Microsoft KB Archive/943991

= After you update a storage driver, you may be prompted to reactivate Windows Vista =

Article ID: 943991

Article Last Modified on 11/26/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Business 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Business N 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Home Basic N 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Enterprise
 * Windows Vista Business
 * Windows Vista Ultimate
 * Windows Vista Home Premium
 * Windows Vista Home Basic
 * Windows Vista Business N
 * Windows Vista Home Basic N
 * Windows Vista Starter

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SYMPTOMS
After you update a storage device driver on a computer that is running Windows Vista, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
 * You are prompted to reactivate Windows Vista.
 * You experience reduced functionality in some components, such as Windows Media Player or Windows Media Center.



CAUSE
After you update a storage driver and then restart the computer, the updated driver may present a changed logical hard disk drive signature to Windows Vista. This behavior causes Windows Vista to prompt for reactivation or to reduce functionality in components.

Note These symptoms may also occur if you replace hardware on the computer and if the hardware is significantly different from the original configuration. For example, these symptoms may occur if you change the motherboard on the computer.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue you must reactivate Windows Vista. Typically, you can use the method that you originally used to activate Windows Vista. For example, to reactivate Windows Vista on individual systems, you must use one of these methods:
 * Activate Windows Vista by using the Internet
 * Activate Windows Vista by using a telephone

For more information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

940315 How to activate Windows Vista

929712 Volume Activation information for Windows Vista

Windows Media Center-based computers
The prompt to reactivate Windows Vista may not appear on computers that are configured to autostart Windows Media Center at startup. However, Media Center will run in reduced functionality mode. Close the Windows Media Center program, and then reactivate Windows Vista as described previously. After activation, you can use Media Center in the usual manner.



MORE INFORMATION
For more information about Microsoft Product Activation, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/mpa.aspx



Technical support for Media Center
Because Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition was included with your hardware device or system, the hardware manufacturer provides technical support and assistance for this software. Your manufacturer may have customized the installation by using unique components such as specific device drivers and optional settings to maximize the performance of the hardware. If you require technical help with Windows XP Media Center Edition, contact your manufacturer directly because the manufacturer is best qualified to support the software that the manufacturer installed on the hardware.

You can also visit the Windows XP Media Center Edition product information Web site at the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/default.mspx

Keywords: kbtshoot kbstoragedev kbdriver kbactivation kbexpertisebeginner kbwinvistamediacenter KB943991

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