Notebooks & Netbooks

[sid01]

Rebuilding an ACER Aspire with a new drive, but after the install, the OS will not accept the product key.

"There is a problem with this key ..."

How do get a valid key for this install ?  Acer support states that this snid is out of warranty.

Any help is appreciated.

[mazen]

what windows did you installed, and how.

[Vince53]

Sid, you're not going to like this. If you are using the original Windows key, then Microsoft insists that that key is still in use on your original computer. Since you rebuilt the computer, your Windows DVD (or thumb drive) believes that it is a different machine. Unfortunately, it IS a different machine.

It can be done and it has been done, but convincing Windows that a new hard drive is not a new computer is a difficult task. SOMETIMES you can explain it to Microsoft over the phone, and they will make it possible to transfer your OS to your rebuilt machine.

[padgett]

Try running slui.exe 4 and follow the instructions to get a phone number to call for help. Microsoft can give you a new code that will work. (Whether they will is a different matter). Can't lose though.

[Vince53]

Good Heavens, Padgett. I thought you were out of your mind. But running slui.eve 4 really does work. How long has Microsoft been keeping this a secret?