windows xp activation madness!!!

[carparkno1]

I recently wiped my Hard Drive, and went to reinstall Windows XP. I have the
OEM CD that came with my ACER pc here in the United Kingdom.

When I reinstalled, it asked me to activate Windows. After much trouble, I
got the installation key needed. I phoned Microsoft's automated line, and
punched in the numbers. In turn, it gave me my activation code. i tapped this
in, and windows was activated.... except....

Now, when I click on "Owner" at the login screen, it says I need to activate
windows xp! When I click yes, it then says windows is activated. When I then
go to log in, it says it needs activating, and so on and so forth. I am
continually stuck between those two screens, and cannot get into windows!

I tried microsoft, who were beyond useless, and could not give me a new code
or anything.

Any suggestions as to what i can do?!?!?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Please follow this troubleshooting procedure:

1. Download and run the MGA Diagnostic Tool: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012

2. After running the MGA Diagnostic Tool, click on the "Windows" tab and then click on "Copy".

3. Next, visit the following website and create a post in the "WGA Validation Problems" forum
and paste the results of the WGA Diagnostic Data in a detailed post.
http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/default.aspx?SiteID=25

4. A WGA troubleshooting specialist will analyze the data and recommend an appropriate solution.


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

---------------------------------------------------------------

:

I recently wiped my Hard Drive, and went to reinstall Windows XP. I have the
OEM CD that came with my ACER pc here in the United Kingdom.

When I reinstalled, it asked me to activate Windows. After much trouble, I
got the installation key needed. I phoned Microsoft's automated line, and
punched in the numbers. In turn, it gave me my activation code. i tapped this
in, and windows was activated.... except....

Now, when I click on "Owner" at the login screen, it says I need to activate
windows xp! When I click yes, it then says windows is activated. When I then
go to log in, it says it needs activating, and so on and so forth. I am
continually stuck between those two screens, and cannot get into windows!

I tried microsoft, who were beyond useless, and could not give me a new code
or anything.

Any suggestions as to what i can do?!?!?

 

[carparkno1]

Hi Carey,

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately I cannot actually get into Windows xp
at all!!

I cannot get into the main screen, I am stuck continually at the welcome
screen where it says "owner" and has the little guitar icon you click on to
go into windows. I cannot run the diagnostic tool as I cannot enter windows
xp, I am writing this from another pc.

Any suggestions?

I think maybe I need a new activation key? I can provide you with my Windows
product code etc if that helps?

Many thanks,

Simon.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

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

Are you sure you used the Acer Windows XP recovery CD for installation?
https://secure3.tx.acer.com/RCD/Main.aspx

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

---------------------------------------------------------------

:

I recently wiped my Hard Drive, and went to reinstall Windows XP. I have the
OEM CD that came with my ACER pc here in the United Kingdom.

When I reinstalled, it asked me to activate Windows. After much trouble, I
got the installation key needed. I phoned Microsoft's automated line, and
punched in the numbers. In turn, it gave me my activation code. i tapped this
in, and windows was activated.... except....

Now, when I click on "Owner" at the login screen, it says I need to activate
windows xp! When I click yes, it then says windows is activated. When I then
go to log in, it says it needs activating, and so on and so forth. I am
continually stuck between those two screens, and cannot get into windows!

I tried microsoft, who were beyond useless, and could not give me a new code
or anything.

Any suggestions as to what i can do?!?!?

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Do NOT give others your codes. Only provide those to a Microsoft agent when
requested.

 

[carparkno1]

Hi,

I have tried this before, it is the OEM disc that came with my pc. Is it
possible to get a new copy of windows? Or possibly a new activation key?
Reinstalling does not work. This is a genuine windows cd, would you like the
25 digit code that came with it?

 

[Daave]

I have tried this before, it is the OEM disc that came with my pc. Is
it possible to get a new copy of windows? Or possibly a new
activation key? Reinstalling does not work. This is a genuine windows
cd, would you like the 25 digit code that came with it?

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER post your product key in a public forum of any kind
(including newsgroups) !!!!!

 

[carparkno1]

Point taken, but I really am at the end of my tether here. i am told that my
activation is okay, but then told I need to activate, and so on and so forth.
I cannot get into windows xp and it is driving me nuts! When i phone
microsoft, they will not give me a new activation, and reinstalling or
recovering makes no difference. i am permanently stuck! My worry is that if I
decided to upgrade to vista, would I need to buy the full product because my
xp is not working correctly, I do not want to buy the upgrade version only
for it to fail to install.

Thanks,

Simon

 

[Daave]

Point taken, but I really am at the end of my tether here. i am told
that my activation is okay, but then told I need to activate, and so
on and so forth. I cannot get into windows xp and it is driving me
nuts! When i phone microsoft, they will not give me a new activation,
and reinstalling or recovering makes no difference. i am permanently
stuck! My worry is that if I decided to upgrade to vista, would I
need to buy the full product because my xp is not working correctly,
I do not want to buy the upgrade version only for it to fail to
install.

If you post your key, then *anyone* can use it, which means once you
resolve this particular problem, you will have a new problem -- you will
have to prove this is *your* key. And if it's made public knowledge,
someone else can try to use it again, and if they are successful, you're
back to square one.

Describe this OEM disc. Is it a branded OEM installation disc? Or is it
a recovery or restore disc? I assume it's the latter, but we need to
know for sure.

Assuming you actually have an installation disc, were you attempting a
clean install? (I believe that is what you had indicated.) If so, you
need to make sure that at step #15 of the instructions on this page:

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

you are making sure that when your PC reboots, it *doesn't* boot off the
CD (as it did the first time).

Better yet: why don't you just give us the model/number of this Acer?
Maybe someone here is familiar with the quirks of that particular model.
And can you post a link to the *exact* instructions you followed?
Perhaps you missed a step.

FWIW, I turned up the following pages while Googling that may be worth
looking at:

http://rickrogers.org/fixes.htm#Activation

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/9d889782cb6ce418

 

[HeyBub]

I recently wiped my Hard Drive, and went to reinstall Windows XP. I
have the OEM CD that came with my ACER pc here in the United Kingdom.

When I reinstalled, it asked me to activate Windows. After much
trouble, I got the installation key needed. I phoned Microsoft's
automated line, and punched in the numbers. In turn, it gave me my
activation code. i tapped this in, and windows was activated....
except....

Why would there be "much trouble" in obtaining the installation key. It's on
a sticker attached to the machine.

Is there more to the story?