XP Activation Loop

see if this helps
http://www.computing.net/windowsxp/wwwboard/forum/119681.html

more
http://www.duxcw.com/dcforum/DCForumID7/711.html

one more
http://www.mcse.ms/archive55-2004-10-1190904.html

Q: Is this XP Home or PRO??

See if you can start Windows in safe mode.
1) Run regedit and navigate to this key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WPAEvents
Right click and modify OOBETimer value. Change at least 2 digits. Close regedit. Now click start, run and type C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a

Now choose Yes, I want to telephone a customer service representative to activate windows.
Click on change product key. Enter your product key. Click remind me later. Reboot.


2) Boot pc from XP cd-rom. Choose to repair using recovery console. Remove the file wpa.dbl in C:\windows\system32.
Reboot.

If this doesn't work, reinstall Windows XP.

If you cannot get into the system using Safe Mode either, you might try a method that I used when I encountered a logon loop.  You will find it highlited on the main page of this site, along with the utilities available for download:

www.doverproductions.com

Once into the system, you can try kcarrim's advice from above.

FE

its XP PRO

i am in the process of ghosting the drive to back up the 20g in data i have on there, so far stevenlewis sugestions havnt worked, i will try kcarrim when Ghost has finished

way cool fix FE

Thanks...  :)

OK so far no luck with the suggestions so far, it is still saying windows is already activated. how can I muck up the code the tells windows it has a valid activation status, i can get in to the system in Safe Mode. I could really do without reinstalling windows all those lovely apps that you take ages to setup are just going to be a pain to again.

try running sfc in safe mode and let it finnish

Below are instruction on troubleshooting an XP system that is stuck in a continuous reboot loop. This tip assumes you can start the system and are able to log on. As soon as you log on, the system reboots itself.  In many cases, it may not even wait until you are logged on before rebooting itself. By default, Windows XP is configured to deal with a system failure by rebooting and in doing so, should repair the failure. But, in some cases, the system failure is serious enough to cause a continuous reboot loop.
If your system is stuck on a continuous reboot, you can disable the automatic restart behavior. Follow these steps:

Press [Windows][Break] to open the System Properties dialog box.
On the Advanced tab, click the Settings button in the Startup And Recovery section.
In the System Failure section, deselect the Automatically Restart check box, and click OK.
To enable the changes, click OK in the System Properties dialog box.
This change configures the system to halt after encountering a system failure error, which allows you to investigate the problem error in more detail. You'll then have to manually restart the system.

Keep in mind that you'll have to work fast in order to make the change before the system reboots. You may have better luck making the change if you launch the system in Safe Mode


THIS WILL DEACTIVATE WINDOWS!

1)When in safe mode, remove the file wpa.dbl (which keeps installation id) in C:\windows\system32 will force windows to create a new installation id.
Run regedit and navigate to this key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WPAEvents
Right click and modify OOBETimer value. Change at least 2 digits (this deactivates windows) Close regedit.
You can restart the system at this point, you will be prompted to activate windows. Have your product key ready on reboot.

REACTIVATING WINDOWS!
2)Click start, run and type C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a
Now choose Yes, I want to telephone a customer service representative to activate windows.
Click on change product key (this creates a new installation id) Enter your product key. Click remind me later. Reboot.

You are not going to believe this, but after running all the suggestions again above I was about to give up and reload when i used the "Use last known Good Configuration in the safe mode options and guess what it started normally I have never known that work before. Thank you all for your help anyway.

More questions on the way.

Should have suggested that first, eh?  :)  glad you got it..

FE

Do i get the points for answering my own question ??? on a serious note how do I close the question?

Go here and ask them to PAQ with refund, since you solved this yourself
https://www.experts-exchange.com/Community_Support/
be sure to include a link to this question in the body of that one