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After system repair, Windows Activation Wizard won't run RRS feed

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    Out of the blue I had a XP Pro SP3 workstation today crash.  It wouldn't boot into safe mode or a command prompt.  I eventually went with a Repair Installation.  XP boots up now, asks for the right domain and even has the correct desktop background loading, but it says it needs to Activate Windows.  I expected that.  What happens tho, is if I log in, it says click yes to Activate or no to exit.  If I click yes, nothing ever happens.  There is some harddrive activity, but after a few seconds that stops and it just sits there...I left it for 30 minutes and the WGA wizard never popped up.  I can get into a safe mode prompt, but the OOBE won't run in safe mode and in regular safe mode it says it has to be activated.  I've searched a couple of online forums and can't come up with anything.

    My only thought was the system was at SP3 and the repair must have been a SP2 disk.  So right now I am dl'ing SP3 to reinstall and see if that helps.

    Any other ideas?  I'd rather not reinstall the system as it was working fine. 
    Wednesday, April 15, 2009 7:49 PM

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    Oops accidentally proposed as answer on the above post, sorry.

    I was having the same issue with Windows XP Media Center Edition. Installing SP2 over SP3 was not the problem for me, though I thought it was at the beginning. I had to change out a motherboard, and then had to reinstall windows. I was unable to enter safe mode or normal mode without the Activation popup, and then after clicking yes to activate, it would show my wallpaper and do nothing else. Have been searching for a few days for an answer with no luck. Found alot of information on wpa.dbl licence and registry fixes and people saying that it was due to having an OEM copy of XP. None of these were the case for me.

    HERE'S THE FIX...

    Download Internet Explorer 8 and Hotfix KB946501, burn them to disc

    Hotfix KB946501 http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/946501
    Internet Explorer 8 http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/default.aspx

    Start your PC and repeatedly hit F8 to get the safe mode menu.

    Choose safe mode with command prompt only (if you are unable to enter safe mode otherwise)

    When the command prompt appears type "explorer"

    Should load the Windows GUI behind the cmd window

    Install the KB946501 hotfix from your disc (may not need if you're not multicore)

    Install IE8

    Reboot normally in to Windows, you should be able to activate as usual.

    Apparently the activation Window is dependant upon IE.

    Hope this works, let me know.
    Tuesday, July 28, 2009 4:58 PM

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    I am working on the exact same problem.  I CAN tell you that a SP3 disk will have major problems with an SP2 key.  I have experience trying to dig customers out of that mess.  I'll post any progress i make here if you'll do the same.
    Friday, July 24, 2009 4:21 PM
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    I am having this same issue with Windows XP Home. I can't even get in through safe mode. Is there a way to bypass the registration until after login?
    Monday, July 27, 2009 9:39 PM
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    Oops accidentally proposed as answer on the above post, sorry.

    I was having the same issue with Windows XP Media Center Edition. Installing SP2 over SP3 was not the problem for me, though I thought it was at the beginning. I had to change out a motherboard, and then had to reinstall windows. I was unable to enter safe mode or normal mode without the Activation popup, and then after clicking yes to activate, it would show my wallpaper and do nothing else. Have been searching for a few days for an answer with no luck. Found alot of information on wpa.dbl licence and registry fixes and people saying that it was due to having an OEM copy of XP. None of these were the case for me.

    HERE'S THE FIX...

    Download Internet Explorer 8 and Hotfix KB946501, burn them to disc

    Hotfix KB946501 http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/946501
    Internet Explorer 8 http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/default.aspx

    Start your PC and repeatedly hit F8 to get the safe mode menu.

    Choose safe mode with command prompt only (if you are unable to enter safe mode otherwise)

    When the command prompt appears type "explorer"

    Should load the Windows GUI behind the cmd window

    Install the KB946501 hotfix from your disc (may not need if you're not multicore)

    Install IE8

    Reboot normally in to Windows, you should be able to activate as usual.

    Apparently the activation Window is dependant upon IE.

    Hope this works, let me know.
    Tuesday, July 28, 2009 4:58 PM
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    This method just worked for me. I had to install the hotfix even on a single core single processor system. I did, however, have to reboot after installing the hotfix for the IE8 installer to recognize it was there. The activation window took a while to come up after hitting 'yes' at the activation dialog so be patient. It probably took about 5 minutes on my system.

    I believe this was caused by doing a repair with a SP2 disk on a SP3 system. The SP2 disk reverted IE back to IE6.

    Thanks for the info.
    Tuesday, July 28, 2009 6:30 PM
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    Well answered have been fumbling round thenet for 2 days trying to solve this - thanks
    Saturday, August 8, 2009 8:39 AM
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    Many thanks - this worked just fine for me.

    I'd already installed SP3 while I was beating my head against this...  not longer after that Windows was no longer claiming I had 3 days to re-activate and had gone (in the space of an hour or so) to the 'not allowed to log in' state, so I was pretty stymied.

    I didn't need the HotFix (since SP3 includes a newer version, or so the installer said), but the IE8 installation brought the activation wizard back to life.  I'm sure it's no coincidence that it also caused my motherboard's driver installation program to start working properly, also ;)

    Once again, thankyou :)
    Wednesday, August 26, 2009 12:12 AM
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    Excellent - worked for me too...

    David
    David
    Monday, September 7, 2009 1:17 PM
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    Oops accidentally proposed as answer on the above post, sorry.

    I was having the same issue with Windows XP Media Center Edition. Installing SP2 over SP3 was not the problem for me, though I thought it was at the beginning. I had to change out a motherboard, and then had to reinstall windows. I was unable to enter safe mode or normal mode without the Activation popup, and then after clicking yes to activate, it would show my wallpaper and do nothing else. Have been searching for a few days for an answer with no luck. Found alot of information on wpa.dbl licence and registry fixes and people saying that it was due to having an OEM copy of XP. None of these were the case for me.

    HERE'S THE FIX...

    Download Internet Explorer 8 and Hotfix KB946501, burn them to disc

    Hotfix KB946501 http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/946501
    Internet Explorer 8 http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/default.aspx

    Start your PC and repeatedly hit F8 to get the safe mode menu.

    Choose safe mode with command prompt only (if you are unable to enter safe mode otherwise)

    When the command prompt appears type "explorer"

    Should load the Windows GUI behind the cmd window

    Install the KB946501 hotfix from your disc (may not need if you're not multicore)

    Install IE8

    Reboot normally in to Windows, you should be able to activate as usual.

    Apparently the activation Window is dependant upon IE.

    Hope this works, let me know.
    props to you Rowdy Rocket. I didn't have to install the patch for multi cores, but I did install IE8 and it worked beautifully. I was hoping I wasn't going to have to wipe and clean install. THAT would have been too much of a pain the butt.

    Thanks Again,
    James
    Sunday, September 20, 2009 2:57 AM
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    Worked like a charm, thanks for the info. I actually used a USB thumb drive instead of a cd.
    Thursday, November 5, 2009 6:53 AM
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    I was unable to enter safe mode or normal mode without the Activation popup

    Why not just give yourself 30 more days of Activation

    From Safe Mode or Safe Mode Command Prompt
    In the command line enter the following command:

    rundll32.exe syssetup,SetupOobeBnk

    If it doesn't work (although has for me every time) you may need to register two files first:

    regsvr32 regwizc.dll
    regsvr32 licdll.dll
    Then enter the rundll32.exe syssetup,SetupOobeBnk again

    Restart, and you have now 30 days to activate online or over the net or just run it again in 30 days (120days max)

    This has saved me many times, when a computer just will not activate properly, usually drivers or realtime protection stopping it btw ;)

    Thursday, November 5, 2009 7:32 AM
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    It is great post. Very pratical.
    Wednesday, November 18, 2009 6:50 AM
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    Thankyou very much Rowdy Rocket! I was going crazy with this problem and installing IE in safe mode worked like a charm. I didn't need the hotfix because it said I already had it or something like that (I have service Pack 3).
    Friday, November 20, 2009 5:18 AM
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    Nice Job RowdyRocket.

    I didn't know you could start explorer from the safe mode command prompt.

    Reinstalling IE 8 was the ticket (I skipped the update option while IE8 was loading).

    Way cool!
    Tuesday, November 24, 2009 1:08 AM
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    Oh BLESS YOU!!!!   You have no idea!  My mom ended up with Internet Security 2010 and I thought I had removed it all.  When I restarted the computer I couldn't log in at all.  I did a repair install and then could only boot in safe mode.  When I tried to boot up in normal mode I got the Activation popup, and then after clicking yes to activate, it showed my wallpaper and did nothing else.  It is now activated and booted.  Now I have to the find the rest of that nasty little bugger.

    Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
    • Edited by Tndrsroni Saturday, January 30, 2010 1:00 AM grammar
    Saturday, January 30, 2010 12:59 AM
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    Awsome Thanx!
    Sunday, January 31, 2010 3:52 PM
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    Oops accidentally proposed as answer on the above post, sorry.

    I was having the same issue with Windows XP Media Center Edition. Installing SP2 over SP3 was not the problem for me, though I thought it was at the beginning. I had to change out a motherboard, and then had to reinstall windows. I was unable to enter safe mode or normal mode without the Activation popup, and then after clicking yes to activate, it would show my wallpaper and do nothing else. Have been searching for a few days for an answer with no luck. Found alot of information on wpa.dbl licence and registry fixes and people saying that it was due to having an OEM copy of XP. None of these were the case for me.

    HERE'S THE FIX...

    Download Internet Explorer 8 and Hotfix KB946501, burn them to disc

    Hotfix KB946501 http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/946501
    Internet Explorer 8 http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/default.aspx

    Start your PC and repeatedly hit F8 to get the safe mode menu.

    Choose safe mode with command prompt only (if you are unable to enter safe mode otherwise)

    When the command prompt appears type "explorer"

    Should load the Windows GUI behind the cmd window

    Install the KB946501 hotfix from your disc (may not need if you're not multicore)

    Install IE8

    Reboot normally in to Windows, you should be able to activate as usual.

    Apparently the activation Window is dependant upon IE.

    Hope this works, let me know.
    you freakin champion, it works perfectly 
    repair to a pirate copy to legit copy sp3 safe mode install ie8 restart and activate i thank you you saved me a headache and an asprin
    kiss my shinny metal amd
    Monday, February 8, 2010 5:36 AM
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    Works great. Thanks

    Sunday, April 11, 2010 1:58 PM
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    Man that was real cool, I hadn't thought to do it that way, really thanks.
    Wednesday, June 23, 2010 9:51 PM
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    Thanks so Much!  A combination of KimsLand9 and JamesRMEvans solutions got me back up and running. 

    It's been racking my brain the past couple of days and was ready to just reformat.  This worked! 

    Was able to get in and activate as normal after registering both dll's and then rundll32.  No confirmation, but after restart, I was given 30 days. 

    Once I was able to login in NORMAL mode I ran the hotfix (not needed for me) and then installed Internet Explorer 8 manually.  After that I was able to re-activate the machine and use it again. 

    AWESOME!!!

    Thanks guys!

    • Edited by JohnBoz Wednesday, July 21, 2010 2:33 PM Wanted to put full resolution that helped me.
    Wednesday, July 21, 2010 2:21 PM
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    Excellent suggestion! worked great.
    Thursday, August 12, 2010 7:07 PM
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    Worked great!  IE8 was necessary for activation.  When I reloaded the operating system as a repair, it had reverted to IE6.  Didn't need the other piece since this computer is an older Pentium 4, not dual core.  Thanks!

    Wednesday, September 1, 2010 3:39 PM
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    This post just saved me Hours of time and will make a client very happy! Worked GREAT!!
    Tuesday, November 2, 2010 4:28 AM
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    Thanks Rowdy Rocket IE8 install cured it.

    David

    Friday, December 3, 2010 7:59 PM