Why would vista need re-activation?

Question

I have a dimension 9200 running home premium. Today I installed the latest BIOS and Intel Matrix Storage Manager driver and application. Soon after that the Windows activation box came up and said I needed to reactivate windows because I had changed hardware (which I hadn't). I tried to activate on-line but it said the key was in use. I was able to use phone activation which worked. Why would I need to activate because of this software change and does Microsoft limit the number of activations?

pcgeek11 · Answer

This is a well known gotcha with this ' Intel Matrix Storage Manager driver and application '. Usually a phone call is all it takes. This changed the hardware description enough that Vista triggered the reactivation. Some have had to reactivate just by adding memory.   A minor annoyance at worst.   pcgeek11

andreychuk · Answer

you may be able to avoid the situation by right clicking on the intel matrix file and running as administrator.

GioAguilar · Answer

andreychuk's option worked for me...

DUDLEY YOUNG · Answer

I wish I had known about andreychuk's option. I had to reactivate by phone the other day.

XPS 410
VISTA Home Premium
Core 2 Duo E6400
2GB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz
19" ultra sharp LCD Monitor
ATI Radeon X1300 pro 256MB DVIVGA
Datasafe 320GB/Norton Ghost
48X Combo and 16X DVD+/-RW
Sound Blaster Audigy MB Audio
Laptop Inspiron 8100 XP Home
Have a great day!

C3PO5 · Answer

Hi Dudley I got by it by using the change key page. With Vista Ultimate 64 bit retail on the Dimension 8400  See Yea !

down_under · Answer

By PCGEEK 'This is a well known gotcha with this ' Intel Matrix Storage Manager driver and application '. Usually a phone call is all it takes. This changed the hardware description enough that Vista triggered the reactivation. Some have had to reactivate just by adding memory.   A minor annoyance at worst.'   PCGEEK - This has just turned into something a little more than a minor annoyance. I activatated Windows via the phone. All seemed to go ok. My computer properties also tell me vista is activated. However, I have another unrelated problem for which I need to download a microsoft patch. In downloading the patch Microsoft uses an os validation program before it will let you download. The validation program says that vista is not activatated!!!   Any help would be appreciated. This is really a stupid waste of my time.

pcgeek11 · Answer

What type of Vista are you using?

Vista Retail

Vista Retail Upgrade

Vista OEM ( this includes the Dell Vista Upgrade DVD )

Vista Factory Installed OEM ( SLP Install, tied to the BIOS )

What is the code it gives ( in grey ) when it fails validation?

Search here, these people will help and are better qualified, It is a forum just for Validation issues:

http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID=1004&SiteID=25

pcgeek11

Message Edited by pcgeek11 on 07-05-2007 11:35 PM

CPDJOE · Answer

Had the same problem you decribed after download. Could not do phone re activation so they re connect me with micro soft operator. He stated this is a Dell problem and could not help but he did connect me with Dell who told me to do system restore to date before download.

down_under · Answer

PCGEEK.   I have the OEM (Dell) version of Vista Home Premium. It's the one I got as part of the Express Upgrade program. I have done a number of clean re-installs and tried to install this version of Intel Matrix Storage Manager. Validating before and after the install of IMSM etc. Nothing worked. I have reverted to my previous v6 version and all ok now. BTW - don't use the previous v7 version of IMSM - when combined with ITunes it destroys RAID arrays. A known bug which I had to find out the hard way.

Windows General

Why would vista need re-activation?

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