Working with XP Pro, install CD is SP2, and a repair installation was needed
after a virus infection. System asks to Activate, which is expected, and I
put in the 25 character key, and it activates.

I click OK, it returns to the user selection, I click on our one user
(besides the hidden Administrator), and I need to activate again. This
repeats with both users.

I downloaded the MS KB (#312295) and get through step 7, I cannot find the
files in step 8.

I can get into safe mode, but "safe mode with networking" repeats the
activation process.

I can certainly provide any additional needed information.

Thanks in advance for any insight.

Dan

A Repair Install will NOT resolve any issues created by an infection of any
kind.

Back-up any personal data (none of which should be considered 100%
trustworthy at this point) then do a format & clean install of Windows.
Please note that a Repair Install (AKA in-place upgrade) will NOT fix this!

HOW TO do a clean install of WinXP: See
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps and/or Method 1 in
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978307

After the clean install, you'll have the equivalent of a "new computer" so
take care of everything on the following page before otherwise connecting
the machine to the internet or a network and before using a USB key that
isn't brand-new or hasn't been freshly formatted:

4 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
http://www.microsoft.com/security/pypc.aspx

Other helpful references include:

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP Gold (no Service Packs) fully patched
(after a clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/micro...5afa8ed33e121c

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1(a) or SP2 fully patched (after a
clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/micro...66ae41add7dd2b

Tip: After getting the computer fully-patched, download/install KB971029
manually: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971029

NB: Any Norton or McAfee free-trial that came preinstalled on the computer
when you bought it will be reinstalled (but invalid) when Windows is
reinstalled. You MUST uninstall the free-trial and download/run the
appropriate removal tool before installing any updates, Windows Service
Packs or IE upgrades and before installing your new anti-virus application
(which will require WinXP SP3 to be installed).

Norton Removal Tool
ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/englis...moval_Tool.exe

McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool
http://download.mcafee.com/products/...tches/MCPR.exe

Also see:

Steps To Help Prevent Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/security/spyware/prevent.aspx

Steps to Help Prevent Computer Worms
http://www.microsoft.com/security/worms/prevent.aspx

Avoid Rogue Security Software!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/antivirus/rogue.aspx
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
www.banthecheck.com


Information wrote:
> Working with XP Pro, install CD is SP2, and a repair installation was
> needed
> after a virus infection. System asks to Activate, which is expected, and
> I
> put in the 25 character key, and it activates.
>
> I click OK, it returns to the user selection, I click on our one user
> (besides the hidden Administrator), and I need to activate again. This
> repeats with both users.
>
> I downloaded the MS KB (#312295) and get through step 7, I cannot find the
> files in step 8.
>
> I can get into safe mode, but "safe mode with networking" repeats the
> activation process.
>
> I can certainly provide any additional needed information.
>
> Thanks in advance for any insight.
>
> Dan

"Information" <cmc(removethis)@cablespeed.com> said this in news item
news:eY$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Working with XP Pro, install CD is SP2, and a repair installation was
> needed after a virus infection. System asks to Activate, which is
> expected, and I put in the 25 character key, and it activates.
>
> I click OK, it returns to the user selection, I click on our one user
> (besides the hidden Administrator), and I need to activate again. This
> repeats with both users.
>
> I downloaded the MS KB (#312295) and get through step 7, I cannot find the
> files in step 8.
>
> I can get into safe mode, but "safe mode with networking" repeats the
> activation process.
>
> I can certainly provide any additional needed information.
>
> Thanks in advance for any insight.
>
> Dan

Your machine is probably compromised by the virus and you may have to
re-install Windows onto a freshly formatted disk. Remember to back up your
data files first, including your EMail files.