[RESOLVED] XP Activation Issue

I don't know if there is something that can be done or not (other than calling MS) but it's worth a shot.

I have a PC where I have installed XP pro and Windows 7 as a dual boot system. Apparently I did not use the drivers disk under XP initially then proceeded to install Windows 7. Once Windows 7 was installed I used the PC for a couple of days under Windows 7 and then it set for a while.

So anyway I booted it up the other day and it tells me that it needs to activate windows now, The problem is I have not yet installed the drivers for the network card so it can not activate and therefore is not letting me in.

Is there someway I can gain access to the system long enough to install the network drivers so it can activate itself or am I stuck calling MS or reinstalling?

Not sure if this will prove useful or not.

That's for the info, unfortunately this is a clean install so this method would not work. I suppose I could try to copy thise files from another XP system and see if it will let me in but that may cause problems as well.

In my case the copy of XP is 100% legit and would activate just fine if only it could access the internet but without the network drivers it can not connect so the process fails.

BTW in case my first post was unclear I do have access to Windows 7 which I did install all the drivers and activate during install. I just forgot to go back to XP to do the same before the grace period expired.

Could you repair the installation then try this?

That article appears to be related to a different issue and talks about re-installing XP. I know I can re-install but I also know that will cause a problem with my working Windows 7 installation. I've never tried the phone activation method so maybe I should give that a try.

Just to be clear the article points to an issue where when you receive this message and say yes to activate the system logs you out and displays the login prompt.

My system trys to activate but since the network driver has not been installed the activation fails and tells me to make sure I am connected to the network or something of that nature.

I was hoping there was some way provided to install the driver when XP is in this state but am starting to think that I will either need to call or re-install to get XP working on this system :(

Please Clarify. I'm a little slow. You have a legit key and you entered it but now it wants to verify your key thru activation? If that is the case, you can circumvent it by dropping to a dos prompt under F8 and entering some registry info. I'll find that old series of steps if you want to try that method.

I have a valid copy of XP Pro SP3 fully installed. I did not however insert the motherboard disc at the time of install which resulted in not having the drivers installed for my network card and thus no internet access from XP on that machine.

I also installed Windows 7 on this machine on a different partition so I could dual boot into which ever I choose. After going through the install on Windows 7 I forgot that I had not yet installed the network drivers for XP.

The machine set for maybe a couple of months as it is not my primary system.

Anyway when I booted it back up it says the garce period has expired and I must activate but it can not connect to activate due to the missing network drivers so here we are.

So I have a valid copy of XP pro SP3, with valid key that has never been used before. All installed but no network drivers and now since the grace period has expired no access to the desktop under XP.

If you can locate those steps I would give it a try and see what happens.
Thanks

ok I'll look later tonight when i get home. It's in 4 TB of data somewhere.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by B61Nuke

ok I'll look later tonight when i get home. It's in 4 TB of data somewhere.

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I hear ya. I've got lots of drives all filled with data sometimes it is easier to find a file on the internet and download it than on my own system ;)

I managed to solve my problem so no need to search for the files but thanks for the offer.

Turns out it was simple, I just had not thought to try safe mode.

The system let me in in safe mode where I was able to install the network driver then reboot, it prompted to activate, connected said thank you and all is well.

I just assumed that it would not allow me to login in safe mode and had not tried. I guess that is what I get for assuming ;)

Thank you both for the help.

AHAHAHA I was gonna mention that. I did find the info. Basically you can enter dos mode, use the command prompt and enter a one line code with your valid key and get it activated.