locked
Activation failure with legit copy of Vista Home Premium RRS feed

  • Question

  • I reinstalled Windows Vista Home Premium after a harddrive crash on my Gateway Laptop, the OS worked just fine for about a week, now it will not will not boot into the maindesktop because it tells me I have an Activation error, but I cannot get to the control panel as the main window will not boot. I used the Activation Software key on the Microsoft label under the computer, which is not pirated but still can't get around the activation, is there a workaround this issue with a legitimate paid for copy of the OS that came with this computer?
    • Moved by Carey FrischMVP, Editor Tuesday, November 20, 2012 3:27 AM Moved to more appropriate forum catagory (From:Windows Vista Setup)
    Saturday, November 17, 2012 1:57 AM

Answers

  • To properly analyse and solve problems with Activation and Validation, we need to see a full copy of the report produced by the MGADiag tool
    (download and save to desktop - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012 )
     Once saved, run the tool.
    Click on the Continue button, which will produce the report.
     To copy the report to your response, click on the Copy button in the tool (ignore any error messages at this point), and then paste (using either r-click/Paste, or Ctrl+V ) into your response.
      - **in your own thread**, please
     
    Please also state the Version and Edition of Windows quoted on your COA sticker (if you have one) on the case of your machine (or inside the battery compartment), but do NOT quote the Key on the sticker!
    http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/howtotell/Hardware.aspx

    If you can't access the desktop....
     
    If you do not have access to the Start Button:
     1) Login to Vista and click the option that brings up Internet Explorer.
     2) Type: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012 into the browser address bar.
     3) A window will come up asking if you want to “Run” or “Save”, Select “Run”
     4) When the program runs, click the “Continue” button, then click the “Copy” button (IGNORE any error messages at this point).
     5) Return to this thread
    6) In a reply post, paste the Diagnostic Report (by right-click select Paste or by using Ctrl+V)


    Noel Paton | Nil Carborundum Illegitemi | CrashFixPC | The Three-toed Sloth

    Tuesday, November 20, 2012 11:54 PM
    Moderator