Windows Vista 64 Deactivated For The Second Time
Microsoft, you really need to get a clue here. You’re alienating your core user base.
I purchased a new Lenovo T61p a few moths ago with Vista Ultimate. Of course, the machine came with 4GB of RAM, but Vista 32, so I could only use 3GB of RAM. I called Microsoft to ask how to switch to 64 bit, and they told me to call Lenovo, who told me to call Microsoft. Argh. Microsoft was kind enough to inform me that the Vista 32 license could be used with Vista 64, but I had to either purchase a Vista 64 disk from the store at $300+, or borrow one from a neighbor. Yes, that’s right, Microsoft was telling me to use my neighbors software.
I found a great forum post stating that I could just purchase a Vista Anytime Upgrade DVD ($5 from Amazon) and use it to install Vista 64 on my computer using my existing OEM key. I installed the new OS on the machine and that went without a hitch. I then entered the OEM key which didn’t work (as expected), and called into the product activation center to activate my OEM key for use with Vista 64. I spoke with someone who was very nice but had a horrible accent and my copy of Vista was activated in about 5 minutes. Perfect.
Lenovo has an automated software and driver updater called the ThinkPad System Update. That pulled down all kinds of new drivers and my machine was running at 100% for a month or two. Then it pulled down a new driver called the Intel Storage Matrix Driver that is newer hard drive controller drivers. They installed fine, but when Windows came up after the reboot, it had deactivated itself and I had to call back in to the activation center once more.
Just now, a new version of the Intel Storage Matrix Driver was released and I installed it. Once again, Windows is telling me that my copy of Vista is not activated. I had to call back in to the activation center yet again.
Microsoft, you really need to read this. I’m a long-time Windows user. I don’t copy your software. Your software has now come up on my machine TWICE and insinuated that I’m a criminal. I do not appreciate it. It makes me want to go get the Vista hack and turn off that damn activation window so I don’t have to waste my time repeating myself over and over.
Microsoft, you should also know that I have successfully installed Ubuntu on my T61p, and besides a few minor tweaks, the system came up and ran beautifully. And not once did it ask for activation.