My genuine but old XP started telling me that it could be an illegal copy and I should activate (which I had already done). I used the WGA wizard which said already activated and exited. I checked with Mr Gates's merry men who said it would be OK now as the first activation had not registered. So far so good.
Then whilst I was on holiday, my son telephoned to say he was getting a count down message. I said check the wizard which again said already activated. Then the system locked us out. Now it goes to the wizard which says already activated then chucks us out. I can only get into the system on command line.
I have done a complete repair install to no avail.
Robin Edward
I've replied to earlier queries about Windows Genuine Advantage so please read the answer given on June 1 (Legally Windows?) for information on the COA (Certificate of Authenticity) and KeyUpdate.exe tool.
I'd also suggest that you're more likely to succeed if your copy of XP is fully updated, certainly with SP2, and preferably with other patches, as this is what Microsoft tests against.
It is also worth visiting the Microsoft Genuine Advantage - Diagnostic Site, which will check:
* If scripting is turned on * If images display correctly * If the System Date and Time are relatively correct * If the Microsoft Genuine Advantage ActiveX controls load correctly * If the Microsoft Genuine Advantage ActiveX controls are able to successfully connect to the validation servers
What follows is an answer from the Microsoft UK support team, which I emailed you earlier. Usually I'd wait to hear back before making this public, but the topic is currently newsworthy.... JS
Microsoft says:
If any hardware is changed, then the hardware ID doesn't match the WPA entries and therefore, it generates an error.
Resolution:
a) Try to activate Windows via internet, if it fails b) Activate windows via telephone support.
* When we select phone option it will display free phone number for you to call * Dial the number and it will ask, "Do you want to activate windows copy or terminal server copy?" * Select option for activating "windows copy" and follow the online instructions which should activate the user's copy of windows.
c) If the above steps fail, you can try to reset the OOBETimer. You may need to do this because a few of the files on the PC may have been corrupted because of a "bad shut down" or "hardware change".
* Boot the system in safe mode, by pressing F8 initially after bios screen * Once able to boot in safe mode, click on the Start menu, go to Run and type regedit to run the Registry editor * Go to the location
HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\WPAEVENTS
* OOBETimer - Right click on the OOBETimer key, click on Modify, highlight the second group of numbers, and change the numbers to different numbers.
By modifying the numbers in this way, you are able reset the OOBE (out of the box experience) timer. Resetting the timer will allow you to log in to the machine and then try activation again.
* Reboot the system in normal mode and then try the steps (a) and (b) again.
The above steps should get the issue resolved.
Further information can be found at http://support.microsoft.com/?id=312295
