After you install Windows Vista Service Pack 1, you may be prompted to activate your copy of Windows Vista. You may be prompted to do this even if the computer was previously designated as "Genuine and Activated."
Additionally, the
Vista System Properties dialog box may indicate that your copy of Windows Vista is not activated.
Back to the top
Cause 1: Changes to hardware or to hardware device drivers are detected
Part of the Windows Genuine process requires that you reactivate your computer when certain hardware is changed or when certain hardware device drivers are changed. Windows Vista Service Pack 1 may update some installed device drivers. Therefore, you may be prompted to activate Windows Vista again.
Back to the top
Cause 2: The copy of Windows Vista that is installed on your computer was not activated
Before you installed the service pack, an activation exploit may have been installed on your computer. This activation exploit may have been created to circumvent the Windows Vista activation process. This kind of exploit can cause extreme alterations to important system components in Windows Vista and can affect system stability. Windows Vista SP1 addresses exploits that are created to circumvent the activation process. Windows Vista SP1 also includes updates that targets and disables these exploits.
Note For more information about how to determine whether a copy of Windows Vista is genuine, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
Back to the top
To resolve this behavior, use one of the following methods.
Back to the top
Resolution for Cause 1
Activate your copy of Windows Vista again.
For more information about how to activate Windows Vista, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
940315 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940315/)
How to activate Windows Vista
Back to the top
Resolution for Cause 2
After you install the service pack on a Vista-based computer that is running this kind of exploit, the Vista activation process is reactivated. You may be prompted to activate Vista and to provide a current and valid Windows Vista license key.
Back to the top
