Get activation message after driver update

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I used Windows Update to haul down some nvidia SATA drivers for Vista
Ultimate 64-bit. Now, I have been getting messages that my hardware has
changed and that I need to activate Windows. Vista was installed using
an OEM DVD and my understanding is that it is keyed to the motherboard
rather than other hardware changes. What makes this so bizarre is that
there have been no hardware changes.

Any ideas?
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Iron Feliks

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The hard drive is a key component in the Vista hardware hash used for
activation. Much more so than with XP. It sounds like the driver changed
how the drive was seen so in that sense probably does look like a hardware
change.

Not all OEM dvd's are BIOS locked. Only those provided by one of the major
system builders are. The OEM dvd's sold by retailers like NewEgg certainly
are not BIOS locked. If your Vista was preinstalled (it doesn't sound like
it) only then could it be BIOS locked, but otherwise I'm sure its not. When
a BIOS locked OEM copy is used you should not see activation at all. It
isn't needed.

 

I used Windows Update to haul down some nvidia SATA drivers for Vista

Does it actually fail to reactivate?

 

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Haven't tried yet. The fact that this happens due to a driver update
and not an actual hardware change, seems like something that would
irritate a lot of folks.

If I am forced to activate, I hope it tells me I have to call in.
Screaming at someone is always so much more satisfying than typing with
the caps lock on. ;-)


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Iron Feliks
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Haven't tried yet. The fact that this happens due to a driver update

Oh, I see...you're inconvenienced enough to want to scream at somebody and
that'll make you feel superior to Microsoft by pointing out their stupidity.

Personally, I'd just click the button and carry on with my life, but hey,
it's a free world.

 

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Actually, it is just that I get so few chances to make a toll-free call
to India. Or is it Singapore?

I always feel superior to folks who just go through their little scripts
while being totally clueless as to the cause of the problem. It is
always a bit irritating when dealing with people who think working
around the problem is the same as fixing it.

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Iron Feliks
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How can you feel superior talking to a person whose prime
function in life is to help you fix your problem? The
people you call for activation are not technical people,
their mission in life is to help you accomplish a goal -
activate your system. They are not trying to troubleshoot
or fix anything!

If you think ranting and raving at someone who's mission is
to help you, then I would tend to think you may need some
serious counseling to work out your problems because
apparently you have at least one!!!

 

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Actually, their mission isn't to help me fix either my or their problem.
Their mission is limit the damage from the problem. Fixing the problem
would require and update that prevented Windows from requiring
activation after a change of software.

Since it is unlikely that I would ever get a chance to converse with the
person responsible for the problem, I have to settle for whoever I can
converse with.

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Iron Feliks

Trolls are like babies. If you feed them, they poop in their diapers.
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I changed it. Hope this one is better. ;-)

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Iron Feliks

Trolls are like babies. After feeding, they get stinky.
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Actually, their mission isn't to help me fix either my or their problem.

That may be so, but it sounds like you're more interested in the opportunity
to scream at somebody than actually getting the problem fixed.

So go right ahead, I'm sure your screaming will get them to escalate the
problem immediately to someone who can actually do something about it.

 

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I seriously doubt anyone will do anything about it. It is probably an
infrequent occurance and may not be reproduceable.

The most likely scenario is that if Vista insists on being activated, I
will do it online and go on, but with a much lower level of confidence
in it.

If it doesn't, I may not actually scream at someone. I have found that
speaking softly, forces people to actually listen. But, I can guarantee
that the person I speak with will not find it a pleasant experience.

In this politically correct world, that may be frowned upon, but if I am
going to be inconvenienced, I will share the pain.



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Iron Feliks

Trolls are like babies. After feeding, they get stinky.
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If it doesn't, I may not actually scream at someone. I have found that

Well, it's great to know that you have some common sense and decency after
all.

I never inferred you had to make it pleasant. All I'm saying is that you're
much more likely to actually get somewhere if you keep it civilized.
Helpdesk is a thankless entry-level job and most motivated people don't stay
there for very long...if you act like a prick, they won't feel particularly
compelled to go out of their way to help you out or follow up after the
fact.

 

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You turned out to be right. Screaming at a drone in India wouldn't be
satisfying. He was obviously programmed to be pleasant under any
circumstance. It was also obvious he had no technical knowledge whatever.

I don't even think talking to someone on the phone would be helpful,
now. I am so angry that only a face to face confrontation will do. I
want to see someone's face when I ask if the activation module was coded
by a room full of chimpanzees. There is absolutely no excuse for
requiring activation because I upgraded the SATA drivers. I have used
every version of Windows since version 1.0 and I have never seen
anything so stupid. I have no objection to preventing piracy, but this
system is brain-dead

I'm shutting the computer down for the night because I am so angry that
I won't get anything worthwhile done.

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Iron Feliks

Trolls are like babies. After feeding, they get stinky.
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What you've seen, Feliks, is proof of Einstein's insightful remark that "the
difference between Genius and Idiocy, is that Genius is limited"!

This is further emphasized, by a Registry Hack, employed by MS, and
therefore apparently legal, to expand the Activation Free period to years -
perhaps even infinitely. I cannot remember where I saw this, but you might
in your anger be able to smoke it out on your own?

It may, on reflection, not remain a good idea over time, but may come to
good use during your cooling-down period(s).


(It's things like this, that has had me running at least one Linux machine
for many years now. Not that it negates [E's] remark in any way, but there's
a healthy difference in the difference.)


Tony. . .

 

Since it is unlikely that I would ever get a chance to converse with the

Hi,

I just thought I'd add my 2 cents. I, too, enjoy screaming at
Microsoft. And, those people supposed to be "helping" are actually
*agents* of the people *causing* the harm. I am tired of having to
keep reactivating the *same* operating system on the *same* system.
In fact, I keep the (800) activation number in a file so I have it
ready to call. Sometimes it can take as long as one-half hour to get
the new activation code, *and* you have to talk to *several* levels of
Microsoft "employees." (Representatives all over the world.) I
usually try to start with a supervisor if I can, but sometimes the
person who answers the call will actually solve the problem.)
Upgrading BIOSes, changing drivers, and flashing firmware, all seems
to speed up the reactivation process. I've always wondered whether
anyone at Microsoft actually *uses* the products they sell. I have
better things to do with my time than to call Microsoft every few
months and yell at somebody. I'd rather be yelling at my wife or my
dog. <g>

Jim

 

Tony:
120 days trick, no registry tampering.
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/...sta-without-activation-for-free-for-120-days/

1 year trick (legal, with registry modification) and indefinite time trick
(illegal, by stopping countdown timers)
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/03/16/how-to-run-windows-vista-without-activation-forever/

Carlos

 

Good work, Carlos!

It's far too often that I stumble onto this kind of stuff and forgetting to
save it as a favorite, perhaps I should come up with a IE plug-in that
automagically orders the links history into cross-referencable tables - ah,
but you probably already have a link to something like that?


Tony. . .

 

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I downloaded the no activation forever crack. If this nonsense ever
occurs again, I am prepared. Not legal, but the way I see it, if I did
nothing that violated the license and did not make any hardware, then
the attempt to void the license by the software contained in Vista was
illegal. Had this not been (at least for now) resolved, I would have
been happy to give the MS legal team some exercize.

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Iron Feliks

Trolls are like babies. After feeding, they get stinky.
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Tony:
I just keep my favorites neatly organized in folders.
Carlos