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Vista Home Basic Product Key Invalid? Dell Inspiron laptop - why am I being asked for a new key? Please help.

Question
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Some time ago, I purchased my wife a Dell laptop with Windows Vista Home Basic preinstalled. It has been working fine for many months.
Today, I did a simple reboot on her system, and when attempting to log into Windows following the reboot, I am presented with a message stating the following:
"The Windows Vista Home Basic product key you typed is invalid for activation."
I am presented with the following 3 options:- Access your computer with reduced functionality
- Type a different product key
- Contact Dell to help resolve this problem
I've already contacted Dell, who were suprisingly unhelpful, demanding I pay for support before they'd do anything to help me.
Please help me with this issue - my wife would very much like it if I could recover her system without losing all her data. Can anyone help?
Based on other reading I've done here on the forums, it seems as though you want a Diagnostic Report in order to provide assistance, so please find that information below.Any help would be enormously appreciated by my wife and I.
Monday, March 16, 2009 5:22 AM
Answers
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Hi jsilas,
Computers, which are built by large manufactures that come with Vista Pre-Installed, come with two (2) Product Keys:
A) OEM SLP: This key comes pre-installed in Vista, when it comes from the Factory. This key is geared to work with the special instructions found only on that Manufacturer's computer hardware. So when Vista was installed using the OEM SLP key (at the factory) Vista looks at the motherboard and sees the special instructions and Self-Activates. (that's why you did not need to Activate your computer after you brought it home)
B) COA SLP: This is the Product key that you see on the sticker on the side (or bottom) of your computer. It is a valid product key, but should only be used in limited situations. The key must be Activated by Phone. (Note: All manufacturers that use the OEM SLP system are required by contract to include a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker, that has a COA SLP key, on the computer)
Your Vista is using an OEM SLP key, but (for whatever reason) cannot see the special instructions in the computer’s motherboard and is unable to Self-Activate.
To fix the issue, you will need to change out the OEM SLP key with the COA SLP key. The normal way to do this is to click the ‘Start’ button, right-click ‘Computer’, select ‘Properties’ and then click ‘Change Product Key’ (located in the lower right-hand side of the window). Enter the COA SLP key and follow the instructions in the Change Product Key Wizard.
Alternate steps to change the product key
1) Click the Start button
2) Type: slui.exe 3 and hit the Enter key
3) Type in the Product key from the sticker on your computer
4) Click the Next button.
5) You will be asked if want to Activate, click ok
6) It will attempt to Activate by the internet and will return an Invalid Key error (this is ok, continue to step 7)
7) Click the Start button
8) Type: slui.exe 4 and hit the Enter key
9) Select your location in the drop down menu and click the Next button
10) The next screen provides the number to call to Activate by Phone
NOTE: when you call that number, you will first hear an Automated Voice. If the Automated Voice gives you an option to talk to a Live Activation Rep, select that option. If not, do not enter any numbers. This should force the Automated Voice to transfer you to a Live Activation Rep. Trying to Activate thru the Automated Voice will not work, in your case, only thru the Live Activation Rep will your Activation be successful.
Thank you,
Darin MS
Attention All Forum Users: Please Do Not post your issue in someone else's Thread...Create your own. If any post fixes your issue, please click the "Post was Helpful" button for that post. This will help us showcase the threads that best help our customers.- Marked as answer by Darin Smith MS Monday, March 16, 2009 11:45 PM
Monday, March 16, 2009 11:45 PM
All replies
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Diagnostic Report (1.9.0006.1):
-----------------------------------------
WGA Data-->
Validation Status: Invalid License
Validation Code: 50
Online Validation Code: 0xc004c4a8
Cached Validation Code: 0xc004c4a8
Windows Product Key: *****-*****-4WD8X-M9WM7-CH4CG
Windows Product Key Hash: EkdqJZ28Y9zyrh7DU/lHNjTXlQY=
Windows Product ID: 89572-OEM-7332166-00096
Windows Product ID Type: 2
Windows License Type: OEM SLP
Windows OS version: 6.0.6001.2.00010300.1.0.002
ID: {A8612553-93C2-41AA-869B-7E2193536786}(3)
Is Admin: Yes
TestCab: 0x0
WGA Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Product Name: Windows Vista (TM) Home Basic
Architecture: 0x00000000
Build lab: 6001.vistasp1_gdr.080917-1612
TTS Error:
Validation Diagnostic:
Resolution Status: N/AWgaER Data-->
ThreatID(s): N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: 6.0.6002.16398WGA Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
File Exists: No
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WgaTray.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WgaLogon.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002OGA Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WGATray.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGAAddin.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002OGA Data-->
Office Status: 108 Invalid VLK
Microsoft Office Professional 2007 - 108 Invalid VLK
OGA Version: N/A, 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Office Diagnostics: 025D1FF3-364-80041010_025D1FF3-229-80041010_025D1FF3-230-1_025D1FF3-517-80040154_025D1FF3-237-80040154_025D1FF3-238-2_025D1FF3-244-80070002_025D1FF3-258-3Browser Data-->
Proxy settings: N/A
User Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Win32)
Default Browser: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
Download signed ActiveX controls: Prompt
Download unsigned ActiveX controls: Disabled
Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins: Allowed
Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe: Disabled
Allow scripting of Internet Explorer Webbrowser control: Disabled
Active scripting: Allowed
Script ActiveX controls marked as safe for scripting: AllowedFile Scan Data-->
Other data-->
Office Details: <GenuineResults><MachineData><UGUID>{A8612553-93C2-41AA-869B-7E2193536786}</UGUID><Version>1.9.0006.1</Version><OS>6.0.6001.2.00010300.1.0.002</OS><Architecture>x32</Architecture><PKey>*****-*****-*****-*****-CH4CG</PKey><PID>89572-OEM-7332166-00096</PID><PIDType>2</PIDType><SID>S-1-5-21-4162043894-1841656924-3314663607</SID><SYSTEM><Manufacturer>Dell Inc.</Manufacturer><Model>Inspiron 1525 </Model></SYSTEM><BIOS><Manufacturer>Dell Inc.</Manufacturer><Version>A08</Version><SMBIOSVersion major="2" minor="4"/><Date>20080107000000.000000+000</Date></BIOS><HWID>95323507018400FA</HWID><UserLCID>0409</UserLCID><SystemLCID>0409</SystemLCID><TimeZone>Pacific Standard Time(GMT-08:00)</TimeZone><iJoin>0</iJoin><SBID><stat>3</stat><msppid></msppid><name></name><model></model></SBID><OEM><OEMID>DELL </OEMID><OEMTableID>M08 </OEMTableID></OEM><GANotification/></MachineData><Software><Office><Result>108</Result><Products><Product GUID="{91120000-0014-0000-0000-0000000FF1CE}"><LegitResult>108</LegitResult><Name>Microsoft Office Professional 2007</Name><Ver>12</Ver><Val>509FB8BB7AE76BA</Val><Hash>veyoaiclTs0sxx5rWKMjSDR2r8U=</Hash><Pid>81605-861-1121682-65557</Pid><PidType>8</PidType></Product></Products><Applications><App Id="15" Version="12" Result="108"/><App Id="16" Version="12" Result="108"/><App Id="18" Version="12" Result="108"/><App Id="19" Version="12" Result="108"/><App Id="1A" Version="12" Result="108"/><App Id="1B" Version="12" Result="108"/></Applications></Office></Software></GenuineResults>Spsys.log Content: 0x80070002
Licensing Data-->
C:\Windows\system32\slmgr.vbs(1635, 9) (null): 0xC004E017HWID Data-->
HWID Hash Current: PgAAAAEABgABAAIAAQABAAAABAABAAEAJJS8Y1bwtsBszMCyCiVsPEaD9nMGpJT78vRQSv+uQGOWI6xWKoU=OEM Activation 1.0 Data-->
N/AOEM Activation 2.0 Data-->
BIOS valid for OA 2.0: yes
Windows marker version: 0x20000
OEMID and OEMTableID Consistent: yes
BIOS Information:
ACPI Table Name OEMID Value OEMTableID Value
APIC DELL M08
FACP DELL M08
HPET DELL M08
BOOT DELL M08
MCFG DELL M08
SLIC DELL M08
OSFR DELL M08
SSDT PmRef CpuPm
Monday, March 16, 2009 5:25 AM -
Hi jsilas,
Computers, which are built by large manufactures that come with Vista Pre-Installed, come with two (2) Product Keys:
A) OEM SLP: This key comes pre-installed in Vista, when it comes from the Factory. This key is geared to work with the special instructions found only on that Manufacturer's computer hardware. So when Vista was installed using the OEM SLP key (at the factory) Vista looks at the motherboard and sees the special instructions and Self-Activates. (that's why you did not need to Activate your computer after you brought it home)
B) COA SLP: This is the Product key that you see on the sticker on the side (or bottom) of your computer. It is a valid product key, but should only be used in limited situations. The key must be Activated by Phone. (Note: All manufacturers that use the OEM SLP system are required by contract to include a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker, that has a COA SLP key, on the computer)
Your Vista is using an OEM SLP key, but (for whatever reason) cannot see the special instructions in the computer’s motherboard and is unable to Self-Activate.
To fix the issue, you will need to change out the OEM SLP key with the COA SLP key. The normal way to do this is to click the ‘Start’ button, right-click ‘Computer’, select ‘Properties’ and then click ‘Change Product Key’ (located in the lower right-hand side of the window). Enter the COA SLP key and follow the instructions in the Change Product Key Wizard.
Alternate steps to change the product key
1) Click the Start button
2) Type: slui.exe 3 and hit the Enter key
3) Type in the Product key from the sticker on your computer
4) Click the Next button.
5) You will be asked if want to Activate, click ok
6) It will attempt to Activate by the internet and will return an Invalid Key error (this is ok, continue to step 7)
7) Click the Start button
8) Type: slui.exe 4 and hit the Enter key
9) Select your location in the drop down menu and click the Next button
10) The next screen provides the number to call to Activate by Phone
NOTE: when you call that number, you will first hear an Automated Voice. If the Automated Voice gives you an option to talk to a Live Activation Rep, select that option. If not, do not enter any numbers. This should force the Automated Voice to transfer you to a Live Activation Rep. Trying to Activate thru the Automated Voice will not work, in your case, only thru the Live Activation Rep will your Activation be successful.
Thank you,
Darin MS
Attention All Forum Users: Please Do Not post your issue in someone else's Thread...Create your own. If any post fixes your issue, please click the "Post was Helpful" button for that post. This will help us showcase the threads that best help our customers.- Marked as answer by Darin Smith MS Monday, March 16, 2009 11:45 PM
Monday, March 16, 2009 11:45 PM -
I am encountering this same issue except with Vista Home Premium. I have attempted to run the SLUI.EXE from a command prompt and I am prompted for the COA on the bottom of my laptop. But when I run SLUI.EXE 4 as stated on step 8, I just get brought back to the page to change the product key. I never see a phone number to call. Is the process the same for Home Basic and Home Premium? I don't have a start button, I am running the computer with limited functionality and accessing the files from Internet Explorer. Is there another way to change this?
I tried phoning Dell and got the same run around, the warranty on my laptop expired on Mar. 10, then 6 days later I'm hit with this. Obviously something went wrong when the imaged/built this system. I was stuck on infinite hold while wating for a supervisor. Dell's service has fallen way down. No wonder my company (3000+ systems) is thinking of going with another vendor for it's PCs.Tuesday, March 17, 2009 5:54 AM -
Hi Ravenkind5499,
I suggest contacting your local Activation Call Center. They should be able to walk you thru the process.
Worldwide Activation Call Center list http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/vol/numbers.mspx
Darin
Attention All Forum Users: Please Do Not post your issue in someone else's Thread...Create your own. If any post fixes your issue, please click the "Post was Helpful" button for that post. This will help us showcase the threads that best help our customers.Tuesday, March 17, 2009 6:09 PM -
I'm having a similar issue - do these steps result in your hard drive being wiped?
Thanks
Sunday, August 15, 2010 4:17 PM