problems activating a new copy of windows XP

[stuartwatkins5]

i'm having problems with my computer since installing a new copy of windows
XP home edition. basically the option to activate windows is not there- when
i turn on the computer it notifies me that i have 30 days to activate
windows, but when i click on the icon in the system tray it just disappears,
and nothing happens. also when trying to run
"c:\windows\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a" windows cannot find it. nor is the
option available in 'system tools'.
also to make things even more interesting i cannot connect to the internet
whatsoever. i've tried setting up various dial-ups (as a last resort) but it
just states there is unsufficient memory at the end of the setup process.
the computer isn't letting me install my broadband either.
I had to manually install drivers for audio, video and ethernet controller,
and have tried repairing the windows installation, but the following files
could not be copied:
sqloledb.dll
sqlxmlx.dll
sr.sys
srclient.dll
and near the end of the repair it states "windows cannot load the Internet
Configuration Library (ICFGNT.DLL). the following error occured: the specific
module could not be found."
i've called microsoft about the problem, and after a couple of hours trying
various things they suggested the 'repairing windows' option.

after this happened the first time i re-formatted and tried again with
exatly the same thing happening a second time.
has anyone come across this before, and can you help?
i've got access to another XP disc and was wondering if it would be worth
trying to install using that disc along with my product key??

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

If the other XP cd is a retail XP Home then you can use the old cd and the
new product key just fine. If the old cd is OEM then your new key will not
work.

 

[Daave]

i'm having problems with my computer since installing a new copy of
windows XP home edition. basically the option to activate windows is
not there- when i turn on the computer it notifies me that i have 30
days to activate windows, but when i click on the icon in the system
tray it just disappears, and nothing happens. also when trying to run
"c:\windows\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a" windows cannot find it. nor
is the option available in 'system tools'.
also to make things even more interesting i cannot connect to the
internet whatsoever. i've tried setting up various dial-ups (as a
last resort) but it just states there is unsufficient memory at the
end of the setup process. the computer isn't letting me install my
broadband either.
I had to manually install drivers for audio, video and ethernet
controller, and have tried repairing the windows installation, but
the following files could not be copied:
sqloledb.dll
sqlxmlx.dll
sr.sys
srclient.dll
and near the end of the repair it states "windows cannot load the
Internet Configuration Library (ICFGNT.DLL). the following error
occured: the specific module could not be found."
i've called microsoft about the problem, and after a couple of hours
trying various things they suggested the 'repairing windows' option.

after this happened the first time i re-formatted and tried again with
exatly the same thing happening a second time.
has anyone come across this before, and can you help?
i've got access to another XP disc and was wondering if it would be
worth trying to install using that disc along with my product key??

What OS was on the PC originally?

What type of disc are you using now? Retail or OEM? If the latter,
branded or generic OEM?

 

[VanguardLH]

in message

i'm having problems with my computer since installing a new copy of
windows

WHERE did you get this new "copy" of Windows?
A download? From where? Got an MSDN subscription for downloads of
Windows?
On a CD? From where?
Does it have a holographic label?
OEM or retail version?
Branded or generic version?

XP home edition. basically the option to activate windows is not
there- when
i turn on the computer it notifies me that i have 30 days to
activate
windows, but when i click on the icon in the system tray it just
disappears,
and nothing happens. also when trying to run
"c:\windows\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a" windows cannot find it. nor
is the
option available in 'system tools'.
also to make things even more interesting i cannot connect to the
internet
whatsoever. i've tried setting up various dial-ups (as a last
resort) but it
just states there is unsufficient memory at the end of the setup
process.
the computer isn't letting me install my broadband either.
I had to manually install drivers for audio, video and ethernet
controller,
and have tried repairing the windows installation, but the following
files
could not be copied:
sqloledb.dll
sqlxmlx.dll
sr.sys
srclient.dll
and near the end of the repair it states "windows cannot load the
Internet
Configuration Library (ICFGNT.DLL). the following error occured: the
specific
module could not be found."
i've called microsoft about the problem, and after a couple of hours
trying
various things they suggested the 'repairing windows' option.

after this happened the first time i re-formatted and tried again
with
exatly the same thing happening a second time.
has anyone come across this before, and can you help?
i've got access to another XP disc and was wondering if it would be
worth
trying to install using that disc along with my product key??

Maybe you have a defective install CD. Have you tried formatting the
partition, using a DOS-bootable floppy or CD with CD/DVD drive
support, and seeing if you can copy the entire contents of the install
CD into a temp folder on the hard drive? If that works, try running
the install from the copy you just put on the hard drive.

Product keys don't always mix and match. The product key is coded to
work with the install CD that it came with. Differences could
include: Home versus Pro versus Media Center, OEM versus retail,
branded versus generic, BIOS-locked, brand and model specific restore
CD (rather than an install CD), and so on. Do the CDs (the one you
got for the new install and the other one that you want to try) look
identical?

As the new install CD isn't working and leaves you with an unusable
Windows install, you have nothing to lose by trying to use the other
install CD with your new product key. If they don't work with other,
you haven't lost anything you had before.

 

[stuartwatkins5]

OS was 98 originally. due to it getting a virus and running slowly i decided
to re-format and while i was at it - upgrade to XP. the disc is an original
retail version thats giving me problems.
turns out that my friend's XP disc is an OEM version and so i believe i'm
right in saying my key won't work with it.
also i didn't get any '98 discs with the comp as it was from one of those
large chain stores (you probably know the one i'm talking about)!!!

 

[Daave]

OS was 98 originally. due to it getting a virus and running slowly i
decided to re-format and while i was at it - upgrade to XP. the disc
is an original retail version thats giving me problems.

Is this what you meant by the "new copy of Windows XP?"

Is this retail version Full or Upgrade?

turns out that my friend's XP disc is an OEM version and so i believe
i'm right in saying my key won't work with it.

Correct. This would work with your product key *only* if your installed
version was also OEM. And is this disc what you were referring to
earlier when you said, "i've got access to another XP disc?"

also i didn't get any '98 discs with the comp as it was from one of
those large chain stores (you probably know the one i'm talking
about)!!!

Comp USA? Best Buy? Circuit City? Wal-Mart?

What is the make and model of the PC? Did it come with a recovery
partition?

 

[stuartwatkins5]

WHERE did you get this new "copy" of Windows?
A download? From where? Got an MSDN subscription for downloads of
Windows?
On a CD? From where?
Does it have a holographic label?
OEM or retail version?
Branded or generic version?

Maybe you have a defective install CD. Have you tried formatting the
partition, using a DOS-bootable floppy or CD with CD/DVD drive
support, and seeing if you can copy the entire contents of the install
CD into a temp folder on the hard drive? If that works, try running
the install from the copy you just put on the hard drive.

Product keys don't always mix and match. The product key is coded to
work with the install CD that it came with. Differences could
include: Home versus Pro versus Media Center, OEM versus retail,
branded versus generic, BIOS-locked, brand and model specific restore
CD (rather than an install CD), and so on. Do the CDs (the one you
got for the new install and the other one that you want to try) look
identical?

As the new install CD isn't working and leaves you with an unusable
Windows install, you have nothing to lose by trying to use the other
install CD with your new product key. If they don't work with other,
you haven't lost anything you had before.

I bought the XP home disc from a fairly small but reputable 'PC repairs and
sales' type store. disc is original with holograms, sealed, COA etc
after speaking to microsoft earlier they could confirm the key hadn't
already been used, but think they didn't want to admit it was a defective
disc.
I've formatted the partition (once trying quick and once trying full) but
with no luck.
will try installing from my friends OEM disc that came with his PC and use
my key - don't think it will work, but will give it a go. after that will try
copying to temp file as suggested.
thanks

 

[stuartwatkins5]

yep, the "new copy of XP" is the full, retail disc that has been installed
since full format of c: drive. and is giving me problems with activation.
the disc that "I have access to" is my friend's OEM disc that came with his
computer.
I'm in the UK and so you probably don't know the store PC World - probably
comparable to the ones that you've listed!
the comp is an emachines 2230 and to my knowledge didn't have a recovery
partition!

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Find a friend with a retail cd and get a copy. It just needs to be the same
edition (Home or Pro).

 

[Big Al]

If you boot from the CD, you can pick the C: drive and delete the
partition as well as create and format from the cd. Just look at the
options. Not sure of the sequence but it is possible.
You don't need a boot floppy etc as you did with 98 (older 98's that
is). Also format with NTFS. If you question the HD, then don't use
quick. Take the time.

 

[PaulM]

This sounds like a memory problem. Test your memory.
Do a search for memory test on Google.

 

[Daave]

Stuart said he already has the disk. Do you think it may be defective?

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

He apparently does.

Stuart said he already has the disk. Do you think it may be defective?

 

[Daave]

yep, the "new copy of XP" is the full, retail disc that has been
installed since full format of c: drive. and is giving me problems
with activation. the disc that "I have access to" is my friend's OEM
disc that came with his computer.
I'm in the UK and so you probably don't know the store PC World -
probably comparable to the ones that you've listed!
the comp is an emachines 2230 and to my knowledge didn't have a
recovery partition!

Since your license and key are for the Retail version, your friend's OEM
installation disk will not work.

One of the following must be the source of your difficulty:

1. Hardware problems, such as bad memory or a bad CD-ROM drive. To rule
out hardware, see:

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot

2. Your disk is defective. If so, Microsoft should be able to help out:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246/en-gb

(Or you may borrow someone else's *retail* CD and use it to install,
using *your* key. If you do this, I would recommend burning a copy for
future use.)

I assume you're installing correctly. But just to make sure, have a look
at:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Remember to be careful entering the product key!

 

[Daave]

i'm having problems with my computer since installing a new copy of
windows XP home edition. basically the option to activate windows is
not there- when i turn on the computer it notifies me that i have 30
days to activate windows, but when i click on the icon in the system
tray it just disappears, and nothing happens. also when trying to run
"c:\windows\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a" windows cannot find it. nor
is the option available in 'system tools'.
also to make things even more interesting i cannot connect to the
internet whatsoever. i've tried setting up various dial-ups (as a
last resort) but it just states there is unsufficient memory at the
end of the setup process. the computer isn't letting me install my
broadband either.
I had to manually install drivers for audio, video and ethernet
controller, and have tried repairing the windows installation, but
the following files could not be copied:
sqloledb.dll
sqlxmlx.dll
sr.sys
srclient.dll
and near the end of the repair it states "windows cannot load the
Internet Configuration Library (ICFGNT.DLL). the following error
occured: the specific module could not be found."
i've called microsoft about the problem, and after a couple of hours
trying various things they suggested the 'repairing windows' option.

after this happened the first time i re-formatted and tried again with
exatly the same thing happening a second time.
has anyone come across this before, and can you help?
i've got access to another XP disc and was wondering if it would be
worth trying to install using that disc along with my product key??

In addition to ruling out hardware problems, check out these links:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q="windows+xp"+activation+loop