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General discussion

Installation of an incompatible wireless mouse driver:

Jul 1, 2007 9:24AM PDT

We got a Dell Inspiron E1710 laptop for my FIL(from the U.S and he is in India) with an express upgrade to Window vista home premium(bought it a month before vista was sold). It came with Media center XP installed and once the computer was upgraded to vista, the vista update assistant suggested deleting incompatible drivers and FIL has deleted it. So, the wireless mouse was not working but the computer was working just fine.
He didn't tell me all the details and when he asked me to fix the mouse, I immediately installed the driver software just to see what happened. Now, it takes me to activation of Windows vista and it asks me for the key and when I type in XP key or computer's product key, it doesn't activate it. Since it is an upgrade, I don't know what else to type in. The computer doesn't let me do anything at all other than taking me to microsoft's website to buy the key.Is there any way I can get to the device manager and delete the mouse driver? I can buy a new top of the line mouse instead of buying windows vista again. FIL is going to give me a hard time if I don't fix it. I am not extremely tech savvy when it comes to things like this. Please help me!

Discussion is locked

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forgot to mention that it is a bluetooth wireless mouse!
Jul 1, 2007 9:36AM PDT

Please see my subject line!

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Try getting into the safe mode
Jul 1, 2007 9:52AM PDT

and do a system restore.

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How do I do a system restore in safe mode?
Jul 1, 2007 11:27AM PDT

I just want to make sure how to go to restore in safe mode. I know that you go to safe mode by pressing F2. I have never tried system restore in Windows vista.
Thank you so much in advance.

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Through the Control Panel, but...
Jul 1, 2007 2:03PM PDT

From what you're describing, only being able to go online to purchase a key, System Restore will be of no help. It sounds like Vista's anti-piracy feature has been triggered, which locks down everything, including System Restore. Since Dell didn't give you a Vista product key and your XP key doesn't work you only have two options:
1.) Call Dell and have them sort it out, giving you a Vista product key to enter after you verify ownership of the computer.
2.) Reformat the hard drive and start from scratch, reinstalling Windows XP MCE from the CDs (if you have them). You could then re-upgrade to Vista, though the same situation would likely ultimately occur if you upgraded.

Best of luck.
John

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Thanks all!
Jul 4, 2007 8:15PM PDT

I called to activate online and they were able to give me ID and then it works fine now.
Thanks