XP Home - Windows Activation problem after a repair install.

"Pud" wrote in message

>I have a machine that was getting stuck while booting up, and decided that
> the best course of action initially was to try a repair install. The
> machine
> is an Advent PC (UK brand) and I did a clean install with an OEM install
> disk
> a couple of years ago after replacing the motherboard.
>
> The new repair install appeared to go the normal way, asking me the right
> questions along the way. The problem came at the end of the install when
> the
> machine was rebooted.
>
> There is only one user account on the machine (other than Administrator)
> and
> when it gets to the login screen a Windows Product Activation window
> appears
> "This copy of Windows must be activated with Microsoft before you can
> login.
> Do you want to activate Windows now."
>
> If I hit [Yes] the desktop image appears for a few seconds, but no icons
> or
> taskbar, after which the login screen returns and we are back to square
> one.
>
> I have Google'd the problem and found a number of likely solutions which I
> have tried to noeffect other than the message now reading slightly
> different.
> It now says:
>
> "A problem has prevented Windows from accurately checking the status of
> the
> License for this computer".
>
> Is there anything that can be done or is the ONLY answer a new clean
> install?

Unfortunately I have never found one, and I have seen this problem a couple
of times.

It does appear to be possible to get into a loop where activation is
required to get to the activation window, with the result that the XP
install is basically bricked.

I found that the only prudent course of action (since I had to actually
deliver working systems) was to copy off the data, which I did by way of
making an image to my main service system, then wipe the drive and start
over with a clean install. I used the image for references as to what I
needed to install, and to restore the data. I was done in a few hours
longer than expected, but the systems were in good working order.

Sorry there isn't better news.
HTH
-pk

>
> TIA
 >> Stay informed about: XP Home - Windows Activation problem after a repair install. 

See
[URL="http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb"]http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb[/URL];EN-US;Q305356

Also see the following and read down the page

[URL="http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm"]http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm[/URL]

And if you are able to open then at the command Prompt type the following

oobe/msoobe /a or Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Activate Windows.

If you are doing a repair reinstall of XP on the same hardware, you can back up the
activation status and then restore it after you run the repair install of the OS. To
save the activation status, back up the wpa.dbl file from the %systemroot%\system32
folder to a floppy disk.
 >> Stay informed about: XP Home - Windows Activation problem after a repair install. 

"Peter Foldes" wrote in message

> See
> [URL="http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb"]http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb[/URL];EN-US;Q305356
>
> Also see the following and read down the page
>
> [URL="http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm"]http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm[/URL]
>
> And if you are able to open then at the command Prompt type the following
>
> oobe/msoobe /a or Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Activate
> Windows.
>
> If you are doing a repair reinstall of XP on the same hardware, you can
> back up the activation status and then restore it after you run the repair
> install of the OS. To save the activation status, back up the wpa.dbl file
> from the %systemroot%\system32 folder to a floppy disk.
>
>
>
> --
> Peter
>
> Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
> Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
>
> "Pud" wrote in message
>
>>I have a machine that was getting stuck while booting up, and decided that
>> the best course of action initially was to try a repair install. The
>> machine
>> is an Advent PC (UK brand) and I did a clean install with an OEM install
>> disk
>> a couple of years ago after replacing the motherboard.
>>
>> The new repair install appeared to go the normal way, asking me the right
>> questions along the way. The problem came at the end of the install when
>> the
>> machine was rebooted.
>>
>> There is only one user account on the machine (other than Administrator)
>> and
>> when it gets to the login screen a Windows Product Activation window
>> appears
>> "This copy of Windows must be activated with Microsoft before you can
>> login.
>> Do you want to activate Windows now."
>>
>> If I hit [Yes] the desktop image appears for a few seconds, but no icons
>> or
>> taskbar, after which the login screen returns and we are back to square
>> one.
>>
>> I have Google'd the problem and found a number of likely solutions which
>> I
>> have tried to noeffect other than the message now reading slightly
>> different.
>> It now says:
>>
>> "A problem has prevented Windows from accurately checking the status of
>> the
>> License for this computer".
>>
>> Is there anything that can be done or is the ONLY answer a new clean
>> install?
>>
>> TIA
>
 >> Stay informed about: XP Home - Windows Activation problem after a repair install. 

I beat my head against a wall trying to figure this one out but finally
did so I wanted to share with everyone because I couldn't find an answer
anywhere.

1. Boot into safe mode (NOT w/ networking).

2. Install Internet Explorer 8. It will allow you to do this in safe
mode.

3. After IE8 install, restart Windows to normal mode and activation
window will appear as it should.

This worked for me. I was stuck in a loop until I tried this.
 >> Stay informed about: XP Home - Windows Activation problem after a repair install. 

hijinx12 wrote:
> I beat my head against a wall trying to figure this one out but
> finally did so I wanted to share with everyone because I couldn't
> find an answer anywhere.
>
> 1. Boot into safe mode (NOT w/ networking).
>
> 2. Install Internet Explorer 8. It will allow you to do this in safe
> mode.
>
> 3. After IE8 install, restart Windows to normal mode and activation
> window will appear as it should.
>
> This worked for me. I was stuck in a loop until I tried this.

Sounds like your repair install had messed up your Internet Explorer. It
can do this if you had Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) or Internet Explorer 8
(IE8) installed before you performed the repair installation.

Windows XP includes Internet Explorer 6 (IE6). There is no supported method
for integrating IE7 or IE8 into the installation media - so the files are
replaced (sometimes unsuccessfully - I would venture to say almost always)
and you have no working IE - at least not 100%.
 >> Stay informed about: XP Home - Windows Activation problem after a repair install. 

hijinx12 wrote:
> I beat my head against a wall trying to figure this one out but
> finally did so I wanted to share with everyone because I couldn't
> find an answer anywhere.
>
> 1. Boot into safe mode (NOT w/ networking).
>
> 2. Install Internet Explorer 8. It will allow you to do this in
> safe mode.
>
> 3. After IE8 install, restart Windows to normal mode and activation
> window will appear as it should.
>
> This worked for me. I was stuck in a loop until I tried this.

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Sounds like your repair install had messed up your Internet
> Explorer. It can do this if you had Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) or
> Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) installed before you performed the repair
> installation.
> Windows XP includes Internet Explorer 6 (IE6). There is no
> supported method for integrating IE7 or IE8 into the installation
> media - so the files are replaced (sometimes unsuccessfully - I
> would venture to say almost always) and you have no working IE - at
> least not 100%.

BTW - for everyone wondering what old conversation "hijinx12" brought back
to life:

[URL="http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support/browse_frm/thread/fa005016560324b8/"]http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support/browse_frm/thread/fa005016560324b8/[/URL]
(January 29, 2009.)
 >> Stay informed about: XP Home - Windows Activation problem after a repair install. 

I had this same exact problem after an uninstallation of CD Burning
software
left my system unable to boot into safe mode much less normal.. After
messing around with various recovery console ideas, my lack of
preparation
(no c: backup to restore from, no ASR disks, etc) I decided to pull out
my
original media (legit, XP-sp2) and see if I could get some traction
with a
repair.

That totally worked!! Or so it seemed. Wife tells me not to get all
excited until you are sure that something works. Well, the system
repaired,
liked my license key and rebooted for the final time when the 'looping'

problem of activation and then limbo after choosing to activate
appeared.

Turns out that for those who upgraded to IE7 or IE8 and SP3 (et al)
when you
do a repair install the newer IE's are replaced with IE6 and back to
your
former SP. When the system boots the WGA and Activation stuff kicks in
and
with the state of the browser it is unable to kick off the wizard. The

controls keep you from advancing further to install IE7/8 and then
going
legit as well.<suggestion>It would be nice if MS made a provision for
this</suggestion>

One forum helpfully suggested that you boot into safe mode and using
alternative means (CD, USBkey) install IE8 (downloaded from MS) and
then
reboot. For some this works. For others, IE does not completely install
or
fails or just plain does not work. Mine was the latter case, for some
reason
or antother IE8 would not completely install and failed out.. MS's diag
tools
(fixit) didnt work in safe mode and now I am compounding problems.

Here is what eventually worked for me. I dont know if this stretches
the
boundary for legitimacy, but I did this under the premsie that I bought
my
legit XP-SP2 from MS with its shiny-pretty media so I am going to make
the
most of it...

I downloaded IE8 and SP3 from microsoft and 'slipstreamed' it into my
copy
of XP. I created a new ISO and used this to complete another repair
install.
This time, IE8 and a lot of the hotfixes provided by SP3 allowed the
system
to have what it needed to allow activation to come up and for me to
activate/register properly. Not to mention it saved me tons of time
with
windows update after everything came back.

The process requires that you can follow some instructions, have
another
working computer, blank CD media, a burner and of course a legit (one
that
you bought) copy of the OS. SP3 and IE8 are available from the MS
download
site. There are a ton of instructions and free tools that reduce the
complexity greatly and it is not necessary to employ any hacker
trickery or
altering of the OS outside of MS slipstreaming.

If you need further info, you can get in touch with me or google
slipstream
SP3-IE8-XP and you should be good to go. I found a neat tool that
pretty
much did it all (hfslip.org) and has excellent instructions with one
stop
'shopping' so to speak with great links to all necessary items, plus
its all
FREE. (minus the OS of course)

The system came up and needed some TLC but all my 'stuff' was there and
I
didnt have to start from scratch. I do a ton of graphics development,
have
tons of software that would literally take years to reinstall (not to
mention
probably repurchase) all that stuff. BACKUPS! BACKUPS! ASR, Blah-Blah,
I
got it..

Either way, it was only right to share.


--
booth236
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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View this thread: http://forums.techarena.in/windows-xp-support/1112240.htm

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 >> Stay informed about: XP Home - Windows Activation problem after a repair install. 

I wonder if it's time to start filterting posts from techarena.in ...

booth236 wrote:
> I had this same exact problem after an uninstallation of CD Burning
> software
> left my system unable to boot into safe mode much less normal.. After
> messing around with various recovery console ideas, my lack of
> preparation
> (no c: backup to restore from, no ASR disks, etc) I decided to pull
> out my
> original media (legit, XP-sp2) and see if I could get some traction
> with a
> repair.
>
> That totally worked!! Or so it seemed. Wife tells me not to get all
> excited until you are sure that something works. Well, the system
> repaired,
> liked my license key and rebooted for the final time when the
> 'looping'
>
> problem of activation and then limbo after choosing to activate
> appeared.
>
> Turns out that for those who upgraded to IE7 or IE8 and SP3 (et al)
> when you
> do a repair install the newer IE's are replaced with IE6 and back to
> your
> former SP. When the system boots the WGA and Activation stuff kicks in
> and
> with the state of the browser it is unable to kick off the wizard. The
>
> controls keep you from advancing further to install IE7/8 and then
> going
> legit as well.<suggestion>It would be nice if MS made a provision for
> this</suggestion>
>
> One forum helpfully suggested that you boot into safe mode and using
> alternative means (CD, USBkey) install IE8 (downloaded from MS) and
> then
> reboot. For some this works. For others, IE does not completely
> install or
> fails or just plain does not work. Mine was the latter case, for some
> reason
> or antother IE8 would not completely install and failed out.. MS's
> diag tools
> (fixit) didnt work in safe mode and now I am compounding problems.
>
> Here is what eventually worked for me. I dont know if this stretches
> the
> boundary for legitimacy, but I did this under the premsie that I
> bought my
> legit XP-SP2 from MS with its shiny-pretty media so I am going to make
> the
> most of it...
>
> I downloaded IE8 and SP3 from microsoft and 'slipstreamed' it into my
> copy
> of XP. I created a new ISO and used this to complete another repair
> install.
> This time, IE8 and a lot of the hotfixes provided by SP3 allowed the
> system
> to have what it needed to allow activation to come up and for me to
> activate/register properly. Not to mention it saved me tons of time
> with
> windows update after everything came back.
>
> The process requires that you can follow some instructions, have
> another
> working computer, blank CD media, a burner and of course a legit (one
> that
> you bought) copy of the OS. SP3 and IE8 are available from the MS
> download
> site. There are a ton of instructions and free tools that reduce the
> complexity greatly and it is not necessary to employ any hacker
> trickery or
> altering of the OS outside of MS slipstreaming.
>
> If you need further info, you can get in touch with me or google
> slipstream
> SP3-IE8-XP and you should be good to go. I found a neat tool that
> pretty
> much did it all (hfslip.org) and has excellent instructions with one
> stop
> 'shopping' so to speak with great links to all necessary items, plus
> its all
> FREE. (minus the OS of course)
>
> The system came up and needed some TLC but all my 'stuff' was there
> and I
> didnt have to start from scratch. I do a ton of graphics development,
> have
> tons of software that would literally take years to reinstall (not to
> mention
> probably repurchase) all that stuff. BACKUPS! BACKUPS! ASR, Blah-Blah,
> I
> got it..
>
> Either way, it was only right to share.
 >> Stay informed about: XP Home - Windows Activation problem after a repair install. 

Following the OS Repair with any flavor of XP, you are unable to click
into the activation screen because your browser is different. The OS
repair re-installs IE 6. More than likely, you had IE 7 or IE 8. Reboot
into the SAFE MODE and reload whichever flavor of browser you had before
the repair. You WILL immediately go into the activation screens after
clicking to activate.
 >> Stay informed about: XP Home - Windows Activation problem after a repair install. 

thanks hijinx
i put the needed files on a cd
started in safe mode , installed stupid IE8, and BOOM
activation worked.

cheers Bernie (australia)
hijinx12;4582514 Wrote:
> I beat my head against a wall trying to figure this one out but finally
> did so I wanted to share with everyone because I couldn't find an answer
> anywhere.
>
> 1. Boot into safe mode (NOT w/ networking).
>
> 2. Install Internet Explorer 8. It will allow you to do this in safe
> mode.
>
> 3. After IE8 install, restart Windows to normal mode and activation
> window will appear as it should.
>
> This worked for me. I was stuck in a loop until I tried this.
 >> Stay informed about: XP Home - Windows Activation problem after a repair install. 

Hello people.

I have experienced this after a repair of XP.

I have tried to run an install of IE8 in safe mode but get "program too
big to fit in memory" error.

What files are needed on the install media, I downloaded
ie8-windowsxp-x86-ENU.exe from MS which when run gives the above error.
Can I place files on the USB stick which allows the "install programs "
through Control Panel to run?

Appreciate any replies.

Dave.
 >> Stay informed about: XP Home - Windows Activation problem after a repair install.