Boot - Auto Reboot WindowsXP

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I'm running WindowsXP Pro SP2 - some months ago when powering up my computer
it would go thru the usual Windows startup routine, but soon after the
"Welcome" it would shut down completely, then start the reboot sequence again
from scratch. Usually would do this 4-5 times before finally getting to the
desktop (I'm sitting there wasting time watching it do its thing). Once there
it ran perfectly. I do virus/spyware scans regularly. Somehow when messing
around with msconfig & help, I got a Windows help/support phone no. The MS
tech said "you've added new hardware" (not true) and led me through a window
containing about 5-6 blocks of about 5 numbers in each--I read my visible
numbers to him and he gave me a new set of numbers to type in. He had a name
for this procedure, but I've forgotten it and have lost the phone number. I
started my computer work on an IBM 029 keypunch and progressed through XP,
but have never experienced anything like this. Can anyone help with the NAME
of this problem, a phone number to a Windows tech (I won't pay them $35 for a
set of numbers), or provide a solution, as it's starting up the automatic
reboot disaster again for no reason whatsoever?
Thanks.
 
This is called Product Activation. Click Start, Run and enter:

%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /A

If it won't activate over the internet, choose the Activate by Phone option.

As far as "messing around with msconfig", changing the Max Memory setting will cause the re-activation prompt. I don't know why, but it does.
 
Thanx Doug, I've got your excellent answer carefully filed in my personal
Windows Help folder. I'll watch it a while before doing the Product
Activation, as it booted perfectly this morning. Last night when doing some
upgrades and restarting, it was an absolute devil.

Just one more question: Any suggestions/recommendations about the cause or
emergence of this behavior and the need to go through this procedure? I've
used XP Pro almost since its release and never encountered this behavior or
need to Activate. I'm not doing anything different than I've always done. You
obviously are very knowledgeable and I appreciate your willingness to share
your expertise. Thank you.
 
Generally, the only thing that will trigger product activation is a major hardware change. I've seen scattered reports that flashing the BIOS, updating some drivers and the like can trigger it, but I've never seen this. The only thing, other than hardware, that I know will cause it is using/changing the /MAXMEM switch in BOOT.INI (either manually or via MSCONFIG). I ran across this while troubleshooting a problem another user was having with an application.

A very good and in-depth explanation, by Alex Nichol, can be found here:

http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.php

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows Media Center\Windows Powered Smart Display\Security
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Per user Group Policy Restrictions for XP Home and XP Pro
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

bluehawk3 said:
Thanx Doug, I've got your excellent answer carefully filed in my personal
Windows Help folder. I'll watch it a while before doing the Product
Activation, as it booted perfectly this morning. Last night when doing some
upgrades and restarting, it was an absolute devil.

Just one more question: Any suggestions/recommendations about the cause or
emergence of this behavior and the need to go through this procedure? I've
used XP Pro almost since its release and never encountered this behavior or
need to Activate. I'm not doing anything different than I've always done. You
obviously are very knowledgeable and I appreciate your willingness to share
your expertise. Thank you.
Click to expand...
 
bluehawk3 said:
Just one more question: Any suggestions/recommendations about the cause
or emergence of this behavior and the need to go through this
procedure? I've used XP Pro almost since its release and never
encountered this behavior or need to Activate.
Click to expand...

You may want to check if several relevant components have been changed
since the product activation ("XPInfo.exe").
http://www.licenturion.com/xp/
 
Doug and Detlev - Thank you, thank you for the excellent and professional
responses--absolutely first class! I'll check out the URLs. For what it's
worth, Doug's response about a "major hardware change" is exactly what the
Windows tech told me. While I'm running 2 printers, scanner, CD/DVD external
drive, jaz drive, and do a lot of photo & sound editing, the last hardware
component I've added/changed was the CD/DVD drive 2 years ago. Haven't
tampered with msconfig except to go in and look. I'll definitely be prepared
as this thing progresses (hopefully not)--'C'est la vie.
Thank you again.
 
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