Windows Vista & Windows XP

[cpm545]

My laptop prompted me to reactivate my Windows Vista Home Premium system a few days ago, but the code on the bottom of my laptop is so worn out that I can't make out what the code is. I was hoping that you guys could give me my activation code.

[Jerry_Lippey]

Windows is preactivated. The product code is useless.

Maybe this?

   Prompt to Activate Windows Vista on Toshiba Laptop with Vista Preinstall

Which laptop? Always give the full model designation when you post here from that label on the bottom.

[cpm545]

I have a Toshiba Satellite L505-S5964. On my computer, Windows was installed by an OEM so it has a sticker at the bottom with the product code on it. The product code has worn away with time so I do not know what it is. I tried installing that update, but it said that it was incompatible. I have both Service Packs already installed. If the product code is useless, than do I have to upgrade to Windows 7? If so, can I get the upgrade version, or do I need the full version for it to install properly?

[Jerry_Lippey]

Satellite L505-S5964

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I tried installing that update, but it said that it was incompatible.

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I take it you're talking about this.

   You may be prompted to activate Windows Vista on a computer on which Windows Vista was already activ...

Explain the situation to Microsoft. Once they understand what has happened, they should issue a product key for activation. You have already paid for the product. So you are entitled to activation.

You can reach Microsoft by beginning to activate by telephone, but staying on the line until a person answers.

   How to Activate Windows Vista by Phone

I have obtained an activation code from Microsoft for an OEM Vista machine myself. So I know it can be accomplished.

[cpm545]

I tried to do the phone activation following the steps in the second link you provided. Instead of getting a link to a phone line on step 5, I got this error message.

"The following information was found for this error.

Code:

0xC004E003

Description:

The Software Licensing Service reported that license evaluation failed."

Any ideas on what I should do next?

[Jerry_Lippey]

Type this into the Start/Search box.

   slui 4

You should see a phone number.

Call that number and wait until a Microsoft person answers.

Tell your story.

[cpm545]

Tried that too, it did not work.

[Jerry_Lippey]

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..did not work.

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..tells us nothing! 

[cpm545]

It takes me to the Windows Activation Menu which has 3 options.

1. "Buy a new product key"

2. "Type a different product key"

3. "Contact Toshiba to help resolve this problem"

Option 2 ultimatley leads to the error message in my previous post.

[Jerry_Lippey]

How can there be a menu? You are talking on the telephone! Shut your eyes and wait.

[cpm545]

Because I never got a phone number to dial, so I am still on the menu step. Instead of a phone number, I got an error message, which is what I have been saying in my past few posts, which you STILL have obviously not read and comprehended.

In fact, I don't think you have understood a single thing I have typed. I need to get a new product code from the manufacturer(Toshiba), not Microsoft. I don't need to talk to Microsoft, I need to talk to you guys, hence why I am here. I don't need someone who does not understand written English, all I need is someone who works for the manufacturer(Toshiba) to give me a working product code for my laptop, because the one on the bottom of my computer has worn away.

This is NOT a Microsoft problem, this is a TOSHIBA problem.

[Jerry_Lippey]

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I never got a phone number to dial

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Why didn't you say so?

Let's settle down and see if we can make some progress.

When I put slui 4 into the Start/Search box on a 32-bit Vista machine, the first attachment (see the attachments far below) comes up.

When I click Next on that attachment, the second attachment appears. The top portion of it is this, with the phone number.

     

Something different happens for you?

If you get an error message, tell us which of the above steps it happens on and attach a picture.

[cbwilsha]

I get precisely the same windows in Windows 7 64 bit, Jerry.

C.B.

[cpm545]

When I put slui 4 into the Start/Search box on a 32-bit Vista machine, this window comes up:

"The Windows Vista Home Premium product key you typed is invalid for activation."

Then it gives these three options:

1. "Buy a new product key"

2. "Type a different product key"

3. "Contact Toshiba to help resolve this problem" 

I don't know how to turn that window into an attachment, so if you need me to do that, you will have to explain how its done.

[cbwilsha]

Jerry, cpm545--On my Wife's Vista HP SP2 32 bit machine, I have to use Start/Run/slui 4 and I then get the same as Jerry and on my W7 machine. If I use Start/Search on my Wife's machine, I get "nothing found".

C.B.

[Jerry_Lippey]

Try CB's suggestion..

Press WindowsKey + R to bring up the Run box.

Enter this.

   slui 4

Does that behave differently?

[cpm545]

When I put slui 4 into the run box, I got the same window I did when I typed slui 4 into the Start/Search box.

[Jerry_Lippey]

We're only looking for a phone number!

There's one in the picture of a previous message: 866-740-1256

Consulting some old notes now: I see that when I needed a product key some years ago (in a situation similar to yours), I called the activation people at 888-571-2048, who referred me to some customer-support person at 800-642-7676, who referred me to a personal-support person at 800-936-5700, who turned me over to somebody in India, who requested a product key from somebody else. Walla, I had my key.

That should get you started.

[cpm545]

I need to talk to the people at Toshiba in order to obtain a new product code, not Microsoft. I am on a preactivated Windows machine, not an OEM machine. (My mistake) That is why I did not get a phone number in the activation menu. What number do I call to reach someone at Toshiba who can give me a new activation code ? Or can I get one through these forums somehow?

Also, all those numbers you gave me were for Windows XP, not Windows Vista.

[Jerry_Lippey]

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I need to talk to the people at Toshiba in order to obtain a new product code, not Microsoft.

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Good luck!

Your only contact at Toshiba is tech support at 800-457-7777.

They will advise you to restore the hard disk to its original out-of-the-box contents using Toshiba recovery media. And that is the correct answer. It works. But it requires you to start from scratch.

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all those numbers you gave me were for Windows XP, not Windows Vista.

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Not so.

That's how I got a new product code for a Lenovo laptop on which I had restored another laptop's preinstalled Windows Vista. Since we had paid for the same version (Windows Vista Ultimate) on each computer, Microsoft agreed to activate the second machine with a new code.

I have nothing more to offer here...