A pre-installed OEM version of Vista is asking for activation. What to do?

Question

Last Christmas I purchased a Compaq pre installed with Windows Vista Home Premium. The product key itself contains OEM and has presumably been activated during manufacture. I understand that large hardware changes to the system can cause it to ask for activation but I have not made any changes to the computer which could result in this. I can't get access to the Compaq UK website to email them as it just says Bad Request (Invalid Hostname).

Obviously I want to continue using my computer without restoring the system or purchasing a key which I shouldn't have to purchase.

Should I continue trying the website until I can email them or is there something else I can do?

Feedback and your thoughts on this are welcome.

Answer 1

1/ start menu

2/ right click computer

3/ properties

4/ scroll to the bottom and wait for the information to load

5/ click 'Activate windows online'

6/ enter the product key which you will find on a label on your computer on a silk label like the man above said.

NOTE if you want to re-install windows, search for a file called sysprep, double click it to open and double click to run,  

Answer 2

Theres a sticker on the case, 25 digit/code, use that to activate  

Answer 3

The product key is on silk label on your computer..and secondly have you created your own recovery disc to re-install vista incase it crashes

Answer 4

The key should be somewhere on the license info -  a manual/guarantee or DVD/CD you received.  Failing that it might be on your order receipt, or contact Compaq help desk - if you can quote a purchase number.

If you can't find this, there are plenty of sources of Vista keys - it's perhaps too obvious to say where you'll find them.