Hello Mark,
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 %windir%\System32\slmgr.vbs /ilc %windir%\System32\licensing\ppdlic\Security-Licensing-SLC-ppdlic.xrm-ms
6) Hit the Enter key
7) Reboot 2 times
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Step set #2
1) Open Internet Explorer
2) A internet Browser should come up, type: %windir%\system32\cmd.exe in the browser address bar
3) A window with a black background will come up
4) Type: slui.exe 3 and hit the Enter key
5) Type in the Product key from the sticker on your computer
6) Click the Next button.
7) You will be asked if want to Activate, click ok
8) It will attempt to Activate by the internet and will return an Invalid Key error (this is ok, continue to step 9)
9) Return to the window with the black background
10) Type: slui.exe 4 and hit the Enter key
11) Select your location in the drop down menu and click the Next button
12) 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 that will try to Activate Vista for you. 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.
Once completed, you may need to reboot twice.
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Step set #3
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) Type: cscript slmgr.vbs -rilc (It may take a long time for this to complete, please be patient)
11) Reboot Twice
12) You may be required to Re-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
