP instead (I don't have a way to backup 140GB of important data).

I currently have 20 days to activate.

Please help, what do I do?

Thanks in advance.

~~T J Belfiore~~ · 08-14-2009, 02:59 AM

Hello and welcome, Shizzle!

Download MJBF, HERE, and see if the key it finds it the same as the one you currently have. Also, try calling your Uncle - maybe he has the key somewhere or perhaps he could send the installation disc.

Shizzle · 08-14-2009, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undocked Windy

Hello and welcome, Shizzle!

Download MJBF, HERE, and see if the key it finds it the same as the one you currently have. Also, try calling your Uncle - maybe he has the key somewhere or perhaps he could send the installation disc.

Thank you for the reply.

MJBF shows the key as BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB
Which obviously doesn't match my 'product ID'.
I will try to reach my uncle, but is there no other way to fix this?

~~T J Belfiore~~ · 08-14-2009, 04:11 AM

I believe MJBF lets you edit the existing key, please enter your key where it says you can edit it. Then, reboot.

Shizzle · 08-14-2009, 05:35 AM

I could not find any editing option in MJBF.
Is there another way to change the key?

~~T J Belfiore~~ · 08-14-2009, 05:43 AM

http://www.shivaranjan.com/2006/09/1...n-information/

**simpswr** · 08-14-2009, 08:19 AM

If the pc came with Vista installed, you should have a sticker on the side of the tower ( bottom of a laptop ) with the Product Key on it . . Looks similar to this:

Shizzle · 08-30-2009, 03:59 AM

Thank you for the replies, and I apologize for bumping this thread.

I managed to contact my uncle and he sent me the information I needed.
When I entered the key, it said it was "activating..." and then said it will auto-activate in 3 days. 3 days later, I received, again, the notification that I have 30 days to activate windows. When I click "activate now", I get this error:

Following the link, confused me more. I don't know what a "MAK" is and I don't know how to set up a "KMS Server".
As though that's not enough, when I use MJB keyfinder, it does display my key and not BBBB-BBBB... like before.

What do I do?

**jcgriff2** · 08-30-2009, 05:06 AM

Where did your version of Vista come from? Was it installed when you bought the system- or did you/ other install Vista?

I suggest that you contact Microsoft re: activation & validation -

http://www.microsoft.com/howtotell/c...displaylang=en

The app that Undocked Windy provided does work. The fact that your key code did not come out correctly may be a confirmation of the problem at hand.

Run Belarc Advisor - 3/4 down page is the are w/ keycodes. See what is there.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

.

**wrench97** · 08-30-2009, 05:45 AM

Seems like you trying to use a VLK(Volume License Key) for a corporate edition while not on the corporate network.

08-14-2009, 02:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
Shizzle Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Vista SP2	Vista needs to reactivate, and won't take my key. Vista Enterprise 32bit SP2 Hello, 12 days ago my motherboard burned, quite literally. So I replaced my motherboard, my RAM and my processor. When I turned on my computer it worked fine, except I had a notification saying windows needs to activate. When I tried entering my legal key - it didn't let me input some of the digits. When my uncle moved to London, he gave me this computer with vista already installed on it, only he forgot to leave me the installation CD - so I can't reinstall vista. I do, however, have an XP installation CD. But I'm afraid I'll lose all my data if I uninstall vista and install XP instead (I don't have a way to backup 140GB of important data). I currently have 20 days to activate. Please help, what do I do? Thanks in advance.

08-14-2009, 02:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
~~T J Belfiore~~ Troubled Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 530 Posts: 3,520 OS: 7 x64, XP x32 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Vista needs to reactivate, and won't take my key. Hello and welcome, Shizzle! Download MJBF, HERE, and see if the key it finds it the same as the one you currently have. Also, try calling your Uncle - maybe he has the key somewhere or perhaps he could send the installation disc.

08-14-2009, 04:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
~~T J Belfiore~~ Troubled Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 530 Posts: 3,520 OS: 7 x64, XP x32 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Vista needs to reactivate, and won't take my key. I believe MJBF lets you edit the existing key, please enter your key where it says you can edit it. Then, reboot.

08-14-2009, 05:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
Shizzle Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Vista SP2	Re: Vista needs to reactivate, and won't take my key. I could not find any editing option in MJBF. Is there another way to change the key?

08-14-2009, 05:43 AM	#6 (permalink)
~~T J Belfiore~~ Troubled Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 530 Posts: 3,520 OS: 7 x64, XP x32 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Vista needs to reactivate, and won't take my key. http://www.shivaranjan.com/2006/09/1...n-information/

08-14-2009, 08:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,281 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: Vista needs to reactivate, and won't take my key. If the pc came with Vista installed, you should have a sticker on the side of the tower ( bottom of a laptop ) with the Product Key on it . . Looks similar to this: __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

08-30-2009, 03:59 AM	#8 (permalink)
Shizzle Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Vista SP2	Re: Vista needs to reactivate, and won't take my key. Thank you for the replies, and I apologize for bumping this thread. I managed to contact my uncle and he sent me the information I needed. When I entered the key, it said it was "activating..." and then said it will auto-activate in 3 days. 3 days later, I received, again, the notification that I have 30 days to activate windows. When I click "activate now", I get this error: Following the link, confused me more. I don't know what a "MAK" is and I don't know how to set up a "KMS Server". As though that's not enough, when I use MJB keyfinder, it does display my key and not BBBB-BBBB... like before. What do I do?

08-30-2009, 05:06 AM	#9 (permalink)
jcgriff2 Moderator, Microsoft Supp Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: The Great State of New Jersey - away from the gross corruption of the Riverside County, CA, SO office. SHAMEFUL ! Posts: 10,153 OS: Windows 7, Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Vista needs to reactivate, and won't take my key. Where did your version of Vista come from? Was it installed when you bought the system- or did you/ other install Vista? I suggest that you contact Microsoft re: activation & validation - http://www.microsoft.com/howtotell/c...displaylang=en The app that Undocked Windy provided does work. The fact that your key code did not come out correctly may be a confirmation of the problem at hand. Run Belarc Advisor - 3/4 down page is the are w/ keycodes. See what is there. http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html Regards. . . jcgriff2 . __________________ . . . . . . . . BSOD Posting Instructions B Expecting a reply and waiting > 36 hours ? Send a PM to me containing a link to your thread Glad to be home in the Great State of New Jersey ! !

08-30-2009, 05:45 AM	#10 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,692 OS: Win7	Re: Vista needs to reactivate, and won't take my key. Seems like you trying to use a VLK(Volume License Key) for a corporate edition while not on the corporate network. __________________ Power Supply and Selection