[SOLVED] Cannot activate Windows Vista with supplied key, error: 0x80072f8f

[pointtopoint]

I have a second-hand PC that came with Vista. I've wiped the hard disk to make a fresh install. On attempting to activate this fresh install using the key supplied on the sticker on the machine, I get a message saying that activation failed 0x80072f8f.

I can see this is commonly a feature of the date and time being set wrong on the machine. I've synchronised them with an Internet server, and adjusted for daylight savings time. I still get the same result.

Is there a best method of making a fresh install of Vista on an old machine that can avoid this problem? Thanks.

 

[USAFRet]

I have a second-hand PC that came with Vista. I've wiped the hard disk to make a fresh install. On attempting to activate this fresh install using the key supplied on the sticker on the machine, I get a message saying that activation failed 0x80072f8f.

I can see this is commonly a feature of the date and time being set wrong on the machine. I've synchronised them with an Internet server, and adjusted for daylight savings time. I still get the same result.

Is there a best method of making a fresh install of Vista on an old machine that can avoid this problem? Thanks.

There is no magic.

Either the date/time is wrong, or possibly the seller has used that Vista license elsewhere.
The only entities that can fix this is the seller or Microsoft.

 

[Bazzy 505]

this is a common problem with vista activation, and has been for over a year. The only solution is to activate via phone. See below for step by step

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...-license/323c2a5a-96ad-4360-abad-9ef5c41bcbb4