Little BaBy JESUS
m8
+394|6409|'straya
Ok. So I have 2 perfectly legal copies of Windows Vista. One is a 64 bit OEM (home premium) installed on my Gaming computers, and another is a 32 Bit OEM (home basic) that came on my laptop. Now I replaced the HDD and RAM in my laptop and decided I might as well put 64 bit Vista on it as well. So I used my 64 bit disk with my 32 bit CD-Key. I was told this would work .

Anyway, now windows (on my laptop) is asking me to activate as "The Windows Vista Home Basic product key you typed is invalid for activation". It has shut down some windows applications and settings etc, it stops me at startup and makes me wait to click "activate later" and the pop-up is driving me insane, overall it is getting really frustrating.

So, how do I fix this? Ideally I would rather not have to format. I would also like to have 64 bit Vista, not 32 bit. I would prefer a legal option. I realize that it is possible for me to "acquire" a copy but I would rather not.

Karma for help!
Beduin
Compensation of Reactive Power in the grid
+510|6010|شمال
Call MS and tell them you did a reformat, and now it wont activate.
They will give you another way to activate.
الشعب يريد اسقاط النظام
...show me the schematic
Sydney
2λчиэλ
+783|7103|Reykjavík, Iceland.
Even if you can use the 32 bit key on a 64 bit distro, you can't use a home basic key on home premium.
Beduin
Compensation of Reactive Power in the grid
+510|6010|شمال
Lol... I didn't get some details.
Just use your home premium on your laptop?
الشعب يريد اسقاط النظام
...show me the schematic
Little BaBy JESUS
m8
+394|6409|'straya
Mmk. thanks guys.

@ Beduin, I can't use home premium on my laptop because it is OEM and on my gaming computer.
Cheez
Herman is a warmaphrodite
+1,027|6699|King Of The Islands

Sydney wrote:

Even if you can use the 32 bit key on a 64 bit distro, you can't use a home basic key on home premium.
A Vista disc cares not what version you have.


Simply put, the disc is too old for the code. It is valid yes, but the current install thinks not (no amount of updates will resolve it.)

You must call Microsoft Activation, attempt to activate with the automated system, fail the system, and then spend 2 minutes speaking to an Indian, explaining that

1. You are activating Vista Basic.
2. You are reformatting to get to 64-bit
3. You bought Vista from a shop
4. It's only on this PC

The first question is simply so they know they're looking at the right code, the last 3 is because Microsoft is a Nazi when it comes to legitimately activating their product.
I haven't been asked for the last 3 lately.
My state was founded by Batman. Your opinion is invalid.
Sydney
2λчиэλ
+783|7103|Reykjavík, Iceland.

Cheez wrote:

Sydney wrote:

Even if you can use the 32 bit key on a 64 bit distro, you can't use a home basic key on home premium.
A Vista disc cares not what version you have..
But they CD key does, that's my point.
Little BaBy JESUS
m8
+394|6409|'straya
Big thanks to Sydney I took his advice (PM) and it worked great . Mods can close or delete this thread if they wish.

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