XP-SP2 activation - no window displayed

I am unable to obtain the display of the activation window when I type oobe/msoobe /a or go through Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Activation. There is no rebuttal. The request is processed but nothing happens.

I reinstalled XP from scratch and used the previous WPA which I had saved previously. The WPA files were copy-pasted under Safe Mode.

Bottom line : I don't know whether I am considered as activated or not.

 

If you're not activated, you should be getting periodic warnings in a balloon that pops up from the clock area (lower right corner). You can always try to do Windows Updates. I think that Windows Updates only work if you're activated. If not activated, you'll probably be prompted to activate and guided thru the process online.... let us know how this goes. I'm interested to see if updates are available on non activated PC's.... A couple of years ago, you could do the updates, wait 29 days, download and update to SP2 and it would give you another 30 days. Then on 29 (2nd time), you could again do the updates and buy another 30days without activating. So, you could get about 88 or 89 days before having to activate. Not like activation is a big deal, but what the hell, it was fun seeing how long I could push it. By the way- backing up the wpa file has NEVER worked for me for reactivation after a re-install. Maybe I did something wrong, but I've tried it at least 5 times with no luck.

hopperdave2000

Keep us posted

 

I'll give updates a try. There is no balloon tip anyhow because I blocked them through SafeXP or XP-AntiSpy.

The WPA trick should work if you apply it under Safe Mode. Maybe in your case you changed a piece of hardware when you reinstalled.

What is odd in my case is that I get no error message nor hang-up whenever I launch the oobe program.

I won't have access to that pc before the end of this week. Anyhow I'll keep you posted.

 

I couldn't work on this item after all because I couldn't get into Safe Mode for some odd reason (probably InCD).

I'll report back around mid-January. Anyhow, we'll know by then if the pc is activated or not!

 

I got involved in other problems with this pc and I had to reinstall XP for other reasons. Anyhow, the Activation seems to have been ok but I still do not know why oobe does not excute to provide me with the Activation status.

Thanks for your suggestions.