activation

[legend_018]

I can't believe this - I'm stuck in the windows xp home activation loop. I had meant to activate it by following the link someone sent me, but I never got around to it. now I can't even start my computer. I even tried safe mode and it just keeps saying you need to activate and I say ok and it says it's already activated and goes back to the logon screen. I have a lot of stuff setup on this machine.

[Ob1]

Two methods of changing Windows XP's product key
You can change a Windows XP installation's product key either by editing the registry or by using one of two Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) scripts. The registry editing method is outlined in Knowledge Base articles 321636 and 328874 and works on Windows XP Home, Windows XP Professional, and Windows XP Corporate Edition. The script method is outlined in article 328874 and is designed to work on Corporate Edition installations that use a VLK and do not require activation. It may work on a Home or Professional installation, but I have not tested this scenario.

The script method is the practical solution for changing the product keys on a large number of machines. Regardless of the method you choose, make sure to backup important data before changing a product ID, since an unexpected problem could render the machine unbootable and necessitate a complete reinstallation of Windows.
Warning
The following instructions involve editing your system registry. Using the Windows Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that require the reinstallation of your operating system and possible loss of data. TechRepublic does not support problems that arise from editing your registry. Use the Registry Editor and the following directions at your own risk.
Editing the registry
Begin by opening the Registry Editor and navigating to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Current Version\WPAEvents

In the right pane, right-click the ODBETimer binary value and select Modify. Change at least one character of this value to either a number from 0 to 9 or to a letter from A to F, then click OK and close the Registry Editor. This renders the current product key invalid and deactivates Windows.

Now, it’s time to reactivate Windows using your new product key. Click Start | Run and enter the command:
%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe /a

where %systemroot% is your Windows directory. In many cases, this command will look like:
C:\windows\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a

At this point, Windows will launch the Product Activation Wizard.

Select the option to telephone a Microsoft customer service representative to activate Windows, as shown in Figure A, and click Next. Now, select the Change Product Key option and enter your new product key as shown in Figure B. Finally, click Update and close the window. If Windows returns you to the previous screen, just select the Remind Me Later option. When the wizard is finished, reboot the system.


When Windows reboots, your next step will depend on which Windows XP version you are using. If you have XP Home or Professional, you’ll be prompted to reactivate your copy of Windows through the normal activation process. If you have XP Corporate, no activation is required and your machine should have a valid product ID. You can verify this by running the %systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a command again. When the wizard loads this time, you should see a message indicating that your copy of Windows has already been activated.

[legend_018]

hmm ill have to look into this but i'm stuck and cant'' log on at all as per my original message. all those instructions looking at it real quick requires me to login and I can't even log in now.
It just keeps going back to the login screen so i cant go to start or registry ect.

[Ob1]

you can't logon even in safe mode? you should be able to login in safe mode.

[legend_018]

I can't. The login is the screen where you type in the name and password and I have a mary account and an administrator account. in windows SAFE mode for networking it wont work BUT it works safe mode without networking. but I can't access the internet that way. I'll have to look over the first reply to see if I'll need to be on the actual internet.

[legend_018]

I can't. The login is the screen where you type in the name and password and I have a mary account and an administrator account. in windows SAFE mode for networking it wont work BUT it works safe mode without networking. but I can't access the internet that way. I'll have to look over the first reply to see if I'll need to be on the actual internet.

update: actually I still have to double check that it's true but i'm pretty sure I can when I select without networking - safe mode

[Ob1]

boot into safe mode without networking, login and click start>run>type "regedit" click ok, now navigate to the registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Current Version\WPAEvents

In the right pane, right-click the ODBETimer binary value and select Modify. Change at least one character of this value to either a number from 0 to 9 or to a letter from A to F, then click OK and close the Registry Editor. This renders the current product key invalid and deactivates Windows.

close the registry editor and reboot your pc and boot it up normally, now when it asks you to activate it, it should allow you to re enter your product key that you have on your box or on your pc.

You can't activate windows in safe mode!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[thefultonhow]

I may be wrong, but I think you should be able to activate over the phone from Safe Mode. I've never tried it, though.

[Ob1]

i believe i tried activating via the phone in safe mode and i was unsuccessful, but that was so long ago, i cant remember. i was just saying after you modify the odbetimer in safe mode, just reboot normally, now when it prompts him to activate, it will bring up the same screen where he can choose over the internet or via phone and enter in the product key again.

you could always call microsoft and tell them your problem.