Stuck in Activation Loop

[Guest]

After scanning for viruses and malware on a two year old Windows XP SP2
Compaq Laptop and rebooting, the welcome screen appears, and, after clicking
on the "Owner" profile button (there are no other profiles on the machine) a
warning window pops up notifying me that I must activate Windows to log on
and asks if I wish to do it now. Answering yes makes the window go away, the
screen clears, and one is left to believe the machine is going through the
activation process. When the welcome screen appears again, clicking on the
"Owner" button causes this endless cycle to start again. I tried unplugging
my cable connection to the Internet to see if the computer was actually
trying to go through an activation process (thinking it might try to go
through the modem to activate), but nothing changed, the cyclical process
remained. Starting in safe mode brings up a similar warning box, but with
the caveat that activation is not possible in safe mode. Starting with "last
good configuration" didn't make any difference. I can still get to the hard
drive using safe mode DOS prompt. I'm stuck. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[Ron Martell]

After scanning for viruses and malware on a two year old Windows XP SP2
Compaq Laptop and rebooting, the welcome screen appears, and, after clicking
on the "Owner" profile button (there are no other profiles on the machine) a
warning window pops up notifying me that I must activate Windows to log on
and asks if I wish to do it now. Answering yes makes the window go away, the
screen clears, and one is left to believe the machine is going through the
activation process. When the welcome screen appears again, clicking on the
"Owner" button causes this endless cycle to start again. I tried unplugging
my cable connection to the Internet to see if the computer was actually
trying to go through an activation process (thinking it might try to go
through the modem to activate), but nothing changed, the cyclical process
remained. Starting in safe mode brings up a similar warning box, but with
the caveat that activation is not possible in safe mode. Starting with "last
good configuration" didn't make any difference. I can still get to the hard
drive using safe mode DOS prompt. I'm stuck. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Try booting into Safe Mode Command Prompt repairing the registry
entries for the .DLL files used by activation:

First enter
regsvr32.exe regwizc.dll

Then enter
regsvr32.exe licdll.dll

Reboot the computer and see if that resolves the problem.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Guest]

Hi Ron,

Thanks for the advice. Received a window after each regsvr32.exe indicating
a successful operation. Sadly, it didn't change the situation. Anything
further I might try? Thanks.

Ken

 

[Guest]

Hi Ron,

Thanks for the response. Got indication that each regsvr32.exe was
successful. Sadly, the problem remains the same. Anything else I might try?
Thanks.

Ken

 

[Ron Martell]

Hi Ron,

Thanks for the response. Got indication that each regsvr32.exe was
successful. Sadly, the problem remains the same. Anything else I might try?
Thanks.

Ken

Not that I am aware of. A "Repair Install" of your Windows XP would
normally fix this type of problem but unfortunately it is usually not
possible to do a Repair Install with the System Recovery type disks or
partitions provided by the major manufacturers.

However I do recall seeing at least some options on a Compaq System
Recovery disk that allowed for a reinstall that preserved the user's
data files etc. So you might want to check this out, but be prepared
to cancel out of the reinstall if there is no specific mention of
preserving all of your data etc.

Other than that you might want to try contacting HP/Compaq and see if
they have any other suggestions.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."