56. Activate Windows Vista
A pre-requisite of Windows Vista is that, once
installed, you are required to Activate your copy.
You have 30 days in which to do this. Failure to
Activate your copy of Windows will result, after the
30 day period, of either reduced functionality or no
access at all to Vista.
Activation is straightforward and takes very
little time. You can activate either over the
Internet or by Telephone. If you choose to activate
by telephone the number you have to call will be
displayed as you go through the activation process.
Windows Vista has an option to activate as soon
as you connect to the Internet after installation.
You can prevent this from happening by removing the
check mark from the 'automatically activate windows
when I'm online' option on the screen where you
input your Windows Vista product code number during
installation.
It is always wise to leave a short period of time
- a week or so - before you actually activate in
order to make sure that your system is running as it
should be.
Windows Vista will automatically remind you of
the need to activate by displaying an activation
icon in the notification area.
Once you are satisfied that everything is working
Okay then you can activate your copy as follows:
1/ Click the Start button.
2/ On the Start menu, Click the
Control Panel option.
3/ In Control Panel, Click on
the System Icon.
4/ In the System Window look
near the bottom of the window and you should see an
Activation button.
5/ Click on the Activation
button to start the activation process.