I believe that the unstated part of the problem lies with the Vista copy
used to do the reinstall with.
HP currently puts an image on the HD, not on CD/DVD, and wants extra $$ for
a reinstall/restore CD.
To add insult to injury, the "build a copy" utility furnished by HP is a one
time use only utility.
"Richard G. Harper" <rgharper@email.com> wrote in message
news:C5EE109B-E60D-461F-AC26-585D8EE61F73@microsoft.com...
> If you bought your copy of Vista from HP, they need to provide the support
> you need as this is a term of the OEM license they sold it to you under.
>
> --
> Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] rgharper@gmail.com
> * NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
> * PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
> * The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
>
>
> "Raith" <Raith@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:7DCA8154-6442-40D2-B23F-081A57D58AB9@microsoft.com...
> >I need help concerning a "real" Vista account. When I first used Vista,
in
> > February '07, my internet wouldn't work because of my wireless cards
> > compatability problems. Subsequently I switched back to XP. When I
> > installed
> > Vista again however, my product key wouldn't work that I got from HP. HP
> > couldn't help me, and instead tried to sell me another copy, plus
because
> > of
> > MS's $59 help fee, I couldn't contact them. Sadly because of this I am
now
> > running the Grace Timer hack even though I own a legit copy of Vista.
Can
> > anyone help me towards getting a MS recognizable account?
>