Clean Vista install WITH NO ACTIVATION

[mrcreativity]

The sizes are different but the checksum check out and they work fine.

[Pogster]

i do have the right sizes, i was being stupid and not looking at properties.

[orev]

The sizes are different but the checksum check out and they work fine.

If the size is different but the checksums* are the same, then your checksum program is broken.

* assuming you mean md5 or sha1

[RobertDrake]

FYI: Activation with ABR did NOT work for me on my Acer Aspire 5100 when moving from 32-bit to 64-bit. ABR went through the motions, but it won't activate. Tried using the key and it would have required a call to MS, and since I wasn't sure 64-bit would work for me anyway, I'm now trying the 32-bit version. Using the Anytime Upgrade Disks.

[orev]

FYI: Activation with ABR did NOT work for me on my Acer Aspire 5100 when moving from 32-bit to 64-bit. ABR went through the motions, but it won't activate. Tried using the key and it would have required a call to MS, and since I wasn't sure 64-bit would work for me anyway, I'm now trying the 32-bit version. Using the Anytime Upgrade Disks.

When you did the ABR backup, did it create 2 files? Did they both have something in them? When you installed, did you type in a key, or did you leave it blank? Did you select the same Vista version (Home premium, ultimate) that you had originally installed?

[RobertDrake]

[QUOTE=orev;3125881]When you did the ABR backup, did it create 2 files?[quote]

Yes. "backup-cert" and "backup-key"

Did they both have something in them?

"key" does. "cert" gives me "The XML page cannot be displayed".

When you installed, did you type in a key, or did you leave it blank?

Left it blank.

Did you select the same Vista version (Home premium, ultimate) that you had originally installed?

Yes.

BTW, just tried the 32-bit version, same result. Now to do a restore.

[orev]

You can open the backup-cert file by right-clicking and opening in notepad. IE won't be able to open it (that's the default).

A few things I can think of:

• It won't work in a virtualized environment, like vmware.
• You must have had Vista installed from the factory by a big OEM. If you installed it yourself, you won't be able to use ABR. Also, if you bought it from a computer shop where they installed it themselves, then it probably won't work either.

[RobertDrake]

You can open the backup-cert file by right-clicking and opening in notepad. IE won't be able to open it (that's the default).

A few things I can think of:

• It won't work in a virtualized environment, like vmware.
• You must have had Vista installed from the factory by a big OEM. If you installed it yourself, you won't be able to use ABR. Also, if you bought it from a computer shop where they installed it themselves, then it probably won't work either.

The file would open in notepad. I got the computer from Walmart. I'd think the OS was installed by Acer..though there were dates for files on the computer later than the original install. I figured that Acer took notebooks and updated files before sending them out.

[orev]

It would or would NOT open in notepad? If it did, you should have seen a bunch of XML in it. It's possible that it is not a true OEM (SLP) installation. That could be why it's not working.

[RobertDrake]

It would or would NOT open in notepad? If it did, you should have seen a bunch of XML in it. It's possible that it is not a true OEM (SLP) installation. That could be why it's not working.

I don't know what a "xml" is, but I did see a lot of stuff in written english and characters.

Okay, tried doing the Acer Restore DVD disks thing, and it keep the Vista I just installed, but added some Acer files. Tried the Alt+f10 thing too and it wouldn't even work. Still not registered.