OEM Vista install will not activate

Hey guys!

This is an interesting problem I've run into. I just bought a Dell E6400, and it came with Vista Business and a XP downgrade CD. It came preinstalled with XP, I did a clean install of Vista using the OEM Vista CD. However, now when I go to activate Windows, it says my key doesn't work even though this is an OEM install. That is a problem it seems.

So I looked under the battery and wrote down the license key on the Windows sticker under every windows based laptop. I then tried to activate Vista using that, but it didn't work either? Now, I could call Microsoft and get a new key I suppose...but this is a OEM install, why am I running into this problem?

Thanks,
Eric Huang

 

Weird. As long as the OEM is being installed on the same machine (OEMs are tied to the original mobo) it should reactivate. If the OEM was never installed previously it should activate fine as well. Two options I see are contact Dell or contact Microsoft.

 

check your keboard out for irregularities, this has happened to me before, also and the usual culprid is something so easy you just dont see it.

 

Okay, so I checked what entered again. It was correct, but it still won't activate online so I tried doing the automated phone activation. That did not work either, the AI could not find my install??? So it was going to transfer me over to a live rep, but I honestly did not feel like talking to tech support right now. I'll try again probably tomorrow and do it live.

But, now that I know it doesn't work period, should I try to go through Dell since they've sent me a OEM CD that doesn't activate, or just it activated through Microsoft?

 

I think you should contact Dell.

Else you'd have to contact Microsoft for every instal...

 

Okay, I'll try that tomorrow. Thanks for the tip.

 

I agree to call Dell since it's license to them.

 

and Dell will ask you to call Microsoft, since the activation will be performed direct with a Microsoft Support Personel.

It is frustrating, but that's the way it is.

cheers ...

 

Update. Finally got around to talking to a Dell Rep. I'm a little confused by his responses...

He's saying that I will have to reinstall XP since my unit came with XP pre-installed and then update the Bios from there. Well, I went ahead and flashed the bios with the new version (A12) from the Dell site in Vista. Of course, it still doesn't activate Vista. Still talking to the guy, so I'll update when I get more info.

 

We wait with bated breath.

 

He's taking his sweet time...heh, it takes him like 10 minutes to type out one sentence haha.

OH PLOT TWIST. Apparently I wasn't clear enough with stating that I actually installed Vista and am using it even though the key is invalid...haha, just wasted the last 30 minutes going in circles oh well.

Okay, now that he understands my situation, he thinks I should re-install Vista and see what happens. Thoughts? Also, how is the Bios tied to Windows Activation?

 

It may be a different key...

 

shoot me a pm ill help you with the activation, the bios is tied to the activation by a slic table inside the bios. vista checks this and then knows if its a oem copy or not

 

or if you're real smart, contact me

I can always be of help on "oem vista installations" on those pc's that came preinstalled w/ vista.......

 

lol wait till you see. trust me

 

I didn't know NBR was paying people to do PM tech support now...

 

there not lol i am simply helping them out. i dont mind helping people out like some others do sorry to say

 

Erm, I got your email and the files...However, are you saying that I will have to do this every time I install Vista? The Dell Rep I talked to obviously did not come to the same conclusion.

 

are you using the dell oem vista disc i mean is it a dell version of the disc. if not thats why it will not activate? either your bios is missing the required slic table it needs or the disc is missing the required oem files it needs to match to the bios' slic cert

 

It has to be the slic table since this is the Dell OEM disc.

 

okay figured out your issue possibly. dell uses a asset tag as well as the slic table to activate. this asset tag must be locked to windows xp on your machine and needs to be reset. no flashing the bios or changing the slic table will help you now. i emailed you the tool needed to do the job it is a dell tool normally given to their techs. let me know how that works for you if that doesnt work then it prob would have to go back to dell and this tool is not without risj so if you are not confortable i would probably get back with dell if you need to but they will prob make you send the unit in

 

I had the same problem with my VAIO when I first bought it in 07. I ended up calling microsoft and activating it over the phone. What a PITA but its over now, no problems.

 

but you will always have to do that each time you need to reinstall..

 

I'm getting a replacement laptop anyway now, so no worries.

 

Funny I found this because I was jsut online with SOny asking thme about it and they are really slow. THey jsut kept asking me the same thing over and over. Im not happy with it by any means.