Refurbished G51VX Activation Key Issues

Hello everyone.

I have been having loads of difficulty with my newly purchased refurbished Asus notebook.

It stems from the fact that the activation key for Windows Vista that is on the sticker on the bottom of my computer is not being accepted.

I have called numerous customer support centers, Microsoft, Asus, even the warranty center for the warranty bought on Newegg, and nobody has been able to help me. The Microsoft support center even attempted to give me a newly generated activation code and that was not accepted either.

When I first received my computer I was instructed to use the recovery discs to reinstall Windows Vista on the computer. I did so, and it would not let me log in before prompting me with an activation key request, which did not work. In despair I eventually tried reinstalling again with the recovery disk. This time, it did not prompt me, and I was able to log in and use my computer. I was not prompted again for about a month.

Then about a week ago I started getting messages that requested that I input an activation key because the one I was using was invalid. I ignored them because I figured the same thing would happen. I also happened to never turn off my computer during this period. Well, this morning my computer restarted and when I got to the log in screen it would not let me proceed and prompted me again for the activation key. Once again, it did not work.

I have some files on my computer that I would like to keep, so I have been trying to do something other than just reinstall using the recovery disk. I was also contemplating just upgrading to Windows 7 through a family pack, but that might require a valid Windows Vista product key, which apparently I don't have. How exactly do product keys work? Could my activation key still work for upgrading even if it doesn't work for actually activating my version of Windows Vista? It definitely is or at least was a valid activation key; the proof of license is still on the computer case!

Does anyone have any advice? Has anyone had similar experience with a refurbished laptop?

 

Have U tried booting into safe mode (F8 after post)? This may at least let you get in and grab the files you need.

I would call M$ and request another key (if you have another way to get email, I would ask that they email it to you)
OR I would get them on the phone, and make sure the key they read to you works.

This link may also be of help, http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...ce81-b04e-e011-8dfc-68b599b31bf5?tab=MoreHelp

 

"Have U tried booting into safe mode "

Yes, this still brings me to the log in screen, and when I attempt to log in the next screen is a completely black background with a single window that only allows me to use the computer with reduced capabilities(which just opens up an internet browser), or to input a new activation code. That is the same screen I get when I try to start up windows regularly.

The Key they generated for me should be a valid key, but I haven't called back and had a different microsoft customer support person verify it.

 

I bet they used a retail edition of Vista for the image, and you need an OEM Vista install. Did they include a copy of the OS? Do you have a Recovery partition? If not, then I found this online:

http://recovery-disks.com/asus/g51-series/asus-g51vx.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/Asus-G51VX-Drivers-Recovery-Restore-DISC-7-XP-Vista-/250748869572