Vista Boot - Access reduced/Type a different key

**Krammig** · 03-16-11 at 05:51 PM

Thanks for reading. I had to do a Repair on a DELL version of Vista Ultimate. Now I cannot get past the Welcome screen as immediately after that I get a Windows Activation message giving me three options, Buy a key online, Type a different key, Contact Dell.

I tried a couple of activation items found here but I cannot get to a point of being able to run them. Any help appreciated. Thanks

**cazmajor** · 03-16-11 at 06:36 PM

have you tried safe mode?

**Gogomonkeygo** · 03-16-11 at 06:41 PM

You could call dell. If you don't have anything worth saving then try a restore instead of repair.

**Krammig** · 03-16-11 at 06:43 PM

:) thanks cazmajor, actually just trying it now after I copied the various activation files across in XP dual boot mode. I did previously try Windows Vista Tool Kit 2.1 but just couldn't work out what to do with it - way too many buttons for an old bloke like me. I'll update here after I retry in safe mode.

**Krammig** · 03-16-11 at 06:47 PM

Thanks Gogo but I don't think Dell will want to hear from me

**Krammig** · 03-16-11 at 07:28 PM

Well... I am able to run a few of the activation apps, but they all seem to crash with slmgr.vbs access denied.

I have taken ownership, and also set security to all allowed but still no luck. Any thoughts please ? thanks

**Krammig** · 03-16-11 at 08:25 PM

Success.

I'm not entirely sure what I've done to get here but the following is some info that might help.

Firstly I found and followed this info,

Code: Select All

http://www.zimbio.com/Windows+Vista/articles/37/How+Recover+Reduced+Functionality+Mode+RFM

Then I restarted, and this time I Retyped the serial number I had.

Rebooted, and all was fine.

Perhaps this might help someone else at some stage.

03-16-11 at 06:43 PM	#4
Krammig Novice Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 153	:) thanks cazmajor, actually just trying it now after I copied the various activation files across in XP dual boot mode. I did previously try Windows Vista Tool Kit 2.1 but just couldn't work out what to do with it - way too many buttons for an old bloke like me. I'll update here after I retry in safe mode. Last edited by Krammig; 03-16-11 at 06:47 PM.

03-16-11 at 08:25 PM	#7
Krammig Novice Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 153	Success. I'm not entirely sure what I've done to get here but the following is some info that might help. Firstly I found and followed this info, Code: Select All http://www.zimbio.com/Windows+Vista/articles/37/How+Recover+Reduced+Functionality+Mode+RFM Then I restarted, and this time I Retyped the serial number I had. Rebooted, and all was fine. Perhaps this might help someone else at some stage.

03-16-11 at 06:36 PM	#2
cazmajor Elite Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,648	have you tried safe mode?

03-16-11 at 06:41 PM	#3
Gogomonkeygo LargeHard Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe Posts: 895	You could call dell. If you don't have anything worth saving then try a restore instead of repair.

03-16-11 at 06:47 PM	#5
Krammig Novice Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 153	Thanks Gogo but I don't think Dell will want to hear from me

03-16-11 at 07:28 PM	#6
Krammig Novice Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 153	Well... I am able to run a few of the activation apps, but they all seem to crash with slmgr.vbs access denied. I have taken ownership, and also set security to all allowed but still no luck. Any thoughts please ? thanks