New hardware = New product key?

> Okay so I installed Vista last week, and it activated just fine. Due to a
> hardware problem I had to install a new motherboard in my PC today. All
> of
> the other hardware is still the same, and I did not reinstall Vista. Now
> I
> get a message saying that Windows can't activate because my product key is
> already in use! I understand not wanting hackers to steal your stuff, but
> I
> PAYED FOR THIS!!!!!! I spent hudreds of dollars on this OS and now it
> appears that I never have and never will be able to use it! I don't know
> if
> I can handle an operating system that you have to repurchase every time
> you
> repair your computer. Has anyone else had this problem? What does MS
> suggest that we do about it?

> Okay so I installed Vista last week, and it activated just fine. Due to a
> hardware problem I had to install a new motherboard in my PC today. All of
> the other hardware is still the same, and I did not reinstall Vista. Now I
> get a message saying that Windows can't activate because my product key is
> already in use! I understand not wanting hackers to steal your stuff, but I
> PAYED FOR THIS!!!!!! I spent hudreds of dollars on this OS and now it
> appears that I never have and never will be able to use it! I don't know if
> I can handle an operating system that you have to repurchase every time you
> repair your computer. Has anyone else had this problem? What does MS
> suggest that we do about it?

>
> "DaveC9000" <DaveC9000@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:ED87C8C4-7945-4E80-ABE1-6E95FBE8518B@microsoft.com...

> > Okay so I installed Vista last week, and it activated just fine. Due to a
> > hardware problem I had to install a new motherboard in my PC today. All of
> > the other hardware is still the same, and I did not reinstall Vista. Now I
> > get a message saying that Windows can't activate because my product key is
> > already in use! I understand not wanting hackers to steal your stuff, but I
> > PAYED FOR THIS!!!!!! I spent hudreds of dollars on this OS and now it
> > appears that I never have and never will be able to use it! I don't know if
> > I can handle an operating system that you have to repurchase every time you
> > repair your computer. Has anyone else had this problem? What does MS
> > suggest that we do about it?

>
> It does seem that Vista is more sensitive about hardware changes.
> I agree that this is probably going to aggravate a lot of users,
> especially, power users. But, a phone call should take care of your
> activation.
>
> Also, a new motherboard is a major change.
>
>
> -Michael
>
>

> Hi DaveC9000 I'm in the same boat. One of the DIMM sockets on my MB is
> damaged and it's one required by the MB to be used or have problems. My
> only
> option is to install a new MB. My old MB used AGP, but I couldn't find a
> new
> one that supported it so I had to go with PCI-E. I called MS Support and
> was
> told once I activated I couldn't install new hardware. This seems
> contrary
> to what others are saying on this thread.
>
> "MICHAEL" wrote:
>

>>
>> "DaveC9000" <DaveC9000@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:ED87C8C4-7945-4E80-ABE1-6E95FBE8518B@microsoft.com...

>> > Okay so I installed Vista last week, and it activated just fine. Due
>> > to a
>> > hardware problem I had to install a new motherboard in my PC today.
>> > All of
>> > the other hardware is still the same, and I did not reinstall Vista.
>> > Now I
>> > get a message saying that Windows can't activate because my product key
>> > is
>> > already in use! I understand not wanting hackers to steal your stuff,
>> > but I
>> > PAYED FOR THIS!!!!!! I spent hudreds of dollars on this OS and now it
>> > appears that I never have and never will be able to use it! I don't
>> > know if
>> > I can handle an operating system that you have to repurchase every time
>> > you
>> > repair your computer. Has anyone else had this problem? What does MS
>> > suggest that we do about it?

>>
>> It does seem that Vista is more sensitive about hardware changes.
>> I agree that this is probably going to aggravate a lot of users,
>> especially, power users. But, a phone call should take care of your
>> activation.
>>
>> Also, a new motherboard is a major change.
>>
>>
>> -Michael
>>
>>

> I can guarantee you were NEVER told that.
>
> Microsoft's policy is that you cannot install new hardware and keep you
> CURRENT activation working.
>
> However you can reactivate via the net OR with the telephone center.
>
> I've done it numerous times already to test it out.
>
>
> "wingnut1" <wingnut1@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:04CD0192-2DD1-416B-B75C-0CD66EC50BED@microsoft.com...

> > Hi DaveC9000 I'm in the same boat. One of the DIMM sockets on my MB is
> > damaged and it's one required by the MB to be used or have problems. My
> > only
> > option is to install a new MB. My old MB used AGP, but I couldn't find a
> > new
> > one that supported it so I had to go with PCI-E. I called MS Support and
> > was
> > told once I activated I couldn't install new hardware. This seems
> > contrary
> > to what others are saying on this thread.
> >
> > "MICHAEL" wrote:
> >

> >>
> >> "DaveC9000" <DaveC9000@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:ED87C8C4-7945-4E80-ABE1-6E95FBE8518B@microsoft.com...
> >> > Okay so I installed Vista last week, and it activated just fine. Due
> >> > to a
> >> > hardware problem I had to install a new motherboard in my PC today.
> >> > All of
> >> > the other hardware is still the same, and I did not reinstall Vista.
> >> > Now I
> >> > get a message saying that Windows can't activate because my product key
> >> > is
> >> > already in use! I understand not wanting hackers to steal your stuff,
> >> > but I
> >> > PAYED FOR THIS!!!!!! I spent hudreds of dollars on this OS and now it
> >> > appears that I never have and never will be able to use it! I don't
> >> > know if
> >> > I can handle an operating system that you have to repurchase every time
> >> > you
> >> > repair your computer. Has anyone else had this problem? What does MS
> >> > suggest that we do about it?
> >>
> >> It does seem that Vista is more sensitive about hardware changes.
> >> I agree that this is probably going to aggravate a lot of users,
> >> especially, power users. But, a phone call should take care of your
> >> activation.
> >>
> >> Also, a new motherboard is a major change.
> >>
> >>
> >> -Michael
> >>
> >>

> Give me your e-mail address Shane and I'll send you a copy of the chat
> transcript. Don't guarantee things that you don't know anything about.
>
> "Shane Nokes" wrote:
>

>> I can guarantee you were NEVER told that.
>>
>> Microsoft's policy is that you cannot install new hardware and keep you
>> CURRENT activation working.
>>
>> However you can reactivate via the net OR with the telephone center.
>>
>> I've done it numerous times already to test it out.
>>
>>
>> "wingnut1" <wingnut1@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:04CD0192-2DD1-416B-B75C-0CD66EC50BED@microsoft.com...

>> > Hi DaveC9000 I'm in the same boat. One of the DIMM sockets on my MB is
>> > damaged and it's one required by the MB to be used or have problems. My
>> > only
>> > option is to install a new MB. My old MB used AGP, but I couldn't find a
>> > new
>> > one that supported it so I had to go with PCI-E. I called MS Support and
>> > was
>> > told once I activated I couldn't install new hardware. This seems
>> > contrary
>> > to what others are saying on this thread.
>> >
>> > "MICHAEL" wrote:
>> >
>> >>
>> >> "DaveC9000" <DaveC9000@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:ED87C8C4-7945-4E80-ABE1-6E95FBE8518B@microsoft.com...
>> >> > Okay so I installed Vista last week, and it activated just fine. Due
>> >> > to a
>> >> > hardware problem I had to install a new motherboard in my PC today.
>> >> > All of
>> >> > the other hardware is still the same, and I did not reinstall Vista.
>> >> > Now I
>> >> > get a message saying that Windows can't activate because my product key
>> >> > is
>> >> > already in use! I understand not wanting hackers to steal your stuff,
>> >> > but I
>> >> > PAYED FOR THIS!!!!!! I spent hudreds of dollars on this OS and now it
>> >> > appears that I never have and never will be able to use it! I don't
>> >> > know if
>> >> > I can handle an operating system that you have to repurchase every time
>> >> > you
>> >> > repair your computer. Has anyone else had this problem? What does MS
>> >> > suggest that we do about it?
>> >>
>> >> It does seem that Vista is more sensitive about hardware changes.
>> >> I agree that this is probably going to aggravate a lot of users,
>> >> especially, power users. But, a phone call should take care of your
>> >> activation.
>> >>
>> >> Also, a new motherboard is a major change.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> -Michael
>> >>
>> >>

> Hi DaveC9000 I'm in the same boat. One of the DIMM sockets on my MB is
> damaged and it's one required by the MB to be used or have problems. My
> only
> option is to install a new MB. My old MB used AGP, but I couldn't find a
> new
> one that supported it so I had to go with PCI-E. I called MS Support and
> was
> told once I activated I couldn't install new hardware. This seems
> contrary
> to what others are saying on this thread.

>> "DaveC9000" <DaveC9000@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote

>> > Okay so I installed Vista last week, and it activated just fine. Due
>> > to a
>> > hardware problem I had to install a new motherboard in my PC today.
>> > All of
>> > the other hardware is still the same, and I did not reinstall Vista.
>> > Now I
>> > get a message saying that Windows can't activate because my product key
>> > is
>> > already in use! I understand not wanting hackers to steal your stuff,
>> > but I
>> > PAYED FOR THIS!!!!!! I spent hudreds of dollars on this OS and now it
>> > appears that I never have and never will be able to use it! I don't
>> > know if
>> > I can handle an operating system that you have to repurchase every time
>> > you
>> > repair your computer. Has anyone else had this problem? What does MS
>> > suggest that we do about it?

>>
>> It does seem that Vista is more sensitive about hardware changes.
>> I agree that this is probably going to aggravate a lot of users,
>> especially, power users. But, a phone call should take care of your
>> activation.

> "wingnut1" <wingnut1@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote
>

> > Hi DaveC9000 I'm in the same boat. One of the DIMM sockets on my MB is
> > damaged and it's one required by the MB to be used or have problems. My
> > only
> > option is to install a new MB. My old MB used AGP, but I couldn't find a
> > new
> > one that supported it so I had to go with PCI-E. I called MS Support and
> > was
> > told once I activated I couldn't install new hardware. This seems
> > contrary
> > to what others are saying on this thread.

>

> >> "DaveC9000" <DaveC9000@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote

>

> >> > Okay so I installed Vista last week, and it activated just fine. Due
> >> > to a
> >> > hardware problem I had to install a new motherboard in my PC today.
> >> > All of
> >> > the other hardware is still the same, and I did not reinstall Vista.
> >> > Now I
> >> > get a message saying that Windows can't activate because my product key
> >> > is
> >> > already in use! I understand not wanting hackers to steal your stuff,
> >> > but I
> >> > PAYED FOR THIS!!!!!! I spent hudreds of dollars on this OS and now it
> >> > appears that I never have and never will be able to use it! I don't
> >> > know if
> >> > I can handle an operating system that you have to repurchase every time
> >> > you
> >> > repair your computer. Has anyone else had this problem? What does MS
> >> > suggest that we do about it?
> >>
> >> It does seem that Vista is more sensitive about hardware changes.
> >> I agree that this is probably going to aggravate a lot of users,
> >> especially, power users. But, a phone call should take care of your
> >> activation.

>
> What version of Vista, OEM or retail?
>
> --
> Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]
>
>