at a loss!

[janb]

can anybody offer any help plz on this one?

 

My dell lappy was working fine till a couple of days ago when i switched it on i got the following msg.

 

...'the windows vista home premium product key you typed is invalid for activation'

 

and the following options

 

1. access your computer with reduced functionality (tried it nothing happens)

2. type in a diff product key (wont let me key anything in!)

3. contact dell to resolve (does not work either)

 

Tried the vista disc and it wont have it and i cant access the start menu to try a system restore cos i have no task bar menu thing at the bottom now lol..........mega technical me

 

Thanks

Jannine

[labrat]

hmm dell provide recovery disks with the computer - but you will loose it all on the computer

 

i take it that it wont let you use the product key on the bottom of the laptop (on the 1545 its under the battery)

 

might sound bad but is it a second hand laptop? if it is then is it the version of windows thats supposed to be on there

[janb]

ty labrat

 

yeh it is a second hand lappy came installed with xp but hubby decided to put vista.............gonna try and see if i can the battery code in.........................ty:wink:

[SOD'EM]

If you can type in a new product key then you can use Microsofts automatic key system. You don't have to speak to anyone and it is a freephone number.

 

I think the number is 0800 0188354.

[locutus]

Have you got a valid legal copy of vista? If not I doubt you'll get that activated.

[labrat]

if you can get reduced functionality then a program called winloader will activate it for you

 

i will point out that this doesnt mean its a legal windows just that it stops asking for activation

[SOD'EM]

Have you got a valid legal copy of vista? If not I doubt you'll get that activated.

 

Sorry Loccy, but I have to disagree. It's not widely known but there is a freephone number (which I have used many times before) and it will give you a lisence key to type in as you are on your laptop/pc without having to speak to anyone. I always believe though, that all PC's/Laptops have automatically got some sort of Windows OS's installed( except Apple Macs). So why would anyone have a JARG version? (JARG=FAKE, LESS THAN GENUINE, FALSE, STOLEN ETC).

[dx100uk]

just get into safemode and run chkdsk!!!

 

it will be the activation file that failed.

 

keep hitting F8 key after th dell splashscreen.

 

then run safemode with cmd prompt.

 

type

 

chkdsk*c:*/f*/v*/r

 

where * is a space

 

dx

[gust]

http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1027445237&postcount=1

[locutus]

Sorry Loccy' date=' but I have to disagree. It's not widely known but there is a freephone number (which I have used many times before) and it will give you a lisence key to type in as you are on your laptop/pc without having to speak to anyone. I always believe though, that all PC's/Laptops have automatically got some sort of Windows OS's installed( except Apple Macs). So why would anyone have a JARG version? (JARG=FAKE, LESS THAN GENUINE, FALSE, STOLEN ETC).[/quote']

 

It came with XP, Hubby installed Vista (Why is anyones guess... 7 is much better than Vista and XP uses lower system resources... Installing Vista is like installing the worst of both worlds IMO). If hubby has not installed a legal copy, then it will need a legal serial number.

[gust]

any copy becomes legal IF you have a legal product key -

[locutus]

Exactly. We need to know if the hubby just "obtained" a copy or installed with an original legal key.

[gust]

often the OEM product key on the laptops will not work if you re-install also i have found

[dpick]

Hi I installed windows 7 on my wife's laptop it had been on my desktop computer that had gone bang this was a legal copy purchased with COA etc. When it had been installed on my wife's laptop for approx 3 months she got the invalid version message (cannot remember exact message) I rang windows to be told that it was due to change of hardware and they then patched a file on the laptop to fix and updated their own data.

 

dpick

[Bang!]

If your windows key gets problems - then apart from being sad enough to use windows, a solution can often be found here...

 

Do a google search on 'belarc advisor current profile' and the product you want in quotes, such as 'windows vista professional'.

 

Belarc Advisor audits software on a machine, creating a webpage as the result. Google then innocently indexes this, enabling keys to be searched.

 

Knowledgeable types are known to then look for the suffix of multiple corporate keys to repair failed key issues.

 

Dunno if it still works as I've not used it in years.

[gust]

nice one bang

 

http://www.belarc.com/Programs/advisorinstaller.exe here is link

[sillygirl1]

Forgot about that one, just added it to me 'dic of tricks' for when I sort out other peoples PCs.

[janb]

many thanks for all the helpful advise, sorted now managed to find the vista code from my xps pc and its working fine now

thanks again

Janb

[san_d]

Why don't you just take the chance and install some sort of Linux instead? I don't want to get into holy wars but any Linux is better than Windows.

[labrat]

it comes down to compatabilities tho