Morning!

Today's problem:

I wiped and reinstalled Vista Business on my Sister-in-law's laptop as it was bought second hand, unfortunately password protected and not supplied with any recovery discs. So I used a Vista upgrade disc that I read on the interweb could be used (a bit sneakily) to do a clean install...

Anyway, the upshot is that the COA on the laptop won't validate - I get a message to ring Microsoft. Any ideas why? Is it the upgrade disc trick? Can Business editions only be registered/activated to one person? (I believe the COA to be authentic - the laptop was actually a shop returned item)

Lastly, is it a painful experience having to deal with Microsoft over the phone?

Any help would be great. Ta, Luke.

It is probably because the license is still registered to the last install of it.

Just ring them and they validate it and give you a number to type in. I have done it before and took about 5mins in total!

Just call them, simple as that. It's probably ben activated too many times to do it over the internet that's all.

Ok, cool, I'll give them a tinkle. Was worrying that they may try and talk us into paying for it again!

Luke.

Just check, but as long as you have an OEM sticker on the laptop you won't have an issue.

Just check, but as long as you have an OEM sticker on the laptop you won't have an issue.

Yep, as Mark says as long as you have the OEM sticker or the Product ID you will be fine, they will ask you to generate a new installation ID and then validate it over the phone for you.

Simples

Ok, cool, I'll give them a tinkle. Was worrying that they may try and talk us into paying for it again!

Luke.

It's an Indian call centre you will get through to, no danger of getting talked into anything or indeed the spanish inquisition.

Ask them how the weather is

Ask them how the weather is

Nine times out of ten you won't even get a person, just the automated system.

Nine times out of ten you won't even get a person, just the automated system.

Aye. That is what I just went through. All activated up now. Ta.

Was a bit of a faff having to input 9 x 6 digit codes using our battered BT handset mind! Then you have to copy down another 9 x 6 digits codes - whats that about?