Question about Vista phone activation???

[fretman]

This past weekend I reformatted by hard drive and reinstalled Vista Ultimate. When I tried activating via the internet I got the message saying that my product key was already in use.

So I called the activation hotline for my country.

I was presented with 8 groups of numbers where each group had 6 digits that I repeated for an automated voice on the phone. The voice then gave me another 8 groups of numbers where each group had 6 digits and I entered these numbers. After doing this I successfully activated Vista.

My question is this. If someone else had my product key would they be able to just activate Vista on their own machine via this phone activation method. For me, I don't see how any of these numbers are tying back into my own system which is what I believe my product key is tied to.

Because I'm sure if I had to reinstall again I would get a different bunch of numbers presented to me.

Anyone know how everything is linked together?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: fretman
If someone else had my product key would they be able to just activate Vista on their own machine via this phone activation method.

Yes, if they lie and tell the activation agent that they are activating the pre-activated key on a different machine because they have uninstalled it from the previous machine or because the old machine broke down.
Do not share the key and do not leave it somewhere in public where it can be stolen.

For me, I don't see how any of these numbers are tying back into my own system which is what I believe my product key is tied to.

The numbers presented to you that you presented to the activation agent are generated using a hash algorithm from the hardware and some IDs on your machine. Only one set of hardware (including the MAC ID on your NIC card and the volume ID on your Vista hard drive ......) can generate those numbers.

Because I'm sure if I had to reinstall again I would get a different bunch of numbers presented to me.

No, you are wrong. If you install on the exact same hardware the exact same version of Vista, you will get the exact same set of numbers presented to you.

 

[fretman]

If you install on the exact same hardware the exact same version of Vista, you will get the exact same set of numbers presented to you.

===========================

OK...the only way someone else is going to get to my key is if they steal it online. But then again, the store that assembled my system also has my key cause they installed the OS for me.

So I will get exactly the same set of numbers? I'm itching just to see if that's the case. But I won't as it took me awhile to get my computer to a point I'm happy with now.

But I'll keep this in mind if I ever decide to reformat my hard drive again.

Thanks again.

 

[Rubycon]

One of the IT people showed me a shortcut to this.

Put in your numbers in the first step on your phone. When the voice prompt says VERIFIED! go ahead and hang up. Cancel the activation, then re-activate by internet and it will work!

 

[fretman]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
One of the IT people showed me a shortcut to this.

Put in your numbers in the first step on your phone. When the voice prompt says VERIFIED! go ahead and hang up. Cancel the activation, then re-activate by internet and it will work!

Interesting...thanks for the tip.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: fretman
OK...the only way someone else is going to get to my key is if they steal it online.

Why would you enter your key online?

So I will get exactly the same set of numbers?I'm itching just to see if that's the case.

Very easy to find out.
Make an image of your OS partition using Acronis True Image.
Make a fresh install on your computer. Start the activation process by phone but don't call. When you get the screen that shows the numbers, save them.

Install for a second time and again start activation but do not call. When you get the numbers, compare them with the ones you saved.

Now, restore the image so you are back to your installation as is now.

 

[Crusty]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
One of the IT people showed me a shortcut to this.

Put in your numbers in the first step on your phone. When the voice prompt says VERIFIED! go ahead and hang up. Cancel the activation, then re-activate by internet and it will work!

/hands Rubycon a tinfoil hat

Thanks for the tip!

 

[fretman]

Why would you enter your key online?

=============

I guess I didn't really enter it online. I entered it when I was prompted during the installation process to enter the key.



Very easy to find out.
Make an image of your OS partition using Acronis True Image.
Make a fresh install on your computer. Start the activation process by phone but don't call. When you get the screen that shows the numbers, save them.

Install for a second time and again start activation but do not call. When you get the numbers, compare them with the ones you saved.

Now, restore the image so you are back to your installation as is now.

===============

I think I'll hold off on this part...seems tricky.