Driver Update Can Cause Vista Deactivation

jmke · 24th October 2007, 13:55

After weeks of grueling troubleshooting, I've finally had it confirmed by Microsoft Australia and USA — something as small as swapping the video card or updating a device driver can trigger a total Vista deactivation. Put simply, your copy of Windows will stop working with very little notice (three days) and your PC will go into "reduced functionality" mode, where you can't do anything but use the web browser for half an hour.

http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/10/23/1255235

24th October 2007, 14:54

This looks/sounds exactly like what I had happen on my second Vista install. Except the OS wasn't actually "deactivated", it was just locked down like it was. Manually starting the failed-to-start software licensing service then slapping on all the patches seemed to fix it... I've not swapped GPU's since though, just drivers.

jmke · 24th October 2007, 14:56

I'm actually starting to think that having Vista on this Acer is a good thing... since I can't swap out hardware

Sidney · 24th October 2007, 15:27

Swapping memory several times; different size and brand, taken out HDD also, so far I did not have the problem.

24th October 2007, 15:41

I didn't have a problem the first time I installed Vista either, but then again I never activated to preserve the key. The only difference I can recall with the 2nd install was I did not input the product key at all, and after installing mainboard drivers/rebooting Vista claimed my time limit had expired. So I had to activate it... later I got this lockdown issue. Simply enough fix to just start the stopped service, but for those that don't know about it it can be a royal pain.

24th October 2007, 18:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmke

I'm actually starting to think that having Vista on this Acer is a good thing... since I can't swap out hardware

No activation needed if you have an OEM Vista

. Vista checks your bios if you have a OEM computer and then decides whether activation is needed or not. It's actualy pretty easy to fool Vista, there are some drivers around that let vista believe you have a OEM laptop that doesn't require activation

24th October 2007, 20:46

Last I heard that required some custom BIOS modifications... since I'm constantly updating and reseting the BIOS that's not something I want to hassle with. Much easier to pay $29 for Vista Ultimate 32-bit through my University, just wish it was 64bit. Or they would let me buy more than one.

jmke · 24th October 2007, 21:21

custom OEM bios is not hardware mod; it loads before the OS.

and 32 >> 64-bit for few more years for sure

24th October 2007, 13:55	#1
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,021	Driver Update Can Cause Vista Deactivation After weeks of grueling troubleshooting, I've finally had it confirmed by Microsoft Australia and USA — something as small as swapping the video card or updating a device driver can trigger a total Vista deactivation. Put simply, your copy of Windows will stop working with very little notice (three days) and your PC will go into "reduced functionality" mode, where you can't do anything but use the web browser for half an hour. http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/10/23/1255235 __________________

24th October 2007, 14:56	#3
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,021	I'm actually starting to think that having Vista on this Acer is a good thing... since I can't swap out hardware __________________

24th October 2007, 15:27	#4
Sidney Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 15,738	Swapping memory several times; different size and brand, taken out HDD also, so far I did not have the problem. __________________ lazyman Opteron 165 (2) @2.85 1.42 vcore AMD Stock HSF + Chill Vent II

24th October 2007, 21:21	#8
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,021	custom OEM bios is not hardware mod; it loads before the OS. and 32 >> 64-bit for few more years for sure __________________

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
AMD's ATI 10.3a Catalyst Driver Update	jmke	WebNews	1	17th March 2010 08:22
ATI Catalyst 9.7 vs 9.6 Vista Driver Performance Comparison	jmke	WebNews	0	27th July 2009 14:52
ATI Catalyst 9.4 Vista Driver Analysis	jmke	WebNews	0	13th April 2009 08:51
ATI Catalyst 9.3 Driver Performance Analysis - XP & Vista	jmke	WebNews	0	24th March 2009 16:07
Vista update KB940510 detects "bad" OS	jmke	WebNews	0	12th March 2008 10:34
Latest Vista Update Helps Keep Your Copy Genuine	jmke	WebNews	1	28th February 2008 08:21
Microsoft yanks Vista SP1 update causing endless reboots	jmke	WebNews	0	21st February 2008 09:09
ATI Driver Flaw Exposes Vista Kernel to Attackers	jmke	WebNews	0	10th August 2007 15:30
Nvidia to switch to monthly driver update schedule	jmke	WebNews	1	10th February 2007 00:51
NVIDIA & Vista Driver News	jmke	WebNews	0	26th January 2007 13:15

24th October 2007, 14:54	#2
Kougar Posts: n/a	This looks/sounds exactly like what I had happen on my second Vista install. Except the OS wasn't actually "deactivated", it was just locked down like it was. Manually starting the failed-to-start software licensing service then slapping on all the patches seemed to fix it... I've not swapped GPU's since though, just drivers.

24th October 2007, 15:41	#5
Kougar Posts: n/a	I didn't have a problem the first time I installed Vista either, but then again I never activated to preserve the key. The only difference I can recall with the 2nd install was I did not input the product key at all, and after installing mainboard drivers/rebooting Vista claimed my time limit had expired. So I had to activate it... later I got this lockdown issue. Simply enough fix to just start the stopped service, but for those that don't know about it it can be a royal pain.

24th October 2007, 20:46	#7
Kougar Posts: n/a	Last I heard that required some custom BIOS modifications... since I'm constantly updating and reseting the BIOS that's not something I want to hassle with. Much easier to pay $29 for Vista Ultimate 32-bit through my University, just wish it was 64bit. Or they would let me buy more than one.