[terryshaw09]

I have been running Vista Home Premium for a long time now. I have just gotten a RAM upgrade, and after installing it Vista wants me to activate windows again, but when I put in my activation key it says that the key is already in use. Now I have 2 days left for activation until windows quits working!!! What should I do about this?

[mphenterprises]

Hi TerryShaw. Okay, if all you did was install more memory, I do not believe this would have anything to do with your Operating System Activation. One is hardware and one is an Operating System. At this point, I believe you would have to provide some more information for us:

- Are you using a valid Vista installation?

- Was this an upgrade or a full installation?



At the very least, you may have to do another installation. However, before we go that route, please answer the above questions.

[terryshaw09]

yes its a legal copy of vista and it was a full install, not an upgrade. I have heard that when you change your hardware that sometimes the operating system will think its a different computer and make you re-activate it again to prove your not illegally distributing their product.

[mphenterprises]

I would like to know from where or from whom did you get this information. I have repaired, replaced, and installed hardware to many computers and I have never had an instance where a hardware change, in effect, crippled the Operating System.

The one time I had even something remotely similar was when I replaced the processor of a computer. I had to essentially reset the Operating System to recognized the major change that just took place.

So, unless you have some more information to share with us, I am not sure if we have the entire situation yet. To recap, you:

- Opened your computer

- Took out the old memory chips (AND/OR)...

- Installed the new memory chips

- Closed the computer

- Turned the computer on...

...and now your computer says that you have two days left in your activation. Is that everything? If so, the addition or replacement of the memory had nothing to do with Vista essentially shutting down and requiring you to verify your activation.

My only advice to you would be to reinstall your Operating System. If everything you state is accurate, the activation should be verified by the new installation.

[smax013]

mphenterprises said:

I would like to know from where or from whom did you get this information. I have repaired, replaced, and installed hardware to many computers and I have never had an instance where a hardware change, in effect, crippled the Operating System.

[MPH Enterprises|~44270], my friend,...um...where have you been for the past half dozen year or so? :-) When Windoze/Micro$oft activation first came about, there was some "hub bub" about how it would "profile" your system hardware and send that information to Micro$oft. That hardware profile would then be used if/when you tried to activate again and if it differed "signigicantly", then the activation process would not work using the Internet. You would then have to call in to activate it and if your explanation for the change was good enough, they would give you the code to type in. If it was not good enough, you would be outta luck. Now, supposely the "significant" differences were limited to things like changing the processor or motherboard. Supposely, upgrading "minor" things like memory or hard drives would not do it.



Then when Vista was first coming out, there was all the talk about how Micro$oft was going to "up the ante" on activation. There was a LOT of panic that people who tweak/upgrade their system frequently (i.e. gamers) were gonna get hosed. Micro$oft may have backed down, but I don't recall if there was a resolution to it or not.

[mphenterprises]

Hi Smax. Yes, that is true, a major change such as a processor or motherboard could trigger such an event....but a memory upgrade, doubtful. If that were the case, there would be a run of people screaming this same situation.

[smax013]

mphenterprises said:

Hi Smax. Yes, that is true, a major change such as a processor or motherboard could trigger such an event....but a memory upgrade, doubtful. If that were the case, there would be a run of people screaming this same situation.

I agree...from what I understand, a memory upgrade should NOT trigger it. But, I do recall that things got "more severe" in Vista. I don't know if that includes memory upgrades or not or if Micro$oft back tracked on the tougher activation process.

[rgreen4]

The only change I am aware of in the activation process between XP and Vista, is that in XP you could move an OEM installation version from an old computer to a new one. In Vista, that is not possible and it plainly states that in the license agreement. In fact there was an early post shortly after Vista was released about an upset customer who had a computer repair done that replaced his motherboard, and they had to acquire a new Vista license.

I can verify that changing Hard Drives does not trigger this, as I have swapped out drives several times on all three Vista machines. But then you guys know that sometimes I treat HD's as if they were floppies.

[rgreen4]

Terryshaw09 - have you tried to let the computer call home and re-activate? If you have an occasion to completely re-install Windows (XP or Vista) onto a clean HD, they system will have to be reactivated. When it calls in, the system specifics are compared to those in the file for that Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sometimes called the serial number, and when the processer and motherboard specifics match, it will come back and say activated. Over the years, I have had occasion for a machine to re-activate many times, mainly due to re-installing the OS on a new drive.
If fact, I recently had to reinstall Vista on my newly built machine because of a problem I created with IE7, and it was just easier to reinstall the OS. It reactivated without a problem.

If the re-activation fail, that's when you need to call Microsoft. But, if it is just the memory change, then the system should reactivate. I would give it a try and if there is still a problem, please let us know.

[terryshaw09]

Yeah I have tried automatic activation several times and it keeps telling me that the key is already in use, and im serious all i did was a RAM upgrade, then this started happening. Now i have one day left until it quits working.

[mphenterprises]

Terry, I am going to be honestly blunt with you. From the information that you have seen here, there is no way that your memory upgrade caused this issue. At this point, I see two options for you:

- Reinstall and pray that the Product Key works for you

OR

- Contact Microsoft and explain your situation. You will have to validate that you legally own a copy of Vista. There is no guarantee you will get any resolution from Microsoft; however, it is better than doing nothing...which is pretty much where you stand now.

[rgreen4]

Terryshaw - is this a manufactured computer that came with Vista pre-installed?

[terryshaw09]

well it looks like i was right, i restarted my computer and i got a pop-up saying "Windows Vista needs to be re-activated do to a hardware change click here to activate windows now or windows will stop working, you have 0 days until activation.' So now I have today as my last day before it shuts down on me. This was a computer i built myself, not pre-manufactured.

[mphenterprises]

Terry, this has nothing to do with being right or wrong. For the past two or three days, you have expressed to us that all you did was switch out the memory. From all the research that everyone on here has presented to you, a memory upgrade will not cause such a problem.

Now, you have been presented with two very good options, reinstall or call Microsoft. A long shot as a third option is to reset the CMOS battery. I really do not think this will work, but again, it is a long shot. There is no point in trying to say "I told you" if you are not going to do anything about your situation.

According to you, this is the last day that your Operating System will work. If you truly want to rectify your problem, you have the options in front of you. If you are just going to try to figure out who is right and who is wrong, I really do not know what more anyone of us can do for you.

[terryshaw09]

im sorry if it seemed like i was trying to make it a im right your wrong situation, i really did not mean to. but you mentioned that clearing the cmos might help. My motherboard is an ASUS Stiker Extreme and it has a clear cmos button on the motherboard i should not press it if the computer is on right? It should be shutdown first?

[terryshaw09]

also, how do i find my product key in windows vista?

[mphenterprises]

In response to your first question, yes the computer should be off. Here are the basic steps in resetting the CMOS battery:

- Turn OFF the computer and unplug the power cord

THIS NEXT STEP IS A MUST
- Either continually touch a metal part of the case or buy an electro static wrist guard

- Remove the onboard battery (The CMOS battery looks just like a watch battery. It should be located near one of the corners of the motherboard.)

- Move the jumper cap from pins 1-2 (default) to pins 2-3. Keep the cap on pins 2-3 for about 5-10 seconds, then move the cap back to pins 1-2

- Re-install the battery

- Plug the power cord and turn ON the computer





Now, if your computer has a "Clear CMOS" button, I would first read the manufacturer's owners manual before trying to reset the CMOS



In relation to your second question, the Product Key is including with your original Vista packaging and on the COA (Certificate of Authenticity) sticker that you should have put on your computer.

[terryshaw09]

is there a way to find the product key in vista itself? I bought vista and downloaded it from microsofts website so i never got a sticker with my product key, or any type of packaging either .

[mphenterprises]

At this point, I would STRONGLY advise you to contact Microsoft, in one way or another. After reading your last post, I had to verify some information. According to this site:

"If you purchased and downloaded a full or upgrade Windows Vista edition with your digital locker at Windows Marketplace, you are eligible to order Windows Vista backup discs. Whether you install from the download or the discs, you will need the same 25-character license key provided with the download and stored in your digital locker to activate Windows Vista. If you are unsure which title and edition (32-bit or 64-bit) you purchased or need your 25-character license key, please refer to your digital locker purchase history. NOTE: Both upgrades and full editions can be installed by the same Windows Vista backup disc; it is your 25-character license key that will unlock the version you have purchased."




If you indeed paid for and downloaded this Operating System from Microsoft, they will have record of it and will be able to provide you with the Product Key.

[terryshaw09]

you were right i called them and gave them my istallation id and they activated windows for me so now im good to go. I just wanted to say thanks for helping me and giving me advice.