When you try to install Windows Vista, the Windows Vista Setup program does not validate genuine product keys as expected. Additionally, you may receive an error message that resembles the following:

Setup cannot validate your product key. Please review product key and ensure that it has been entered correctly.

This problem occurs when you use a third-party program to extract an ISO image of Windows Vista onto a local hard disk drive.

Notes

• The WinRAR data compression utility is an example of a third-party program that experiences this problem.
• This problem does not occur when you perform either of the following actions:
  • You burn an ISO image of Windows Vista onto a DVD.
  • You use a third-party program to mount an ISO image of Windows Vista on a virtual DVD drive.

After you enter the product key and then click Next in the Windows Vista Setup Wizard, you may experience a long delay. This delay lasts about 20 to 60 seconds.

When you try to perform a Windows Anytime Upgrade (WAU) upgrade by using the WAU product key on a Windows Vista-based computer, you receive an error message that resembles the following:

The product key you entered cannot be used when installation is started from this edition of Windows.

Apparently people are posting pictures of their Vista materials in E-Bay ads, materials that show product keys which anyone could then use. I browsed a bit and saw a few, but they were to small for me to read the code. Keep reading →

Apparently this method of getting around Microsoft’s licensing is working. How will Microsoft respond and try to stop it? Keep reading →