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Vista activation with HP, not like the other problems mentioned RRS feed

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    Good day

     

    I own a HP m8120n. I was very bothered with the amount of programs which was coming with the recovery version of Home Premium installed on this computer, so I went to download a version of Home Premium on BitTorrent, planning to use the product key which I had written on the side of the PC. The key was recognized as genuine in the setup, but once completed it tells me that the key is invalid, probably because it was already activated on the former version. I was wondering if it was possible to deactivate the key and reactivate it in the version I have now. If yes, do I have to call, or I can do this on my own?

     

    Thanks.

    Monday, March 17, 2008 4:36 AM

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    The Windows Vista version you likely downloaded from BitTorrent was a retail version.  It will not be valid with the OEM product key affixed to your HP computer.  Downloading software from an unauthorized web site is considered copyright infringement and illegal.  Also, you have no idea if the download was tampered with by the individual offering the download...it may contain tampered binary files, viruses, rootkits, spyware, etc.

     

    In order to solve your problem, you have two choices:

     

    1. Order HP's Recovery Discs to reinstall HP's OEM Windows Vista: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/fastFaqLiteDocument?lc=en&cc=uk&dlc=en&docname=bph07143

     

    or

     

    2. Purchase a genuine "full retail license" for Windows Vista Home Premium Edition and perform a clean install using the genuine Windows Vista DVD disc and product key.

     

    How to purchase Windows Vista Premium Edition (Full Version): http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/details.aspx?view=info&itemid=3335824

     

     

    The least expensive option, of course, is to order the HP Recovery Discs.

     

     

    Monday, March 17, 2008 2:31 PM
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    I have a HP Pavilion Model a1748x desktop that came with Windows Vista Home Premium preinstalled.  Any unwanted programs, such as trial versions, were easily uninstalled by using Vista's Programs and Features applet to uninstall.  When you use the HP Windows Vista recovery method, as you should, it only reinstalls Windows Vista and not any of the trial programs the computer originally came with.

    Monday, March 17, 2008 4:02 PM
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    The Windows Vista version you likely downloaded from BitTorrent was a retail version.  It will not be valid with the OEM product key affixed to your HP computer.  Downloading software from an unauthorized web site is considered copyright infringement and illegal.  Also, you have no idea if the download was tampered with by the individual offering the download...it may contain tampered binary files, viruses, rootkits, spyware, etc.

     

    In order to solve your problem, you have two choices:

     

    1. Order HP's Recovery Discs to reinstall HP's OEM Windows Vista: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/fastFaqLiteDocument?lc=en&cc=uk&dlc=en&docname=bph07143

     

    or

     

    2. Purchase a genuine "full retail license" for Windows Vista Home Premium Edition and perform a clean install using the genuine Windows Vista DVD disc and product key.

     

    How to purchase Windows Vista Premium Edition (Full Version): http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/details.aspx?view=info&itemid=3335824

     

     

    The least expensive option, of course, is to order the HP Recovery Discs.

     

     

    Monday, March 17, 2008 2:31 PM
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    Hmm.. See this is weird. I called on the toll-free activation system, said the string of numbers. It was not recognized as correct, so I got transfered to an operator. I explained the situation to him, and he said no problem. He gave me a string of numbers, asked me for my OEM key, and it worked. Was it a mistake from him, I can't tell, but ultimately, I still paid for a key when I purchased my computer, and it came from a Microsoft employee.

    Now, don't get me wrong, I don't mean to get in trouble with Microsoft, but I find it very annoying to get a preinstalled version of Windows which comes with 10 GB of stuff I do not need. The "illegal according to your words" version which I am using right now runs crystal clear so far compared to the 3 DVDs HP furnished me with this computer. When I tried to install it, I could not even choose the installation options else than a factory reset! That I get told to purchase a new version of windows to get rid of all that stuff when I already paid for a key with my computer kind of itches me. Is there some kind of logic behind this? I just feel very confused that the key I have is not considered "fully genuine".
    Monday, March 17, 2008 3:50 PM
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    I have a HP Pavilion Model a1748x desktop that came with Windows Vista Home Premium preinstalled.  Any unwanted programs, such as trial versions, were easily uninstalled by using Vista's Programs and Features applet to uninstall.  When you use the HP Windows Vista recovery method, as you should, it only reinstalls Windows Vista and not any of the trial programs the computer originally came with.

    Monday, March 17, 2008 4:02 PM
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    I see.. Does it also format both discs during the install? One big concern that I had is that my Documents file was on the D: drive, and the setup on the HP recovery disc didn't seem to offer formatting options. I prefered to back off before continuing and risking to lose my documents. Maybe did I have not understood properly what "factory reset" meant?
    Tuesday, March 18, 2008 10:17 PM