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Windows XP Activation Window Does Not Start / Open

Anonymous
2009-11-10T03:49:03+00:00

I recently upgraded my computer (New motherboard, cpu, ram, etc. ).  I tried switching my hard drive over from the old machine to the new one and running a repair installation of Windows XP Pro.  Everything seems to work fine, but it tells me that I need to activate windows and only have 3 days to do so.  When I click on Activate windows (or run oobe/msoobe /a) from the Run window, the machine thinks for a second, but doesn't start the activation window.  This is a non-OEM version of XP.  Can anyone help?

Thanks,

Marc

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Install and upgrade

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  1. Anonymous
    2009-11-11T12:41:54+00:00

    Thanks for the help... I ended up on the phone with microsoft, who after making me jump through some hoops sent me to tech support.  We tried all sorts of various tricks (including the one you mentioned above), all to no avail.  During this process I discovered that while 99% of my programs made the transition seamlessly, Internet Explorer did not.

    I booted into safe mode, deleted the ie7 and ie8 folders from C:\windows (internet explorer was not showing up in my add/remove programs list) and reinstalled ie8

    Once IE was working fine the activation screen popped right up!!!

    Thanks again, and I hope this information helps others out there who are struggling with the same problem!

    Marc

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  1. Anonymous
    2009-11-10T14:16:16+00:00

    Here are a few things to try:

    Activate XP from the command line - start cmd and type oobe/msoobe [enter]

    If that works, great. If not, try:

    Remove all of Activation's knowledge about the computer's hardware to force getting a new installation ID:

    1. Regedit>HKLM>Software>Microsoft>WindowsNT - Look for the WPA key & highlight it. You will see an entry on the right for OOBE... - delete the OOBE entry (not the parent key).
    2. Find wpa.dbl and wpa.bak (if the latter exists, it doesn't always) in System32 and delete them.

    Reboot and the Activation Wizard will start with a fresh Installation ID.

    If that doesn't work:

    The Microsoft Activation Hotline - (888) 571-2048

    MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

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  2. Anonymous
    2009-11-11T13:54:38+00:00

    I'm glad you got this sorted. Thanks for taking the time to post the solution.

    MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

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  3. Anonymous
    2009-12-30T01:48:11+00:00

    Thanks Marc.

    I'm a technician and spend many-a-hour googling solutions for tricky issues but don't usually reply, but you seem to be the only person that my googling could find that made that correct link between the activation window and internet explorer. You have solved my issue. Much appreciated, I can keep my hair for now.

    Phil

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-01-05T15:26:02+00:00

    Thanks again.

    I use another way to resolve this problem (after changing motherboard and using repair option in system file, you have this message "This copy of Windows must be activated with Microsoft before you can log on") and the pop up for activation never appear :

    BOOT and make a repair with a cd of WINDOWS PRO UPGRADE SP2 (you have to find one), it reset ACTIVATION and give 30 days.

    and

    to make another repair with your cd of WINDOWS PRO OEM SP3 with your correct product key.

    It works fine for me.

    Happy New Year

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