About Vista Activation

AFAIK you can activate as many times as you like, there is no restriction.
The only 'proviso' is that the first activate will (or at least should)
occur via the Internet - you simply elect to activate over the internet.
Once that 'first' activation has occurred and subsequent activations will
fail 'over the internet' because your product key is 'already in use.'
Consequently the second and any future activations will require a telephone
call to the Microsoft activation line. This is a free phone number but the
service is automated. If you get a refusal from the automated service then
'don't hang up,' stay on the phone and you will be transferred to a 'real'
person who should be able to guide you through the activation process.

--

--
John Barnett MVP
Windows XP Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://www.winuser.co.uk
Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

"nsharazer" <caguthridge@suddenlink.net> wrote in message
news:B7B7ACD4-3C8F-4984-BE97-971669FA0D65@microsoft.com...

> Is there any way you can contact Microsoft to find out how many times a
> key for vista has been used in activating a copy of window?

John, it is a little bit about number of times for internet Activation
without Hardware changes.

"Windows can be activated any number of times, but your re-activation
experience will vary based on the way you acquired Windows.

If you acquired Windows Vista via retail purchase (boxed product), you may
activate via the Internet the first five times. Subsequent activations are
allowed but must be completed via telephone.

http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/...vationfaq.mspx

If you acquire Windows Vista pre-installed on a computer, re-installation
would not require additional activation steps unless significant hardware
changes were made."

A handy link to have.

--
Mad Mike


"John Barnett MVP" wrote:

> AFAIK you can activate as many times as you like, there is no restriction.
> The only 'proviso' is that the first activate will (or at least should)
> occur via the Internet - you simply elect to activate over the internet.
> Once that 'first' activation has occurred and subsequent activations will
> fail 'over the internet' because your product key is 'already in use.'
> Consequently the second and any future activations will require a telephone
> call to the Microsoft activation line. This is a free phone number but the
> service is automated. If you get a refusal from the automated service then
> 'don't hang up,' stay on the phone and you will be transferred to a 'real'
> person who should be able to guide you through the activation process.
>
> --
>
> --
> John Barnett MVP
> Windows XP Associate Expert
> Windows Desktop Experience
>
> Web: http://www.winuser.co.uk
> Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com
> Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
> Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
>
> The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
> kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
> reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
> any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
> use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
> mail/post..
>
> "nsharazer" <caguthridge@suddenlink.net> wrote in message
> news:B7B7ACD4-3C8F-4984-BE97-971669FA0D65@microsoft.com...

> > Is there any way you can contact Microsoft to find out how many times a
> > key for vista has been used in activating a copy of window?

>
>

Mick the 'boxed' version scenario doesn't actually run true in my case. I've
reinstalled Vista about 3 times since it was released. The very first time I
activated over the internet 'all' subsequent time I was informed that 'my
product key was in use' making it impossible to activate over the internet.
So while Microsoft advocate that a retail box can be activate 5 times over
the internet it isn't doing it for me. Okay I have four product key numbers
so it was easy for me to simply 'change' the product key number rather than
having to telephone, but it was still rather an inconvenience.

Now, however, I prefer to simply image my hard drive and then re-image back
when a problem occurs to save the bother of activation. Fortunately I
haven't had to change any hardware, so imaging is the easiest option for me.

Thanks for the link, though, it is a useful piece of information.

--

--
John Barnett MVP
Windows XP Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://www.winuser.co.uk
Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..



"Mick Murphy" <MickMurphy@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:22962FAF-13F5-473D-B472-DE6B00DBA04F@microsoft.com...

> John, it is a little bit about number of times for internet Activation
> without Hardware changes.
>
> "Windows can be activated any number of times, but your re-activation
> experience will vary based on the way you acquired Windows.
>
> If you acquired Windows Vista via retail purchase (boxed product), you may
> activate via the Internet the first five times. Subsequent activations are
> allowed but must be completed via telephone.
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/...vationfaq.mspx
>
> If you acquire Windows Vista pre-installed on a computer, re-installation
> would not require additional activation steps unless significant hardware
> changes were made."
>
> A handy link to have.
>
> --
> Mad Mike
>
>
> "John Barnett MVP" wrote:
>

>> AFAIK you can activate as many times as you like, there is no
>> restriction.
>> The only 'proviso' is that the first activate will (or at least should)
>> occur via the Internet - you simply elect to activate over the internet.
>> Once that 'first' activation has occurred and subsequent activations will
>> fail 'over the internet' because your product key is 'already in use.'
>> Consequently the second and any future activations will require a
>> telephone
>> call to the Microsoft activation line. This is a free phone number but
>> the
>> service is automated. If you get a refusal from the automated service
>> then
>> 'don't hang up,' stay on the phone and you will be transferred to a
>> 'real'
>> person who should be able to guide you through the activation process.
>>
>> --
>>
>> --
>> John Barnett MVP
>> Windows XP Associate Expert
>> Windows Desktop Experience
>>
>> Web: http://www.winuser.co.uk
>> Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com
>> Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
>> Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
>>
>> The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
>> kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
>> reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable
>> for
>> any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of
>> the
>> use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
>> mail/post..
>>
>> "nsharazer" <caguthridge@suddenlink.net> wrote in message
>> news:B7B7ACD4-3C8F-4984-BE97-971669FA0D65@microsoft.com...

>> > Is there any way you can contact Microsoft to find out how many times a
>> > key for vista has been used in activating a copy of window?

>>
>>

What do you use to image? Will the full Ultimate Backup work as well?

"John Barnett MVP" <freelance@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:%23MkQXwWeJHA.1532@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> Mick the 'boxed' version scenario doesn't actually run true in my case.
> I've reinstalled Vista about 3 times since it was released. The very first
> time I activated over the internet 'all' subsequent time I was informed
> that 'my product key was in use' making it impossible to activate over the
> internet. So while Microsoft advocate that a retail box can be activate 5
> times over the internet it isn't doing it for me. Okay I have four product
> key numbers so it was easy for me to simply 'change' the product key
> number rather than having to telephone, but it was still rather an
> inconvenience.
>
> Now, however, I prefer to simply image my hard drive and then re-image
> back when a problem occurs to save the bother of activation. Fortunately I
> haven't had to change any hardware, so imaging is the easiest option for
> me.
>
> Thanks for the link, though, it is a useful piece of information.
>
> --
>
> --
> John Barnett MVP
> Windows XP Associate Expert
> Windows Desktop Experience
>
> Web: http://www.winuser.co.uk
> Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com
> Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
> Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
>
> The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
> kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
> reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable
> for
> any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of
> the
> use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
> mail/post..
>
>
>
> "Mick Murphy" <MickMurphy@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:22962FAF-13F5-473D-B472-DE6B00DBA04F@microsoft.com...

>> John, it is a little bit about number of times for internet Activation
>> without Hardware changes.
>>
>> "Windows can be activated any number of times, but your re-activation
>> experience will vary based on the way you acquired Windows.
>>
>> If you acquired Windows Vista via retail purchase (boxed product), you
>> may
>> activate via the Internet the first five times. Subsequent activations
>> are
>> allowed but must be completed via telephone.
>>
>> http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/...vationfaq.mspx
>>
>> If you acquire Windows Vista pre-installed on a computer, re-installation
>> would not require additional activation steps unless significant hardware
>> changes were made."
>>
>> A handy link to have.
>>
>> --
>> Mad Mike
>>
>>
>> "John Barnett MVP" wrote:
>>

>>> AFAIK you can activate as many times as you like, there is no
>>> restriction.
>>> The only 'proviso' is that the first activate will (or at least should)
>>> occur via the Internet - you simply elect to activate over the internet.
>>> Once that 'first' activation has occurred and subsequent activations
>>> will
>>> fail 'over the internet' because your product key is 'already in use.'
>>> Consequently the second and any future activations will require a
>>> telephone
>>> call to the Microsoft activation line. This is a free phone number but
>>> the
>>> service is automated. If you get a refusal from the automated service
>>> then
>>> 'don't hang up,' stay on the phone and you will be transferred to a
>>> 'real'
>>> person who should be able to guide you through the activation process.
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> --
>>> John Barnett MVP
>>> Windows XP Associate Expert
>>> Windows Desktop Experience
>>>
>>> Web: http://www.winuser.co.uk
>>> Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com
>>> Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
>>> Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
>>>
>>> The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of
>>> any
>>> kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
>>> reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable
>>> for
>>> any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of
>>> the
>>> use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
>>> mail/post..
>>>
>>> "nsharazer" <caguthridge@suddenlink.net> wrote in message
>>> news:B7B7ACD4-3C8F-4984-BE97-971669FA0D65@microsoft.com...
>>> > Is there any way you can contact Microsoft to find out how many times
>>> > a
>>> > key for vista has been used in activating a copy of window?
>>>
>>>

I use Acronis True Image 2009. Vista Ultimate's Complete PC Backup will do
the trick but I found that, after using it for a few months, it started
telling me that the removable drive I use for backup did not have enough
room. This was strange because I always delete the last backup prior to
creating a new full backup, so , to all intent and purpose, the hard drive
was actually completely empty. The first time I got this message I just
thought it was a glitch, but after almost a dozen attempts it still came up
with the same error message so I dumped Complete PC Backup and went back to
Acronis True Image.

--

--
John Barnett MVP
Windows XP Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://www.winuser.co.uk
Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..


"nsharazer" <caguthridge@suddenlink.net> wrote in message
news:7BE50E45-5DE0-4211-8AFC-AD5D60FBDC5F@microsoft.com...

> What do you use to image? Will the full Ultimate Backup work as well?
>
> "John Barnett MVP" <freelance@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
> news:%23MkQXwWeJHA.1532@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>> Mick the 'boxed' version scenario doesn't actually run true in my case.
>> I've reinstalled Vista about 3 times since it was released. The very
>> first time I activated over the internet 'all' subsequent time I was
>> informed that 'my product key was in use' making it impossible to
>> activate over the internet. So while Microsoft advocate that a retail box
>> can be activate 5 times over the internet it isn't doing it for me. Okay
>> I have four product key numbers so it was easy for me to simply 'change'
>> the product key number rather than having to telephone, but it was still
>> rather an inconvenience.
>>
>> Now, however, I prefer to simply image my hard drive and then re-image
>> back when a problem occurs to save the bother of activation. Fortunately
>> I haven't had to change any hardware, so imaging is the easiest option
>> for me.
>>
>> Thanks for the link, though, it is a useful piece of information.
>>
>> --
>>
>> --
>> John Barnett MVP
>> Windows XP Associate Expert
>> Windows Desktop Experience
>>
>> Web: http://www.winuser.co.uk
>> Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com
>> Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
>> Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
>>
>> The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
>> kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
>> reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable
>> for
>> any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of
>> the
>> use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
>> mail/post..
>>
>>
>>
>> "Mick Murphy" <MickMurphy@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:22962FAF-13F5-473D-B472-DE6B00DBA04F@microsoft.com...

>>> John, it is a little bit about number of times for internet Activation
>>> without Hardware changes.
>>>
>>> "Windows can be activated any number of times, but your re-activation
>>> experience will vary based on the way you acquired Windows.
>>>
>>> If you acquired Windows Vista via retail purchase (boxed product), you
>>> may
>>> activate via the Internet the first five times. Subsequent activations
>>> are
>>> allowed but must be completed via telephone.
>>>
>>> http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/...vationfaq.mspx
>>>
>>> If you acquire Windows Vista pre-installed on a computer,
>>> re-installation
>>> would not require additional activation steps unless significant
>>> hardware
>>> changes were made."
>>>
>>> A handy link to have.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Mad Mike
>>>
>>>
>>> "John Barnett MVP" wrote:
>>>
>>>> AFAIK you can activate as many times as you like, there is no
>>>> restriction.
>>>> The only 'proviso' is that the first activate will (or at least should)
>>>> occur via the Internet - you simply elect to activate over the
>>>> internet.
>>>> Once that 'first' activation has occurred and subsequent activations
>>>> will
>>>> fail 'over the internet' because your product key is 'already in use.'
>>>> Consequently the second and any future activations will require a
>>>> telephone
>>>> call to the Microsoft activation line. This is a free phone number but
>>>> the
>>>> service is automated. If you get a refusal from the automated service
>>>> then
>>>> 'don't hang up,' stay on the phone and you will be transferred to a
>>>> 'real'
>>>> person who should be able to guide you through the activation process.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> John Barnett MVP
>>>> Windows XP Associate Expert
>>>> Windows Desktop Experience
>>>>
>>>> Web: http://www.winuser.co.uk
>>>> Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com
>>>> Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
>>>> Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
>>>>
>>>> The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of
>>>> any
>>>> kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
>>>> reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be
>>>> liable for
>>>> any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out
>>>> of the
>>>> use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
>>>> mail/post..
>>>>
>>>> "nsharazer" <caguthridge@suddenlink.net> wrote in message
>>>> news:B7B7ACD4-3C8F-4984-BE97-971669FA0D65@microsoft.com...
>>>> > Is there any way you can contact Microsoft to find out how many times
>>>> > a
>>>> > key for vista has been used in activating a copy of window?
>>>>
>>>>

>