Activation loop SBS2003

[EdTim72]

Hi,

On a SBS2003 server I installed Framework3.0 (came with another application).

After the instll I couldn't login anymore, windows keeps asking for activation, after clicking YES windows prompt that it is already activated, clicking OK results in loging out and the proces starts from the beginning.

I found on the net about the transition pack but I didn't install that.
I also found problems with IE7 so I removed it, also removed Framework3.0, but nothing resolved my problem.

I think I tried every possible solution for IE7 and transition packs I could find on the net but no result.

Is there anyone who culd help me out?

Thx,

Ed

 

[wahnula]

Are you absolutely positive that your copy of SBS is genuine? Does it do the same thing when you boot into Safe Mode? Exactly how did you remove IE 7.0 and .NET framework 3.0 if you can't log in?

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[wahnula]

After a little sniffing around I found the Microsoft Product Key Update Tool that should take care of the problem.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[EdTim72]

Thx Tony,

This tool isn't working on a SBS2003server. It prompts for XP. Even when I chnage compability to XP it won't work.

I did a windows repair install but even that won't help

Ed.

 

[EdTim72]

You can get in by typing U+Windows button, there opens a windows with an url to microsoft. When you Type c:\ instead of an URL it opens root. You can also launch programs like this. I removed IE7 and Framework by using the control panel.

Ed.

 

[wahnula]

Oops...sorry about that. Try this:

http://msmvps.com/blogs/clustering/...2900_-key-with-Windows-Server-2003-or-R2.aspx

or this, from another forum that will not be named:

The approved method is to use sysprep as follows:-

You will first need to install the deployment tools from the Windows CD onto the machine. Insert the windows CD, navigate to the \Support\Tools folder and double click on the Deploy.cab file. Select all of the files in Deploy,cab, right click, extract, and extract all the files to a folder called C:\sysprep. (the folder name is important)

Run the SetupMgr program from C:\Sysprep and select a new answer file, for a sysprep install for Windows XP. Select, Yes fully automate. and go through and supply all the relevant information. If you select a fully automated installation as suggested you will not be able to leave some entries like "computer name" and "productid" blank but if you want to enter them at install time, don't worry too much now, just type in something and you can remove it in the next step.

After completing the answer file save it as C:\Sysprep\sysprep.inf. and close the dialog box. If you want to edit it the sysprep file, you can right click on sysprep.inf and select Open With Notepad. You can then change bits. For example if you want to be prompted for the computer name at install time change the line that reads

ComputerName=xxxxx
ProductID=xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx
To
ComputerName=
ProductID=

As the value is now blank, you will be prompted for the computer name at install

One you are happy, it might be a good idea to copy the C:\Sysprep folder to a removable device such as a USB memory stick as the whole of the C:\sysprep folder will be permanently deleted later on in the process.

Now we need to run Sysprep. Douple click on Sysprep.exe. Make sure that the "Mini-setup" option IS selected and "NoSidGen" is NOT selected and the SHUTDOWN option is selected before pressing RESEAL.

Windows will then strip the SIDs and other identifies out of Windows and prepare it for imaging. Windows will then shutdown.

Once Windows is shutdown you need to start the PC booting from either a floppy disk or CD that contains your third party imaging program. This can be Symantec Ghost, Acronis, Drive Image similar. You then need to copy the image file to a removable disk, CDs/DVDs network drive or whatever.

You then need to start the new PC, boot that from the floppy disk or CD that contains your third party imaging program and copy the image that you mage of the first PC to the new PC.

When the image has been copied you can reboot the new PC. Windows will start and go through the mini-setup and configure itself using the sysprep.inf file that you created. If you left any of the required options, like computer name blank, you will be prompted to type them in. Otherwise setup will be automatic. As its only re-configuring, not reinstalling the mini-setup takes about 5mins, at then end of which you will have a new computer which is identical to the first one but with a different name and different SIDs. All of the software and configurations will be preserved.


Ok thats the way to do it next time (maybe) another alternative is to use the FREE microsoft "NewSid" utility to change the SID -

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/Utilities/NewSid.mspx

If a repair didn't work I'm stuck...sorry.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[PaulGillespie]

I had the problem with the transition pack. Microsoft support could not fix the issue either. In the end we had to restore from backup. Hope you don't have to!

 

[wahnula]

That always gets me when M$ can find no solution. Makes me think they didn't look in the right places.

It's a good thing we don't take it personally when folks post a question then fail to follow-up. Sometimes things can be learned from resolutions. Sometimes there is no solution, but there's always an end to the problem. Maybe not the end we were after, but an end nonetheless.

Tony

Users helping Users...