Halo On Windows Vista

So I installed the game and updated. When I run it asks to activate, I say yes, put the key in, and then it fails and says it can't contact the activation server. Needless to say my internet is fine.
If I choose activate via telephone, it immediately errors saying it cannot find the product id, and then quits.
I can run the game no problem without activating, but then can only play the first level.
I called MS support and they were no use.
Does anyone have any ideas how to fix this?

PS if you set to run in Vista compatibility mode, it runs without asking to activate, but still you can't play more than the first level.

Help please!

Looks like your Windows install has been corrupted somehow.

Might be a time to backup and do a fresh install of everything.

---

HardCore Games

WTF? fresh install of evrything? dont be mad its already practically installed its just connecting to the darn thing thats the problem.

rophetOfWeightloss you have the same issue as me, I guess you are using Win7 x64. Try telephone activation this should not cost anything, it is a freephone number, unfortunately in my case even that is broken.

Clean install of windows is a bit drastic and probably won't work, it seems to be an issue with win7.