Cannot Activate Windows XP

[ehlingerm]

I have used the Windows XP upgrade cd used to install XP to repair the
installed operating system. After this repair, I could not open the computer
under the normal mode without being prompted to activate windows which would
not be a problem if the computer brought up the activation window, but the
operating system just sits with the background. I can only access windows in
safe mode which will not allow me to activate XP.

I see that there are problems registering XP in Safe Mode, but I do not know
where this log resides as I cannot open the error log from the activation
popup. I also cannot change the key as I can only access this in safe mode.

I would appreciate any help as I really do not want to reformat the hard
drive for this seemingly simple problem.

 

[thaar]

Try chkdisk from repair mode or then try access the activation window from
task manager or from cmd

thaar

 

[smlunatick]

I have used the Windows XP upgrade cd used to install XP to repair the
installed operating system. After this repair, I could not open the computer
under the normal mode without being prompted to activate windows which would
not be a problem if the computer brought up the activation window, but the
operating system just sits with the background. I can only access windowsin
safe mode which will not allow me to activate XP.

I see that there are problems registering XP in Safe Mode, but I do not know
where this log resides as I cannot open the error log from the activation
popup. I also cannot change the key as I can only access this in safe mode.

I would appreciate any help as I really do not want to reformat the hard
drive for this seemingly simple problem.

If you can see the "Activate Windows" window in Safe Mode, you should
still be able to use the 'Phone" method and call the Activation
telephone number???

 

[MowGreen]

I have used the Windows XP upgrade cd used to install XP to repair the
installed operating system. After this repair, I could not open the computer
under the normal mode without being prompted to activate windows which would
not be a problem if the computer brought up the activation window, but the
operating system just sits with the background. I can only access windows in
safe mode which will not allow me to activate XP.

I see that there are problems registering XP in Safe Mode, but I do not know
where this log resides as I cannot open the error log from the activation
popup. I also cannot change the key as I can only access this in safe mode.

I would appreciate any help as I really do not want to reformat the hard
drive for this seemingly simple problem.

Suggest you post to the below forum as representatives from MS have a
presence there:

Windows XP Genuine Advantage Validation Issues (Windows XP)
http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/genuinewindowsxp/threads

MowGreen
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============

banthecheck.com
"Security updates should *never* have *non-security content* prechecked"

 

[ehlingerm]

Windows cannot be activated in Safe Mode and I have already successfully run
the chkdisk app on the hard drive.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I have used the Windows XP upgrade cd used to install XP to repair the
installed operating system. After this repair, I could not open the
computer
under the normal mode without being prompted to activate windows which
would
not be a problem if the computer brought up the activation window, but the
operating system just sits with the background. I can only access windows
in
safe mode which will not allow me to activate XP.

I see that there are problems registering XP in Safe Mode, but I do not
know
where this log resides as I cannot open the error log from the activation
popup. I also cannot change the key as I can only access this in safe
mode.

I would appreciate any help as I really do not want to reformat the hard
drive for this seemingly simple problem.

I have to say that there does appear to be at least one post-reinstall
circumstance where you must activate, but cannot ever proceed into the
activation dialogs. I've run into that a couple of times, and found no
way out.

After bashing away at it for a while, I realized it would take me less time
to just reinstall clean, and then I could count on a properly working OS.
When I do this, I always start with deleting and re-creating the
partitions - which of course removes all data - because that also helps
ensure that all malware is also removed. Because this task involves a lot
of waiting and occasional clicking, I normally rent a movie and pay more
attention to that.

So, if you have another system and can connect the drive to it, and create
an image using perhaps the TrueImage trial version, you can then just start
over.

-pk