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WinXP asks for Activation after every reboot

S

sykopath79

Senior member
I have a customer's machine in the shop that has a bizarre problem I had not yet encountered, and for which I have been unable to find a fix online. The machine has WinXP Home SP2 installed, and in all other regards works normally now, save one thing: every time it boots, it prompts for Windows Product Activation before allowing you to log on. It will successfully activate (or so it appears) via the online method each time, and allow you to log on and go about your business, but as soon as you reboot it forgets it was activated and makes you do it all over again.

I have already tried a number of things, including:

[*]renaming/deleting the wpa.bak and wpa.dbl files from c:\windows\system32
[*]setting the ActivationRequired value of the Registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon to "0"
[*]performing a repair install of the OS
[*]reapplying Service Pack 2
[*]running sfc /scannow

So far none of the above have worked. HELP ME!
 
Thats a strange one, perhaps microsoft would know what to do?? If you didn't build the PC, are you sure they have a legit operating system, and not a pirated copy?
 
And do they have any devices, maybe a usb device or something, that they plug in but don't install the drivers for, so it keeps thinking new hardware has been installed, and wants to re-activate? Probably not the case, but I can't think of anything else, very strange problem.
 
I already read that KB article and it was not of any use. This PC is not running MCE, just Home (an OEM version with a legit Product Key sticker, which was the key used during install). It does not ask for the product key repeatedly; it simply tells you you must activate before logging on, and it does activate successfully and allow you to log on; but as soon as you reboot, it forgets you activated it and prompts again, etc etc. Rinse and repeat.
 
Can you manually start the activation yourself, and if so, what happens? Does it actually go through the whole online process? It must be failing to activate, I guess.

You may need to call them and do the activation that way.
 
Yes, it goes through the entire online process, right up to the "Thank You" screen that lets you know activation completed successfully.

I tried by phone just now just for kicks, and that went successfully also, but as soon as I rebooted it prompted for activation again.
 
Well, ultimately, in the interest of getting the customer's PC back to her in a timely fashion, I discussed it with her and we agreed the best option was just to back up her data and nuke it. I always find that solution disappointing though, because I would really like to know if there is a quicker, leave-Windows-intact solution to problems like this.
 
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