Help

I bought a new laptop and it has vista basic on it, problem is i cant acces anything other than internet explorer because it says my copy is not genuine even though i bought it from the store, and the authentication code it came with doesn't work... Can anyone help, I can't put another operating system on their because it can't boot the disc unless vista somehow gets working... None the less can anyone help me?

Dr Doak, why are you never in the right place when I'm going for invincibility?

Anyhow, have you tried simply reinstalling your copy of Vista? I don't know if you can actually call Microsoft and explain the situation, but it would be helpful. Does this error occur when trying to register?

~ Adhamh.

What error do you get when you try to activate it online?

Also, try activating it over the phone, the number should be listed somewhere.

Tried both But problem is vista came in the harddisk so I can't boot it and reformat it there, I've tried with microsoft but they can't give me any help other than BUY VISTA which I don't want to do because I already have it. Instead i want to format my harddrive and then boot ubuntu on my laptop. can anyone help me with formatting, currently the only way i can use any of my vista programs other than internet explorer is in safe mode.

Go back to the Store you bought it from and ask for a new copy saying that this ones authentication code did not work? I did that with my WoW CD set and it worked like a charm.

problem is I can't just waltz back to america. I need to format the system drive so i can boot ubuntu, because for some reason in my boot menu it won't allow me to boot from disk, any reason why this might be?

Edit: Never mind in my boot settings I had to change the value of the diskboot to the first. Everything's fine now. feel free to lock the thread.

Ah yes, the ever-stupid "We don't need CDs, we'll put it all on the harddisk."

However, unless you got an OEM version installed on your PC Microsoft is, in fact, required to provide tech support for you.

Call the place you bought it from, complain, tell 'em that if they don't send you a CD you'll call the Better Business Bureau on them, or whatever, but you shouldn't be stuck shelling out $100+ for a non-working piece of software.

True enough, I do feel a bit peeved about it, but as it stands now I have linux on there and it works fine enough, but I will consider getting on to them.