Hangs when I try and activate. But I can sign in under safe mode.

[Guest]

When I start up in normal or in safe mode with networking enabled Windows XP
Home Edition says that I must activate it to log in. When I click 'yes' the
background picture appears and then windows just sits there doing nothing.
(If I click no it will not let me log in.) But if I start up in Safe mode (no
networking) it starts up fine.

What can I do to stop this? How can I register or stop it from asking?

 

[Guest]

It appears you've gone past the limit for activation. Windows may not seem
to be doing anything when you say "yes" to activate, but it's attempting to
connect to Microsoft to comploete the activation. Most likely, your computer
won't connect to the internet without signing on through your ISP so the
activation process fails.

The only way I can think of to resolve this is to start the computer with
the NIC plugged into to an "always-on" internet connection that requires no
username or password so that it can find the Microsoft website as it starts
Windows. Another option might be to install a wireless PCI card and take the
computer to an internet cafe or your local library.