Solved activation troubles please help

Hi,
So I have been using my PC for a few months, and it needed to get sent in to a techie a week or so ago who swapped around some hardware trying to fix a problem. After it came back, but before I turned it on, I installed a new RAM stick. When I turn it on it needs to be activated straight away.

Sure, I thought, major hardware change, I will just activate it again, like I phone activated before. But I can't activate. When I try and get it to phone activate, the screen comes up with the number to ring, and a space to type in my 'confirmation ID' given to me by the phone service. But to get my 'Confirmation ID' I need to give an 'Installation ID to the phone service, and I don't have an 'Installation ID'.

I cannot activate by internet either, My PC doesn't have internet access. I put in a dial up modem, but whenever I try to set up an internet connection, I just get cryptic errors.

I should add that I can't do anything on the PC in the meantime, every time I start up I just get this problem.

Specs:
Vista Home Preme x64 OEM
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
4GB Apacer DDR2-800
Gigabyte GA-G33M-S2L Mobo
Asus EN8600GT 'Magic' Edition
WD Cavair 500GB SATA

Thanks, Xacimo

Hello Xacimo,

It sounds like you are in Reduced Functionality Mode. This tutorial will help show you how to get out of this.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/121866-reduced-functionality-mode.html


Afterwards, see if you can do the phone activation.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/84488-activate-vista-phone.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Hi Shawn, thanks for the help.
I visited the link to the tutorial. Even though I have SP1 installed, I do not get the screen from Method 1, I get the screen from method two. I followed the Method 2 tutorial, but I could not get it to work. When I entered the slmgr -rearm command, it came up with the following error message.



Script Host
Script: C:\\Windows\system32\slmgr.vbs
Line: 291
Char: 5
Error: Object required: 'g_objWMIService'
Code: 800A01A8
Source: Microsoft VBScript runtime error



I had a look at the user comments on the tutorial, and there was one from 'DMEX' suggesting another method, involving opening explorer.exe through IE. I tried this method and I was able to get to my desktop, but I couldn't go into the control panel. I tried the phone activation with the desktop up, but I didn't get an installation ID, the same problem I have been having. When I tried to set up an internet connection I experienced errors, the same as last time.

Thanks, Xacimo

Xacimo,

I just noticed that you have a OEM copy of Vista. Microsoft no longer provides any support for OEM copies like they use to do. You will instead need to contact the OEM to be able to activate Vista with your OEM Product Key Number. There should be a number in the documents or on the DVD case that came with it.

Sorry,
Shawn

Hi,
I have an OEM copy of vista, but I built the computer and installed the OS myself, So when you say contact the OEM, are you meaning contact the builder of the computer?

I have the 'product key', it was on a sticker on the case of the vista software, on one of those certificate of authenticity stickers that are attached to pre built PCs.

I am not quite sure what I am meant to do, on the activation screen, It has an option to re-enter my product key, I have done this multiple times, and it just wants me to phone activate after I have put in the number.

I should say that the first time I activated this copy of Vista, I was able to do so through the phone.

Thanks, Xacimo

Normally that would be the builder (ex: Dell or HP) of the computer. Does the OEM Vista installation DVD have a number included with it for activation?

You can try the phone activation method to see if by chance it may work, but may have reported that Microsoft will no longer support OEM Vista versions.

If you cannot get out of Reduced Functionality Mode, then you will need to do a clean reinstall of Vista first.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/68767-clean-install-upgrade-vista.html

or

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/117366-clean-install-full-version-vista.html

I did a clean install and it works now, My only question is; I am buying a new graphics card soon, Will this cause me to have the same problem and have to do another clean install? What if I buy the card within 30 days and don't activate until then?

Thanks for all your help!! =)

It's hard to say with Microsoft I think. I recently did a motherboard/CPU upgrade, and I was positive I would have to call in to get Vista activated but it did it with no problem. I upgraded my video card a bit later and didn't need to activate again. Might want to get the new card before you activate just to be sure.

Xacimo,

I agree with Newfangle. It should not require activaton for just a graphics card upgrade, but you never know. I would also recommend to go ahead and replace it, then activate Vista within the 30 day trial period.

Ok, will do, thanks guys especially you Shawn!

Your welcome Xacimo.