Un-Activating a copy of Vista

webguy20

So here is the story. Have a copy of Vista business. Install it, register it, everything is hunky dory. I have a hard drive die on me, so I reinstall on new hard drive, have it re-registered, as far as I can tell, and everything is hunky dory. I then install a new motherboard, everything is working fine, and windows tells me to re-verify my copy of Vista within 3 days or bad things will happen.

When I try to re verify it tells me that CD key is already active and to type in (aka purchase) a new one. My question is how do I kill the old registration of Vista so I can use it with my new hardware. This is very annoying and I'm not sure how to go about it. Any ideas?

vonPoonBurGer

Have you tried activating by phone? I think you'd have much better success with this option.

Seattle Thread

Yeah, this happens all of the time. Just call 'em up and explain that you changed the mobo and they'll give you a code to patch it through.

focused7

Had the same thing happen to me when I put in a new motherboard. It gave me a support number to call. They asked a couple of questions and gave me a key to activate my install.

webguy20

sweet I'll give it a try when I get home.

webguy20

Thanks again guys. Registering by phone did the trick.