XP activation problem

[Augustus]

Got a friend with a legit activated copy of XP Home on a laptop that was
until yesterday working normally. Now, at login, he gets the following
message:

"This copy of Windows must be activated with Microsoft before you can log
on. Do you want to activate Windows now?"

If yes is clicked, then

"Windows is already activated. Click OK to exit." He's then kicked back
to the Welcome screen and it's a never ending cycle.

My opinion:

Someone's using his product key ID and the only way around this to is to
install the XP CD, boot from the CD and do a hosedown and reinstall. And
when you reinstall and go to activate, you HAVE
to call MS to get a new 50 digit activation code and a new product key in
order for this not to happen again.

Am I right? Should point out it's not dualboot or FAT32 so no data can be
retrieved.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Augustus,

Start the computer in Safe mode by hitting F8 at bootup. Log on as
administrator.

Start/run regsvr32 regwizc.dll
Then start/run regsvr32 licdll.dll

If this doesn't help try these steps:

Start/run regedit. Delete the following keys:

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Cryptography\Providers
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Software\Microsoft\Cryptography\Providers

Exit the registry editor, restart normally.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Windows
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[Myron J. Mandell]

I hope the previous post works to fix the problem.

If not, there are some freeware ways to recover the data.
One is to get Knoppix, which is a version of Linux that boots and runs off
CD and can read NTFS partitions.
Another is to get "The Ultimate Boot CD" which contains a handful of
utilities that can read NTFS.

In both cases you need to download images to a working PC with a CD burner.

Good luck,

Myron

 

[Greg R]

Try this first.

You need to reset you key. Try this

This was from a Microsoft website, but I modified for home and pro
users.

This will only work if your version of xp is LEGAL and 30 days have
not passed. Still might work even if the 30 days have passed if you
have xp sp1 or greater.

Do this from safe mode press f9
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
In the left pane, locate and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Current
Version\WPAEvents

In the right pane, right-click OOBETimer, and then click Modify.
Change at least one digit of this value to deactivate Windows.

Reboot

The activation Screen may pop-up. If it does not then, Click Start,
and then click Run. In the Open box, type the following command, and
then click OK.
%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a

Click Yes, I want to telephone a customer service representative to
activate Windows, and then click Next. Click Change Product key.
type the same product key you use to install windows xp in the New key
boxes, and then click Update. If you are returned to the previous
window, click Remind me later, and then restart the computer. Activate
Windows try by the internet first.

Restart Computer

Check to see if windows is activated
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type the following command, and then click OK.
%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a
Click OK.

Xp Oem preinstalled systems may not activate. So repeat the steps
above, then use the product key on the back of your system instead.
then activate.


Greg R
Excerpts were from this page but modified for the home & pro users
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;328874