Activation request windows XP!!!!

[liamkincaid25]

Greetings and happy holidays my friends!!!!

I was given this laptop a few months back (about 8-9) by a friend its OS is windows XP. It was working fine since day one until last week. I turned it on and a dialog window appeared saying that before using it windows needed to be activated. Not having the cd nor the key ( neither the friend that gave it to me have it I called him to ask) I just selected activate, a small screen saying "windows is already activated". After this it just go back to the scree where one log on and start the process all over again saying that it needs to be activated in and endless loop. So it says it is activated but does not allow me to log in!!!!!! I can use safe mode , but not much can be done there. Your help will be appreciated.

[Sylvander]

Found this method on the web, but it requires an XP disk:
You are prompted to activate Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 every time that you start the computer (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/312295/en-us).

Or perhaps there is a wpa.bak file you can rename to C:\Windows\system32\wpa.dbl ?

[PrntRhd]

Did he reload Windows right before he gave you the computer?
Did he re-activate the reinstall?

[liamkincaid25]

Did he reload Windows right before he gave you the computer?
Did he re-activate the reinstall?

I asked him , and he did nothing like that. He just gave the desktop to me, and as I said it worked ok for 8-9 months and now this.

[Dan Mitchell]

In this case it sounds like an error, but I have in the past had to re-activate XP with a phone call to Mumbai after simply installing a new HDD (not even the one on which the OS was installed), so it doesn't necessarily require a complete reload. This week, I installed a 2nd OS (XP Pro) along with another new HDD & was expecting activation headaches with the new OS & the original XP installation already on the machine, but I had no trouble with the original OS & was able to activate the new OS online (I have always had to call in the past) so they may have relaxed things a bit, but far from being a "Genuine Advantage", this activation nonsense can be a real PITA.

Dan

[liamkincaid25]

In this case it sounds like an error, but I have in the past had to re-activate XP with a phone call to Mumbai after simply installing a new HDD (not even the one on which the OS was installed), so it doesn't necessarily require a complete reload. This week, I installed a 2nd OS (XP Pro) along with installing another new HDD & was expecting activation headaches with the new OS & the original XP Home installation already on the machine, but I had no trouble with the original OS & was able to activate the new OS online (I have always had to call in the past) so they may have relaxed this a bit, but far from being a "Genuine Advantage", it can be a real PITA.

Dan
This sounds great....if you have the cd and the key both of which WERE NOT given to me just the desktop. So without this I am not able to call for help reactivating it , that is why I asked in here to see if anyone experienced the same problem and found a way to solve it. Thank you for your suggestions and ideas.

[Paul Komski]

Magic Jelly Bean (http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/) can normally extract the installed key but not sure if it can do it in the restricted safe mode that has been imposed.

[Dan Mitchell]

Magic Jelly Bean (http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/) can normally extract the installed key but not sure if it can do it in the restricted safe mode that has been imposed.

I forgot about that option! Another program I've used for this is "Recovery Keys", although again I don't know if it can be used from safe mode. http://recover-keys.com/products_cd_key_viewer.php

Dan

[Sylvander]

The Magic Jellybean Keyfinder (http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/) is one of the included tools [Information & Diagnostic] included on (http://www.ubcd4win.com/contents.htm) the Ultimate Boot CD for Windows [UBCD4Win] (http://www.ubcd4win.com/).
I guess that since it's included it will do its job from that environment. [Remotely access the Windows registry]

It's worth making this bootable CD and keeping it handy in your "box of PC tools".
Easy to make, works well, does all kinds of things. :)

[Paul Komski]

I guess that since it's included it will do its job from that environment.Good idea and there seem to be at least two keyfinders on the UBCD4WIN CD: Joshuas XP Key Reader and Keyfinder PE - both of which seem to do the trick.

[liamkincaid25]

Thank you very much , I have been busy this days but during the weekend I will try all your suggestions.Thanks!!!