XP Activation Loop

[milhouse97sj]

I changed a motherboard in a PC for a customer. They are running XP Home. Now, the PC is in an endless loop trying to activate. Once I sign in, Im told that I need to activate. When I try, it says that Windows is already activated. I click OK, then it automatically signs off and brings me back to the sign on screen. I click a name and then the whole process starts over again.

I have tried a few things that I read online, but none have worked. I dont want to wipe out the drive, and I am not sure if a repair will work.

Any ideas are appreciated.

Brian

 

[bcastner]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310794&Product=winxp

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310794&Product=winxp

Call the Microsoft activation center to resolve this. You may have to make your install mad enough to force the re-activation:

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/mpafaq.asp

 

[linney]

Try 1 then 2. These are just tips I have seen around but have never tried myself. Backup any keys before changing anything.


Go to Start- Run then type Regedit.exe

Click here: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

There you'll find a key called Activation Required ... double click on it and set the value to 0 (instead of 1)

Reboot and see if it says it requires Activating.




Run Reg Edit and browse to this key:
"HKey_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Current Version\WPAEvents"

Change ANYTHING (any one digit) of the value: oobetimer
(this will de-activate XP

Reboot and see if the next Online Activation takes.