Vista Activation Woes... (plus other issues)

[Athlon_9800]

So, it was a huge mistake to buy Vista.. I know that now. I've had so many problems it's disgusting. If anyone is debating whether or not to upgrade to Vista, I say don't do it. At least not for a long, long time.

Anyways, I was wondering if someone here could help me out with one (or a few) of the problems:

Today I got a message saying I need to activate Vista within 3 days or it wouldn't work anymore. I thought, okay well I did that already, but I'll do it again 'cause it's quick. Then it told me my key was in use already.

So I went to the phone option, called the toll free number, read the really long code into the phone, and it told me I had to be transferred to a representative... then I waited with dead air for several minutes until I hung up.

So, what do I do about this? I heard that you can't even log into Windows if it goes past the date. The thing that pisses me off is that I actually bought Vista... I pirated all previous versions but actually BOUGHT it this time and now get activation hassles after dishing out money for a piece of bloody beta software. I'm gonna end up going back to XP, I can see that (which I didn't even pay for)...

Another huge problem I'm having is I can't boot into Vista without the DVD in the drive.. the screen is just black after posting if it's not in. Oh, and if anyone knows how to get Firefox or AVG working in Vista, that would help me out as well. Not to mention why my sound is distorted and laggy, etc when I play games with music going. Or why I can't even install most of my games on Vista.. not even Oblivion. Wow, after listing most of the issues I'm having like that I don't know how I'm even still using this POS.

And, yes, I have all the latest updates and drivers.

Thanks in advance for the help :)

EDIT: Thought I should mention it's Vista Home Premium (OEM from Bestbyte).

[Deb]

If you want to get it activated, you have to call that number again. Instead of going through all the crap of giving your number again to a machine, keep hitting the zero button on your phone to go straight to a "real person". This time, wait for the real person and read your number off to them, they should activate it for you.

As for the rest of your problems with vista, you can only do what we're all doing at this point, search Microsoft and the rest of the web for other people that have the same issues and have possibly found work-arounds for them. I finally found workarounds for my City of Heroes game where my mouse went missing as soon as I launched and the terrible lag once in the game.

Good luck with vista, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone as an upgrade to XP...

[compygeek]

I'm running Vista Ultimate with no problems so far... although like you I was very skeptical. When you first installed vista, did you check to see if it was activated by right clicking on my computer and selecting properties (you need to scroll down to check for activation). Also, did you update your BIOS recently using Vista. I know OEM Vista's will see a BIOS update as a hardware change (I know, stupid M$) and ask you for a re-activation. I'm just thankful that I'm dual booting my pc between Vista Ultimate and Windows MCE 2005. But so far, I haven't had any issues. With regards to AVG and/or firefox, I know there is a compatibility option to allow the programs to run in a Windows XP environment, although I can't remember how to do it since most of my apps are running fine in vista. I think if you right click on the program in question, and select properties, then there may be a compatibility tab or something like that available. Some other vista users may be able to help you out there.

EDIT: UAC is the dumbest app ever. NEVER install any apps with UAC enabled. Even if you run the app as administrator, if UAC is enabled, it will bung the install somehow. If you were carefull about how/what you installed/browsed/executed on your computer running windows xp, be just as careful in vista and you should be fine.

[tweakthis]

My AVG free runs just fine with Vista Ultimate.

[Athlon_9800]

Okay, thanks guys. I'll try calling M$ again to activate.

Compygeek: Yeah, I disabled UAC as soon as I figured out how. I tried a bunch of different things to get Firefox to install that I found online, didn't seem to work. For some reason that idea didn't dawn on me, I'll give it a try. Oh, and I didn't change anything at all hardware wise on my computer (or BIOS), so I don't know why it would want me to activate again.

I also downloaded Avast Antivirus, which I had never used before. It seems to be working alright since I can't get AVG working.

Anyone know anything about the issue with having to keep the Vista DVD in the drive? It's really, insanely annoying..

I think I might end up reformatting and trying again, being a little more careful I suppose.

Thanks again.

[lbjgh]

Athlon, this may a stupid question but can you just reinstall Vista over the previous install including the activation? The was the typical fix for previous Micr$oft software.

[Athlon_9800]

Okay, so I reformatted and installed Vista again. This time it went better. I was able to install Firefox and AVG just fine, and I called M$ and got it activated.

A couple things still, though: I can't boot into Windows without having the DVD in the drive and the boot order in the BIOS is CD/DVD Drive first, then HDD. This is extremely weird and I have no idea what to do about it. I tried looking it up online but no go.

Also, Firefox works now, but a couple issues make it basically unusable. One being that the page "flickers" or jumps up and down rapidly. I'm not really sure how to explain it. Another is that any download I start in Firefox just kind of stops after a few seconds of downloading.

[Laz]

boot order in bios should be your hdd 1st

[Thaiwoo]

boot order in bios should be your hdd 1st

You can try to change it to see if it works but it doesn't have to be HD first. It will take longer to boot up when it checks the CD drive first to see if it is bootable.

[Athlon_9800]

boot order in bios should be your hdd 1st

From my other thread where you made the same suggestion...


That would be all well and good if that were the issue... I clearly stated that I *had* to have it set to boot the DVD drive first as well as have the DVD in when I restart or turn on the computer. If I don't, it just will not boot into Windows, I don't know how else I can say it, heh. I just get a black screen if I choose to have the HDD boot first.

[Thaiwoo]

You were able to solve your activation issue by calling Microsoft again. Since you feel that strongly that it isn't your hardware, call them again and see what they have to say about your boot problem.

You paid for it, have them fix it!

[Athlon_9800]

You were able to solve your activation issue by calling Microsoft again. Since you feel that strongly that it isn't your hardware, call them again and see what they have to say about your boot problem.

You paid for it, have them fix it!

If I want any form of tech support doesn't it cost an arm and a leg? Isn't only activation free?

[Thaiwoo]

If I want any form of tech support doesn't it cost an arm and a leg? Isn't only activation free?

It's all there on good ol Microsoft's website. The phone #'s might be different if you have a different version of Vista.

Windows Vista Home Basic (All Languages)
E-mail Support
Response Time: 24 Hours

90-day no-charge support begins on the following dates:

* From the date you place your first support request.
* For Windows Vista, from the date you activate the product.

Charge: $59.00 US per request after all no-charge support is used.
(Some support may not be covered under this charge.)

You can use one of the following if you have one:

* Software Assurance Agreement
* Professional Contract


Individual Chat Support
Wait time: 0 seconds
Hours of Operation
90-day no-charge support begins on the following dates:

* From the date you place your first support request.
* For Windows Vista, from the date you activate the product.

Charge: $59.00 US per request after all no-charge support is used.
(Some support may not be covered under this charge.)

You can use one of the following if you have one:

* Software Assurance Agreement
* Professional Contract


Phone Support
Wait Time: Will vary
Hours of Operation
90-day no-charge support begins on the following dates:

* From the date you place your first support request.
* For Windows Vista, from the date you activate the product.


(800) 936-8479
Long distance charges may apply.
Charge: $59.00 US per request during business hours after all no-charge support is used.
(Some support may not be covered under this charge.)

You can use one of the following if you have one:

* Software Assurance Agreement
* Professional Contract


(800) 668-7975
Advanced Issues Support Options
TTY/TDD help requests - cost will vary
(866) 857-9850

[Mouse]

Why would it run FINE on my machine and not on yours, maybe there are some compatibility problems with your hardware.Maybe his system doesn't meet the minimum requirements??

[Athlon_9800]

Maybe his system doesn't meet the minimum requirements??

My system exceeds the min reqs by a large margin.

[lbjgh]

I did some quick searches and found similar problems to what you describe. Do you have more than one HD? There seems to be an issue what drive Vista modifies the MBR (master boot record).

Here is something to try,

I will try to give you a brief history of the Issue:

Brand new Vista Premium built computer. Asus M2NPV-VM (on board SATA
controller, 1 gig memory, 256 meg graphics, etc.....)

Installed new Seagate 160 gig SATAII for Vista system drive.

Installed new Seagate 120 gig PATA for second hard drive. (backup purposes).

Installed clean full version of Vista Business...(only OS ever installed on
new computer).

Vista installed without any issue (no SATA driver needed). (both drives
recognized in the BIOS and in Vista....

Rebooted Vista with install disk still in DVD drive, and booted just fine...

Removed DVD install disk and rebooted, would not boot at all..

Placed DVD install disk back in DVD drive and rebooted, booted just fine..

Removed second hard drive (PATA), and completely reinstalled Vista to the
only drive in the computer (SATA), and all went without issue again, but this
time I could boot without having the install disk in the DVD drive....

Reinstalled second hard drive (PATA).... it was immediately recognized by
the BIOS and Vista.... was able to copy files to and from this drive.....

Then I went to make a Complete PC Backup of Vista to the PATA
drive.....Complete PC Backup went without a hitch..... It backed up to the
PATA drive.....

Then I went to Restore the Complete PC Backup of Vista back to the SATA
system drive, and quess what..... It did not find the SATA system driive......

Contacted Microsoft and have an open case # on this issue....

Microsoft had me remove the PATA drive and try to do a Complete PC Backup to
an external PATA drive (via USB)... Backup again went without a hitch....
and it ALSO restored back to the SATA system hard drive......

I further wanted to test this, so I again put the internal PATA drive in the
computer, and tried to restore from the external PATA drive via USB to the
SATA system hard drive, and guess what, it could not find the SATA hard drive
again.....

Hopefully this will bring you up to date on the issue.....Hopefullly I have
answered all your questions....

NOTE: Latest version of BIOS and lates version of Nvidia drivers are
installed on the system..... Boot order in BIOS is SATA first, PATA second.
All drives formated NTFS, and have not created any additional partitions....

"cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)" wrote:

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[Tess]

There is a crap removal coming for this thread.

Please stick to the topic and dont post if you cant help.

Thanks

[frostyone]

If I want any form of tech support doesn't it cost an arm and a leg?

Depends what you charge yourself. :)

There are some curious clauses in the OEM license, which differs from the full retail version.

Whoever installs the operating system is responsible for tech support.
They're also required to place their phone number on the side of the case.

END-USER SUPPORT.

The system builder who installs the individual software license must provide end-user support

The system builder must place its support phone number in a noticeable location in the fully assembled computer system help files or end-user
documentation.

http://oem.microsoft.com/downloads/Public/sblicense/English_SB_License.pdf