vista validation failed, not activated? Resolved

[rise]

i've been using retail vista ultimate since it came out, legit from BB.

yesterday, i went to run a dx10 demo and foud i needed to update some dx9 stuff first. so on msft's site, i ran the wga check and it tells me i need to activate my copy, which i was 99% sure i did when i first installed but anyway...

so i go to system properties and it shows that windows is activated and heres where i screwed up methinks. in a bleary-eyed,late nite haze, i selected the "enter new key" i think it says. i entered in the retail box key again which may have messed me up because now when i boot i get a "this windows vista is not genuine" in the bottom right of my screen.

anyway to resolve this simply and hopefully painlessly?

thanks!

resolution-------
-from start, start search "cmd" and open the command window
-enter "slui 4" and a voice activation window opens
-call and ask to speak to a rep. the 1st rep transferred me to tech, don't let this happen. you'll end back at activation anyway. they will give you a new ID
-after activation, re-boot and go to microsoft.com/genuine and validate, re-boot.

this is becoming a more widely known issue, it started a couple days ago the reps said.

 

[mechBgon]

1) what DX10 game demo was this exactly, and can you give a link to where you got it.

2) Microsoft has a help Forum for your situation here Check the top two posts there.


You may just need to call in and reactivate on the phone, of course.

 

[rise]

thanks mech!

it was the new lost planet demo, just came out the other day. AT video thread. seems alot of people, like me, had to update dx9 for the dx10 to work.

i'll check out the forum, i'd actually prefer calling (maybe). their xp activation was painless but this maybe different, lol.

 

[rise]

this could be me same problem and messages.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: rise
this could be me same problem and messages.

So you have to Activate before you can validate, but you're already activated, but not valid.

<Spock> It is not logical, Captain. </Spock>

I'm not certain this would help, but you might try doing a System Restore to before you ran the validation tool.

 

[rise]

maybe i will restore, i'm just thinking it through now, i'm perplexed. but yeah, thats what its saying- i need to activate (system showed and is still showing its activated) but the validation process is denying that its activated

 

[mechBgon]

I read down this thread and it might have some guidance.

 

[rise]

i forgot to mention that i've passed wga at least twice that i recall. system restore and "last good config" both failed as i've been flagged, lol. anyway...

error code is 0xC004C4A6, i didn't see it before. i've been on the phone with them, one dept to another and back.

phone activation 866-740-1256
tech support 800-936-5700
WGA 866-530-6599

i'll let you know where i end up, tech is trying to conference me with activation. this should be fun

 

[rise]

resolution-------
-from start, start search "cmd" and open the command window
-enter "slui 4" and a voice activation window opens
-call and ask to speak to a rep. the 1st rep transferred me to tech, don't let this happen. you'll end back at activation anyway. they will give you a new ID
-after activation, re-boot and go to microsoft.com/genuine and validate, re-boot.

this is becoming a more widely known issue, it started a couple days ago the reps said.

thanks mech :beer:

 

[Arkaign]

Well, that's a pretty nasty problem to run into! But kudos to Microsoft for getting you fixed pretty quickly! I'll file this so that I can use this technique for any locals who run into this.

 

[user3657]

glad i decided to stick with xp for my new build. just so many bad things about vista right now.

 

[rise]

meh, i like vista, better than xp i run on my other two machines. this, aside from some early driver and some minimum game issues, is the only problem i've had.