asked to activate, unable to get to activation screen

[Les Caudle]

I have an XP SP2 box that is not part of a domain.

The computer had 2 users (an admin and a non-admin).

The user that auto-logged in when booting up was the non-admin.

The period expired where the box needed to be registered.

Booted up the box, dialog said needed to have administrator activate.

Hit ok, and it kept giving the exact same dialog box about getting an
administrator to activate XP.

No way to get a log-on dialog. No way to activate . No way to reboot or
shutdown.

This was a test box. Normally, it would have been activated before the period
expired.

But, what concerns me is that if XP decides it needs to re-activate due to some
perceived new hardware (I've stuck with Win2000 up to this point). The box
could get into the same situation. Unable to activate, unable to shutdown, in
un-ending activation purgatory.

How can this be resolved?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.­com/XPrepairinstall.htm

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.mspx

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I have an XP SP2 box that is not part of a domain.
|
| The computer had 2 users (an admin and a non-admin).
|
| The user that auto-logged in when booting up was the non-admin.
|
| The period expired where the box needed to be registered.
|
| Booted up the box, dialog said needed to have administrator activate.
|
| Hit ok, and it kept giving the exact same dialog box about getting an
| administrator to activate XP.
|
| No way to get a log-on dialog. No way to activate . No way to reboot or
| shutdown.
|
| This was a test box. Normally, it would have been activated before the period
| expired.
|
| But, what concerns me is that if XP decides it needs to re-activate due to some
| perceived new hardware (I've stuck with Win2000 up to this point). The box
| could get into the same situation. Unable to activate, unable to shutdown, in
| un-ending activation purgatory.
|
| How can this be resolved?
| --
| Thanks in advance, Les Caudle

 

[Anando [MS-MVP]]

Hi,

Power down the box and restart it. After the bootup logo, keep the SHIFT key depressed and this will
bypass the autologon. You will get the login dialog and where you can login as a admin.

--

Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org

In memory of Alex Nichol
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/nichol.mspx

Folder customizations
http://newdelhi.sancharnet.in/minku

Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

[kurttrail]

I have an XP SP2 box that is not part of a domain.

The computer had 2 users (an admin and a non-admin).

The user that auto-logged in when booting up was the non-admin.

The period expired where the box needed to be registered.

Booted up the box, dialog said needed to have administrator activate.

Hit ok, and it kept giving the exact same dialog box about getting an
administrator to activate XP.

No way to get a log-on dialog. No way to activate . No way to
reboot or shutdown.

This was a test box. Normally, it would have been activated before
the period expired.

But, what concerns me is that if XP decides it needs to re-activate
due to some perceived new hardware (I've stuck with Win2000 up to
this point). The box could get into the same situation. Unable to
activate, unable to shutdown, in un-ending activation purgatory.

How can this be resolved?

Boot into safe mode, log on as THE Administrator. Activate from there.
And if that doesn't work, write back before trying the two piss poor
answers from the MS-MVPs. There may be other option other than repair
install.

And what the hell are you talking about unable to shutdown? If you have
to, pull the effin' plug on it!

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Les Caudle]

Anando - that's the answer I was looking for, except:

The 'power down' part could be a problem.

Possible to loose data by hitting the reset button.

Hopefully MS, after generously giving us the activation 'feature', has some
other way to get out of this situation without powering it down?

Thanks, Les Caudle