New PC, new OS—the OEM version of Windows Vista requests you every now and then to activate Windows. But it has already been done.

This behavior is the result of the following: when a program with
administrator rights removes a certain system setting,
the BIOS validity test fails
and Windows needs the license to be activated again.



Microsoft has rectiied this error and offers an update. This can be downloaded from
www.microsoft.com/downloads/’. Search for ‘KB931573’ on the site, change the language to ‘English’ on
the relevant page and click on ‘Download’. Install the update and restart the computer. If the problem has occurred and if you have used the product key for manual activation,
you cannot get away without reactivating Windows Vista via telephone.