After installing the game and playing for a while a message from Windows Vista popped up minimzing the game in the course of action. The message that appeared told her that her copy of Windows Vista was not genuine. She tried to reactivate the operating system but it would fail although she would supply the correct key that was accepted before.

After uninstalling the 9 Dragons game the activation was again accepted and Windows Vista was activated again.

If this story really holds true it is a remarkable one. Why on earth would Windows Vista revoke the activation – this would be the main questions that would have to be answered.

This pretty looks like a way for Microsoft to revoke the activation on systems that run known pirated keys or install software that would probably try to interfere with Windows Vista core processes.

Once you try to login an error message should appear explaining that Windows can’t be started before it is activated. Click Yes on that screen which opens up a Lets activate window. Press Windows + U and click on the computer icon on the left corner of the new window. Select About Narrator in the drop down menu which opens some information about this function and a link that is called Microsoft Web Site.

Clicking that link opens the Internet Explorer and you can surf the web as usual to find information about the problem. Instead of opening a url you can also use the Internet Explorer to display folders on your operating system, et voila, you can access the internet and your files on a locked Windows system.

This is of course only a temporary solution, you will need to find a way to activate your windows system. A better way for situations like these would be to have a linux live cd handy which could be used to access the internet and your files.

You can alternatively try the rearm command to extend the activation period. Check out Extend the Vista activation period for instance to find out how to do that under Windows Vista. Similar options are available for users running Windows 7 or even newer operating systems than that.

The method basically resets the activation timer so that you start again at day 0 of registration. You cannot repeat the process indefinitely though.

The KMS works as a activation hub for all computers connected to it which means that all Vista editions can be activated at once using the server. To counter abuse the activation is only valid for 180 days and everything needs to be re-activated in that period. The software, scheduled for release next year, apparently got into wrong hands and “pirates” were able to tweak the Key Management Service that way that it would activate the Vista edition without connecting to the Microsoft Activation server at all.

Everything a Pirate needs is now available freely, though illegally, on the internet. You may download a full retail version of Windows Vista with some CD keys and you may download the Key Management Service to activate the edition without Microsoft ever knowing.

This will only work with Business and Enterprise editions and the time limit is still active. I personally think that it is only a matter of time until those nasty “pirates” create a version that activates Vista completely. Another drawback is that you will still be subject to WGA checks if you use services such as Windows Update to update your operating system. Again, only a matter of time for this as well.

Will Vista be less copied than XP ? I don’t think so. Sure activation and WGA could make this happen but it seems that the “pirates” are on step ahead, again.

Now as I said earlier there is a way to reinstall Windows XP without having to activate the product again. Windows XP creates two files when the activation process was successful: wpa.dbl and Wpa.bak – those two files are normally located in your system32 folder of your windows installation. You need to back them up because they hold the information that Windows is already active.

Install Windows XP again or use a backup. After that is finished and you see that Windows is not activated start Windows in minimal safe mode. Navigate to the system32 directory and rename the files wpa.dbl and Wpa.bak to something else, for example wpa2.dbl and Wpa2.bak.

Now copy your backed up wpa.dbl and Wpa.bak into the folder, reboot windows and you will realize that Windows is again activated. This only works of course if you do not change relevant hardware like the motherboard for instance. If that is the case you will have to activate Windows again.

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