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Bl**dy Dell, bl**dy Microsoft!




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  #1  
Old 4th Aug 2008, 13:00
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My daughter bought a Dell XPS about 2 months ago with Vista Home Premium on it.

This evening when it started up it produced the famous box saying the product key is invalid, and giving a few options. It rejects the key printed on the CoA on the back and Dell has a 30 minute wait on its premium line, at 5p a minute.
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  #2  
Old 4th Aug 2008, 13:04
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Have you tried calling the microsoft support line?
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  #3  
Old 4th Aug 2008, 13:05
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You can do online chat for free. Go here, enter the Service Tag and click Submit.

I've chatted with them a few times, they're OK most of the time.
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  #4  
Old 4th Aug 2008, 14:14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by evilfantasy View Post
You can do online chat for free. Go here, enter the Service Tag and click Submit.

I've chatted with them a few times, they're OK most of the time.
She says everyone is busy!
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  #5  
Old 4th Aug 2008, 14:27
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Figures lol. I can't remember what it was I called for but do remember they were pretty quick to resolve the question. Might be worth the wait.....
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  #6  
Old 4th Aug 2008, 14:32
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yea, afterall the cost of the phoneline isn't that bad, at 5P a min, even if you do need to wait for 30 mins, that's still only £1.50
  #7  
Old 4th Aug 2008, 15:28
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Mike .... try rebooting the Laptop a few times .... with a bit of luck, on reboot it will give you some options, such as Activate by phone .... if you then phone the number quoted and provide the product key, they will call you back some numbers to input, which will reactivate it. It may need a further reboot after the input.
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  #8  
Old 4th Aug 2008, 15:29
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thingie2 View Post
yea, afterall the cost of the phoneline isn't that bad, at 5P a min, even if you do need to wait for 30 mins, that's still only £1.50
and at the end of that all they had to offer was reinstall Windoze, which I could have done anyway!

Vista validation requires activation (which it has been, but claims not to be)
Activation requires access to the initial activation screen (which never appears)
Running an upgrade installation is disabled on booting from the CD
Running a CD in Windoze is disabled, you can only browse the internet

Sheesh!

Linux FTW!

She asked Dell how she was to save her files before reinstalling and drew a blank. Linux?
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  #9  
Old 4th Aug 2008, 15:32
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Quote:
Originally Posted by philthomas View Post
Mike .... try rebooting the Laptop a few times .... with a bit of luck, on reboot it will give you some options, such as Activate by phone .... if you then phone the number quoted and provide the product key, they will call you back some numbers to input, which will reactivate it. It may need a further reboot after the input.
It does give the option to activate by phone, but the instructions say to click the activation icon in the system tray, etc. Now given that it runs in a "limited" mode without a system tray, indeed without a task bar or start menu, that would be a miraculous accomplishment!

Oh, and the M$ support line closed at 6pm!

Anyway, she has stomped off upstairs now and slammed her door!
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  #10  
Old 4th Aug 2008, 16:06
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LOL .... that's kids for you.

When she calms down and lets you near it again, try this page.
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