I bought an Acer Aspire desktop with 32 bit vista home premium preinstalled. After having "windows explorer is not working, searching for a solution" popup problems, I reinstalled using the vista home premium upgrade disc that came with the computer. (Why was the upgrade disc the same as the install?). I now have a 30 day activation deadline with no key on the upgrade disc. I used Magic Jelly Bean
to find the product key but it doesn't work. What happens after 30 days? Will it revert back to the preinstalled settings? This computer has been nothing but an aggravation since I got it. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks.

Welcome to PCHF Jammen

Well vista is an annoying Operating System.Unlike past operating systems once the key is used it cant be reused.Id suggest calling microsoft up and explaining your situation.They should give you a new key.

AMD

HI jammen, welcome to PCHF

As AMD said the best thing to do would be to give Microsoft a call. Afraid activation problems can only be solved by Microsoft most of the time.

Upgrader

I would give microsoft a call. You can also go to your computer providers website and get the key from them, if you have a dell like me it will get your operating disk cd for you, there are other ways to do this, there should be a key file somewhere on your disk. Main point is- if you call microsoft they have to give it to you.

Hi this may help you You may be prompted to activate Windows Vista on a computer on which Windows Vista was already activated by a Volume License or OEM installation have a read some patches there

Suggest you click on this link What's inside your PC? and download the free audit.
If you have a key in your computer the audit will tell you.