Hello benandkatie,
First off, there is a Support Doc: "You may be prompted to activate Windows Vista on a computer on which Windows Vista was already activated by a Volume License or OEM installation" at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;931573 That I believe is specific to your issue. Please follow the resolution portion of the doc.
If that does not resolve your issue, please follow the steps below. If the first set of steps does not resolve, move on to the next set of steps.
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Step set #1
1) Open Internet Explorer
2) A Browser will open, type: %windir%\system32 into the address field
3) Find the file cmd.exe
4) Right Click on the cmd.exe and select Run as Administrator
5) Type: cscript slmgr.vbs -rilc (It may take a long time for this to complete, please be patient)
6) Hit the Enter key
7) Reboot 2 times
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Step set #2
1) Open Internet Browser
2) Type %windir%\system32 into the browser address bar.
3) Find the file CMD.exe
4) Right-Click on CMD.exe and select Run as Administrator
5) Type: net stop slsvc (it may ask you if you are sure, select yes)
6) Type: cd %windir%\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwareLicensing
7) Type: rename tokens.dat tokens.bar
8) Type: cd %windir%\system32
9) Type net start slsvc
10) Reboot Twice
11) Vista may require you to enter a Product Key (use the COA SLP key found on the sticker on the side or bottom of your computer) and Activate. Use the Activate by Phone method outlined below
Activate by Phone steps:
a) If you have access to the Start button: Click the Start button, and type in "slui.exe 4" in the search field and then press the "Enter" key. This will bring up the Activate by Phone dialog window. Follow the steps provided by the window. The phone activation process should only take about 6 minutes.
b) If you do not have access to the Start button: Reboot and login to Vista, a dialog window will come up. In that window, click the option "Access computer with reduced functionality". Once you do that, Internet Explorer or Firefox browser will open. In the address bar type "c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe" press enter, a new window will come up, type: slui 4 and hit enter and follow steps to Activate over the Phone.
NOTE: The key to this process is that you need to talk to a Live Activation Rep! When you first call, you will be interacting with an Automated Voice, either select the option to talk to a Live Rep or if there is no option, do not enter any numbers. This should force the automated voice to transfer you to a Live Rep.
Thank you,
Darin Smith
WGA Forum Manager
