if you can do CTRL+ALT+DEL can you start task manager?
If so run a new task for CMD then run oobe/msoobe /a which will launch the Out of Box Experience and should allow you to activate
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Question
XP Activation Problem. Can not activate Windows XP Sp3 after repair
Hello
I had to to do install REPAIR on my Legal OEM windows xp home sp3 Laptop.
Everything went fine and system boots up fine to the welcome screen only.
Then I see my 2 User accounts and when I try to LOG IN I get the message telling me to activate before it logs me IN.
That is fine with me. Its a legal copy of windows with no hardware change so I click YES.
That is THE END. I could watch my desktop for hours but activation wizzard doesnt pop up.
I have tried all the keyboard combinations with no luck. System is not frozen and I can move the mouse.
I have beed allowed to the safe mode once. That worked fine but you are not allowed to activate in a safe mode.
I have restarted many times and it still doesnt work. Something blocks the activation window fro popping up.
I have all the tools and skills to do offline edit of the registry, offline file copying or swapping.
Reinstalling is not an option, I need to start it up!!
1. Can I activate offline somehow?
2. Can I swap some files or registry entries to start up windows ??
3. Can I extend the activatiuon time to at least one day somehow?
4. Is there a hack or crack to activate my windows for 1 start in normal mode so I could be able to reactivate again once logged in and running.
Best
Michael
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Answers
Informer9--Here are the normal ways to Activate
http://www.microsoft.com/w
Informer9--Regrets. I posted the wrong link about how to activate XP.
I meant to post
http://support.microsoft.c
Thanks for all your help. Still those dont help me at all.
1. Safe mode doesnt work any more.
2. I have used OEM SP3 because I dont use OLD manufacturer's CD
3. Like I wrote CTRL+ALT+DEL or any other keystrokes dont work
4. There is nothing on the screen. Just wallpaper and cursor after I click OK to activate.
5. Im being logged off while I click NO to activate.
I need to find a way to play offline with the registry or the activation files. Some kind of the activator or file swap.
Still waiting for help.
Best
Michael
Not with the OEM disk
If you still have the old manufacturer's disk you can use this to create an install CD that matches the current version on your PC. (see tutorial pages for nlite for how this is done).
The install as you have it at the moment won't activate because it is a hybrid of a manufacturer specific OEM install and the generic OEM repair.
Although the manufacturer's cd may be old(only in service pack editions),it will fix your problem. You just have to pull down MS updates to bring your machine back to SP3 edition.
If you decide to try using the manufacturer's cd make sure it has a service pack on it-not the really old cd with no service pack builtin(that one dosn't repair, but wipes OS!
to masqueraid - I have done it like that over hundred times and it always went fine. I know how to create custom sp cd with nlite or others but I simply hate branded windows
to slam69 - the wizard/window doesnt pop up at all. Im doing few activations a day and I know how to do it online or over the phone but I need a wizzard or working windows for that
Microsoft tech support is closed today. And they are probably not knowledgeable enough aka not willing to share an info like that ;)
I need to fix it asap before monday.
I need a hack or a way of starting Windows at least once and Im almost sure that then I will be able to activate just fine.
Its an old system with a change and that is ACTIVATION message is blocking me from going in for the first time after REINSTALL/ REPAIR which is crucial for the system to work properly.
Still waiting for a registry or file hack or activation trick to start it up.
Best
Michael
Come on guys. I dont even have manufacturers CD. They dont supply them.
It is really rare to get a windows CD with a laptop.
Probably 90% of all manufacturers gives us RECOVERY CD or RECOVERY PARTITION
Those dont reinstall or repair. FORMAT and new crappy outdated install is the only option.
I have never had it for this laptop. OEM XP SP3 CD is all I have and it works fine with the SERIAL from the sticker. That also activates without any problems in a normal scenario with any computer.
In this case activation process is corupted and not starting - just that. I need to go past it somehow.
That would activate just fine like hundreds of my other activations when I get to the Activation Window and working system using "some" trick.
Best
Michael
I have searched Google for hours.
Optoma - its good to hear that Im not alone. Lets hope for a solution.
I know that all those hacks and cracks are forbidden and not good. I have legal Windows and a licence. I should be able to activate but the activator is broken.
Activators are not good anyway because I have never found one which is working with OFFLINE files and Offline Windows system. You can use them in 30 days activation period while windows is fully working after the fake install.
I cant found one working for me Since my system has been already used and now need instant reactivation before 1st Log In.
I use VISTA on APPLE MACBOOK PRO which does the same thing every few weeks cause I use VISTA on 2 booting scenarios (boot camp and vmware fusion) . It is asking me to reactivate before log in but there the wizzard which is working fine. I call M$ and get an activation code and Im ready to go in minutes.
This laptop is a huge pain. that holds multi user config, encoded private data, many important settings very hard to recover. Many hashed passwords.
I would have never thought that f***g activation would stop me from using genuine software.
Still waiting for you ideas.
Best
Michael
to SLAM69 - I have managed to log to SAFE MODE with COMMAND LINE after few tries but your first reply doesnt work in SAFE Mode.
This link you send me activates windows only in NORMAL mode which doesnt work for me.
Im searching and searching and CAN NOT find a way to activate XP HOME SP3 in safe mode.
SO if anyone has an idea how to activate in SAFE MODE please let me know.
Best
Michael
to demazter - Nope, That doesnt work in a SAFE MODE. Windows activation works only in NORMAL Mode.
Nope. I cant click anything or use any keys while waiting for the activation wizard which doesnt pop UP...
but Ladies and Gents I HAVE FOUND THE SOLUTION MYSELF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is actually pretty COOOOL, legal and comes from MicroS**t
SYS PREP - windows experts and admins should think about it earlier
1.) log onto the PC using safemode with command prompt.
2.) type in explorer in the command prompt.
3.) in my computer explore windows cd and copy the TOOLS folder to c:\
4.) in the tools folder there is a DEPLOY.cab right click on it and select EXTRACT TO and extract it to the tools folder. (this will create a new folder called deploy).
5.) open the deploy folder and run sysprep.
6.) select factory seal. The pc will shut down once this is completed.
7.) when the PC shuts down start it back up in normal mode. Once it has started up reboot the PC.
8.) if sysprep window shows up at every start up just rename DEPLOY folder to anything else. Could be also done in registry but I dont care to search for it
9) Activate your Windows - works like a charm !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
10) If you cant do number 9 for some reasons ;) than follow the steps 1-8 again in 30 days
Thanks for trying to help
to Optoma - you have a solution ;)
Best
Michael
Michael
That's what I tried but I get into the same loop - Windows wants to be activated but won't let me get any further (i.e. same problem in Normal mode or SafeMode with Command Prompt.) There's a message with the options 'Resolve Now' / 'Resolve Later'; the first option just goes back to login screen, second option gives ablank screen.
Thanks, Michael for the solution above. I had the exact same problem you described and was at my wits end until I found this solution. There are a couple of changes I had to make to get it to work. I don't know if this is because I have a slightly different version of the Windows CD or what, but I'll post the changes here in case anyone else is in the same boat:
1 - I selected "Safe Mode with Command Prompt" but the command window never appeared. Ctrl-Alt-Del did bring up the Task Manager, however, and I was able to run explorer.exe from its file menu.
2 - On the CD, the TOOLS folder was inside the SUPPORT folder
3 - When I right-clicked the deploy.cab file there was no option for "Extract" so I manually created a folder, named it deploy and manually copied the contents of the cab file to it
After that, everything worked like a charm.
Thanks again for the solution!
-Tom
Thanks TeeLow for additional help.
Eventually managed all this and got SysPrep to run. But it said 'there is an incompatiblity between this tool and the current operating system' and would not complete. The current OS and the CD are both XP SP2. But then I found from the readme file that there is a known issue that sysprep cannot be used on a system that has been upgraded from SP1 to SP2.
So I am still without a working system. Guess its time to give up and reformat the drive.
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by: slam69Posted on 2009-07-04 at 08:20:17ID: 24777110
try starting in safe mode with command prompt and then using teh following article to activate using command line
http://www.command-tab.com