This is my second try at this,because my first letter disappear, this has happen before. I wonder why? I need to put my product key number into my computer to activation my windows vista but it keeps telling me that is wrong.It is on the back of the computer. Could someone please explain this to me?

seems you are being hacked...what program is asking for the product key? does it happen immediately when you turn your computer on, or when you go online?

Have your Anti Virus do a "Boot scan" of your computer. It will have to shut down and as it restarts it scans your computer before your system has a chance of restarting the file responsible and "locking" itself in so you cannot remove it.


Also go to CNet.com and download the free version of Malwarebytes. Run a scan with that too. Another thing you should also try first is to update or see if any updates are available because sometimes there are glitches in an OS that an Update will cure. Another software you might (I recommend) you use is Piriform's CCleaner. It also is free and helps get junk out of your system. Do make sure you are sure of the settings before you tell it to clean if you have saved passwords. CCleaner will purge everything if you tell it to! It gets rid of the temporary folders that get enormous and also index.dat files that also get huge.

That should help get things fixed!

WHAT is on the back of the computer? Is it something you put there? Has it just appeared recently? Is it a device of some sort? You could have a keylogger, but those usually don't announce their presence - they just collect keystrokes until whoever installed it comes to get it and read the information it gathered about you.

My Computer was acting up in May.So my son's girlfriend ran Upgrade your Windows Vista Software that came with the computer in 2007 and Since then it tells me that it is not the right one,to use the solution center disk,also to re-installation package, for the product solution center can't be found. I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE I DO NOT NOT. Also It tells me that I need to put my product key number into the computer to activation my windows vista,that it has to be done before 30 days is up. The number is already on the back of the computer,so how can it will wrong,they put it there. I have 2 disc that came with the computer. [Microsoft Upgrade your Windows Vista] and [ emachines-Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic 32-Bit/ Operating System Disc]

The product key is only for the vista os. If you are trying to run a specific program, some programs (which came with your computer, when new) may have expired, in which case, you'll have to purchase the product key from microsoft. Which program are you attempting to run?

*edit..

Some trial versions come with your pc, like photo shop or some other programs. That version only lasts for a predetermined time. Once those expire, then you have to purchase them. Upon purchasing, you will be given a product key #

If this is the case, (and i suspect it is) those reminders should be popping up on your screen when you attempt to access the program.

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP,MAYBE I SHOULD JUST TAKE IT TO A SHOP,BEFORE I REALLY MESS IT UP OR BUY A NEW ONE. ONE MORE THING,CAN I RESET EVERYTHING BACK TO WHEN I FIRST GOT MY COMPUTER AND START OVER??

wish i could help ya, but maybe upgrade to win 7? vista sucks in all of its forms...

Windows Vista is pure evil. So evil it's pronounced eveel...

Shop is going to charge you a lot for something that is more than likely fairly simple. Are you getting the license key for Vista itself, or a third party program such as Microsoft Office? If the upgrade is legal and not a Black version the key should be located on the back of the PC, if this does not work and you do have a legal version that you purchased contact Microsoft either through e-mail or by phone and see if they can advise as to what you should do next.

You might get Bob, he is from India but his English skills are top-notch...or you could possibly get Tom, who is also from India, and he can't talk worth a damn.

IT DID IT AGAIN,MY MESSAGE DISAPPEAR.LET'S TRY ONCE MORE. I THINK I'LL CALL MICROSOFT OR AOL SUPPORT TOMORROW. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP,THEY WILL GO IN MY NOTEBOOK,FOR NEXT TIME. YOU WOULD THINK AFTER 3-YEARS,I WOULD LEARN SOMETHING.

And we still don't have an idea of what is wrong.

Honestly you are not explaining yourself very well

you have not answered some key questions ...

like what is the key you are being asked for ...

windows vist ... or some other program like MS Office ...

Microsoft has stopped doing upgrades for Vista if SP1 is not installed so if you reinstalled the old Vista ... you now need to install the Service Packs .



And ... what the heck would ... AOL ... have to do with any of it?

Yes you can. I had to do that the other day. Just click the windows icon in lower left corner. Type in restore. Then. Chose to restore back to factory settings. It will take you all the back to when you first brought the computer home. From ground 0. Mike

What this sounds like to me:

1. your computer (e-machine) came with windows vista - and you used a product key to activate it (or they did). This would be a full "OEM" version of vista... you typed in the product key that came with your computer - and the people that sold it to you put the key on the back of the computer.

2. along came your son's girlfriend who brought over her "upgrade your windows vista" CD with her (this would be a retail or consumer version), when she ran the upgrade it is now asking for an upgrade key... OEM and Retail keys will be different, as is the contents of the CD. Hence, the key is not valid (it's the wrong type - you are usging an OEM key with a retail DVD)...

3. "Can I just go back to the beginning". You can format your disk, and use your ORIGINAL OEM DVD, with the ORIGINAL OEM Key -- up to 3 times I believe, before microsoft will "block" the online registration verification.

I am a Mac/Linux guy - but this is my basic understanding of microsoft licensing. I believe you can call microsoft for help on this as well... I hope this helps, good luck to you...

$.02

Go to System Tools then click on System Restore

Your computer came with a sticker on the back, which was the original
key code for the version of Windows that came with your computer pre-installed.

If you chose to do the simple Windows upgrade which comes with some systems already pre-installed with older versions of Windows, then you should have received a NEW KEY in your email directly from Microsoft after you upgraded.

So now that you have your upgraded Windows but no key, you either need to get the key that was emailed to you OR restore your computer to the old version that came pre-installed on your PC.

If you did upgrade from a CD, then that was a big mistake unless you purchased the CD for your own use. 1 CD 1 key code per computer. You can't share with others. So if thats what you did, your screwed. Nothing you can do but restore it to the preinstalled version.

Older versions of Windows such as Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows ME, didn't require you to activate the operating system after installing. Those are the versions of Windows that can be shared, even though your not actually suppose to.

System Restore or a Restore CD that came with your computer, will fix all of your problems.

FIRST OF ALL THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP. I KNOW THAT I REALLY DIDN'T EXPLAIN IT RIGHT[ Sorry Thorb] I DID THE BEST I COULD. ANYWAY,TO UPGRADE TO WINDOWS 7, WILL COST $ 200.00 SO WITH DAD'S HELP, I'M GOING TO GET A NEW COMPUTER AND HOPELY I'LL LEARN TO WORK IT RIGHT. ONCE AGAIN THANKS EVERYONE.. PS. Sorry to say this but I'll be back.