@ Virge and Stash
thank you for your input. things are getting a little clearer
Not to argue, but I think we should differentiate here the dif between INSTALLING and ACTIVATING online or by phone.
Quote:
http://www.msbetas.org/?page=vistafaq
How do I install Vista?
Bundled with your copy of Vista should have come a .nfo file. Open this file with notepad. In this file you should find the key for your build, copy this onto your clipboard. Insert your Vista DVD (or mount the ISO). When given the option FRESH INSTALL, DO NOT UPGRADE. When prompted for the CD-Key, paste (Ctrl+V) your key. When prompted for the location to install to, make sure you install to a separate partition of at least 6GB+ in size. For more info on partitions, see the advanced section of FAQ. You can also install to a separate hard drive (once again, see the advanced section of FAQ).
What is this "Activation" thing?
Microsoft requires that you activate your copy of vista after 16 days use. This is to prevent piracy and illegal distribution of Vista. If you are using 5219 or above, the key you installed with is legitimate and you can thus activate your copy of Vista. That key has been blacklisted. Otherwise you must use antiwpa to continue using Vista. Msbetas does not advocate, support, or help distribute antiwpa cracks, and it is up to you to find one.
http://tinyurl.com/eevgg
Activation ? I think the servers are getting bombarded 24/7, because online activation failed repeatedly. I used the phone method which was simple and automated; took about 5 minutes. According to the Vista Beta email, the product key can be activated 10 times.
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Note that the ser can be activated ten times by ORIGINAL USER ONLY (AFAIK), since I know people who have tried to use other folks keys and they dont activate. I assume they use HW hash. And while I have never done it, I have seen posted that the activation string is 42 segments as opposed to 25 for serial key. But I need this verified, maybe it just activates with registry changes.
And also note that they say its to prevent piracy - but of what??? A buggy incomplete friggin beta??? Get my drift?
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Edit: See here on the VMWARE Vista page, there is a hardware sum that if changed causes reactivation alert EVEN on the virtual machine:
http://tinyurl.com/qdzae
Product Activation
The Windows Vista product activation feature creates a numerical key based on the virtual hardware in the virtual machine where it is installed. Changes in the configuration of the virtual machine might require you to reactivate the operating system. There are some steps you can take to minimize the number of significant changes.
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Set the final memory size for your virtual machine before you activate Windows Vista. When you cross certain thresholds?approximately 32MB, 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB and 1GB?the product activation feature sees the changes as significant.
Note
The size reported to the Windows product activation feature is slightly less than the actual amount configured for the virtual machine. For example, 128MB is interpreted as falling in the 64MB?127MB range.
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Install VMware Tools before you activate Windows Vista. When the SVGA driver in the VMware Tools package is installed, it activates features in the virtual graphics adapter that make it appear to Windows Vista as a new graphics adapter.
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If you want to experiment with any other aspects of the virtual machine configuration, do so before activating Windows Vista. Keep in mind that typically you have 14 days for experimentation before you have to activate the operating system. (Your EULA might define a different period before activation is required.)