Windows product activation

[Bdbstr]

When I log on to my system and enter the password, a screen comes up asking
"This copy of windows must be activated with Microsoft before you can log on"
Do you want to activate Y or N. When I answer yes it takes me to a screen
that states "Windows is already activated" Click OK to exit. When I click
on OK it takes me back to the log on screen. I have read some of the other
responses for a similar messsage. I can not get to the start>run system
because I can't log on. I have looked at a wpa.dbl file but I cant change it
in safe mode.

Any input?

Do I reinstall XP? If I do will I lose all my files? I have tried to
restore the system to a previous date and that has failed also.

 

[nass]

When I log on to my system and enter the password, a screen comes up asking
"This copy of windows must be activated with Microsoft before you can log on"
Do you want to activate Y or N. When I answer yes it takes me to a screen
that states "Windows is already activated" Click OK to exit. When I click
on OK it takes me back to the log on screen. I have read some of the other
responses for a similar messsage. I can not get to the start>run system
because I can't log on. I have looked at a wpa.dbl file but I cant change it
in safe mode.

Any input?

Do I reinstall XP? If I do will I lose all my files? I have tried to
restore the system to a previous date and that has failed also.

Windows XP Logs You Off When You Try to Activate the Product
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330136/en-us

Did you tried Carey Frisch instructions in Safe Mode by tapping F8 on
start/boot up and select Safe Mode from the Boot up options?

<Q>
1. Reboot your computer into "Safe Mode".
2. Go to Start > Run and type: %systemroot%\system32
then press the Enter key.
3. Locate these two files: wpa.dbl and wpa.bak
4. Rename the wpa.dbl file to wpaold.dbl and wpa.bak to wpaold.bak
5. Reboot your computer into Normal mode.

This will force activation on the following boot, but should remove the
message that you are already activated message. Sometimes if these files
get corrupted, they can cause this type of problem.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/
</Q>

HTH,
nass