My Vista deactivated itself

[RobK]

Logged onto my home PC yesterday, which is running a pukka copy of Vista Ultimate, and it told me it had deactivated itself due to a hardware change. Now as far as I was aware nothing has changed at all!

I clicked the button to reactivate it, and it said the key was already in use and I would have to buy another license. Took 20 minutes on the blower to MS to get them to issue an activation key.

I've only had this installed for about a month; I hope this isn't going to be a regular occurrence!

[chandbridge]

And the new vista windows defender has failed a virus test.

[Jon]

Vista requires continuous activation, It depends on the version you have, OEM or full product etc. IIRC an OEM version needs to reactivate every 180 days max or it goes back into basic mode.

It's MS's way round VLK versions getting out which is what happened with XP and Office 2k3. The VLK versions need to reactivate every 90 days i think.

Jon.

[drpellypo]

All this and all you need to do is ring MS, tell them you have a genuine copy, but have lost the key, and they give you one, regardless of whether your version is hooky or not!

Er, allegedly.

[byron13]

- Vista Activation Can Be Postponed Almost Indefinitely.

http://www.windowssecrets.com/comp/070315/#story1

[Waylander]

[ QUOTE ]

Vista requires continuous activation, It depends on the version you have, OEM or full product etc. IIRC an OEM version needs to reactivate every 180 days max or it goes back into basic mode.

It's MS's way round VLK versions getting out which is what happened with XP and Office 2k3. The VLK versions need to reactivate every 90 days i think.

Jon.

[/ QUOTE ]

Interesting. MS plugged the WinXP and Office2K "leak to some extent with WGA, as everytime I check for updates I get a WGA check

I have seen reference to Office 2007 which doesn't require activation. Obviously sailing along shades of grey, but how would that work then?