Vista requires activation after system recovery (OEM version)

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  You can reset your Windows Vista activation by performing the following:
  
  1. Click on the Start button and in the Start Search box type in:  slui.exe 4
  
  2. Press the Enter key on your keyboard.
  
  3. Select your Country.
  
  4. Follow the instructions for phone activation (no charge).
  
  5.  Once completed, restart your computer.
  
  6.  Then visit: http://www.microsoft.com/Genuine/ and click on "Validate Windows".
  

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  Please note: I am not a Microsoft employee...only a voluntary forum contributor.

  Sunday, December 28, 2008 4:55 PM

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  every time I restart the computer i see the same activation window which has only 3 options:
  access the computer with reduced functionality,
  type different product key,
  contact gateway.
  
  from reduced functionality mode i see only the explorer,
  but i can get to the command prompt by typing c:\windows\explorer.exe
  from there typing slui.exe 4 gets to the same activation window with 3 options
  any other ideas anybody?

  Sunday, December 28, 2008 5:29 PM
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  just to clarify: I don't get an option of activate online or activate by phone, just:
  1) reduced functionality (I can access internet)
  2) change the product key
  3) contact Gateway
  
  typing slui.exe 4 just activates this same window again w/o phone option. Because I don't get the phone option I don't get any installation ids
  I also tried to recover to the earlier time points, but couldn't - the recovery process does something, but in the end says the system was not recovered. also every now and then when it tries to install some updates 28 of them, and then 3 stages of 100% each again, but after everything is done it again says - the update was done, reverting the changes.
  This is frustrating.
  It seems to me that this is a common issue on the forums. I also tried installing the update 93157 for Windows Vista 64Bit, but it says:

  the update doesn't apply to my system

  Monday, December 29, 2008 2:32 AM
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  Hello Alex,
  
  
  

  Please review the following Knowledge Base (KB) article and refer to the resolution portion of the webpage: 

  KB931573 – 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 

  http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;931573 

   

  If the above 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) Windows Vista may require you to enter a Product Key [use the Certificate of Authenticity (COA)] SLP Product Key found on the sticker on the side or bottom of your computer and activate. Use the Activate by Phone method outlined below.

  From the Desktop:

  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.

  Also you may reference the following site for various Telephone Activation Centers:

  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326851

  Thank you for visiting the Genuine Advantage forum.
  
  
  Stephen Holm, MS
  WGA Forum Manager

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  Stephen Holm

  • Marked as answer by Stephen Holm Monday, December 29, 2008 8:47 PM

  Monday, December 29, 2008 8:46 PM