I have a problem with my PC… can you help?! (And if you say, “get a Mac”, you should “get a life”, because I have one.)
So I noticed my desktop background was gone the other day, and I also noticed a new notice from Windows Vista on the right side of the tool bar, where the process icons run. This new process is asking me to “activate” or “validate” Windows, and when I click on it, it warns me that my key is not valid, which is completely not true.
I bought this computer a couple of years ago, and I have no idea why all of a sudden, Windows Vista would decide that the key was no longer sufficient. If anyone has ran into this problem, can you share your solution?
PLEASE NOTE: Solutions should not include:
- Buying a new key for Windows Vista: because I shouldn’t have to pay for something twice.
- Contacting the manufacturer of the PC: because last time I contacted the manufacturer of my PC, they simply noted I was out of warranty and wanted $59 an hour to “solve my problem”; which I got a friend to fix for free.
- “Revert to XP”: because the damn PC came with Vista on it, and except for constant issues with iTunes, I hadn’t had any issues with Vista up until now.
I have not put in my key (that is located on the side of the PC), because I am afraid that it will invalidate that key (I am using logic to come to this conclusion, because that key should be the one that is already on file on the PC, because, again, it was the version of Vista that came with the PC), and I don’t want to risk ruining my current, legitimately paid for key. I am wondering if this is some virus or some issue/update/problem that does have a fix out there that I am just not presently aware of.
Any help is much appreciated.
In case that’s a virus or something trying to steal your windows key(which I doubt it is.. but just to be safe)right click on my computer and go to properties. click the “change key” button and type in the one that you have. This won’t invalidate your key. It will just make sure that your computer has your key. Yes, I know it’s always there..but things happen… data becomes corrupt… shit fucks up. Give windows the key again through a way that you know it’s going to windows and not some other software.
Thanks Joey! I’ll try that when I get home!
I know you said “don’t call the PC manufacturer,” but if Joey’s advice doesn’t work, you might try calling Microsoft. A while back, I moved my copy of Vista from Boot Camp to Parallels and it lost its activation. I called them they gave me a new key and didn’t give me any trouble.
Contact Microsoft, it’s pretty painless as I’ve had that problem with my copy of XP when reinstalling. It could be as simple as you’re key appearing in those keygen hacks
Rusty and Greg: Thanks for that advice too!! It didn’t give me “contact microsoft”, it wanted me to contact the manufacturer, which I also find a little fishy. Thanks again! I am trying all of this stuff!
Another option is to “update Windows”. Sometimes update patches can unintentionally correct things like this by resetting things that might have gotten out of whack.