Windows XP Activation Time Out - can't uninstall, can't do anything!!

I was provided with a company laptop, which came with XP Home (OEM) but had been upgraded to XP Pro. Problem is that the XP Pro activation key was not accepted by Microsoft (it had been installed on a different PC, but uninstalled). Yesterday (Thursday Nov 16) Windows XP Pro will not let me log on at all. I was emailed a new valid product key on Wednesday evening but I was out -- if only I had researched this issue, if only I had changed product keys that evening (Microsoft website tells you how -- altering OOBETimer in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Current Version\WPAEvents (see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328874)). But now it's too late! I even have the installation CDs and physical certificate of authenticity -- I got them last night. Before I received the install disc I tried to uninstall XP Pro, after all, the laptop came with XP Home OEM and has the valid key on the CofA sticker. Went into Safe Mode (only way I could get in), tried to run the osuninst and it wouldn't let me - some message about not having a valid product key -- now, how crap is that? -- Microsoft not letting me UNinstall their retched software. Ah, you might say, boot up the laptop using the new installation CD and perform a recovery on the existing XP Pro installation. Perhaps this would work, but although my user account has Admin rights, it wants THE Administrator password, which I do not have! The last resort is I have to physically hand the laptop back to support and get another one that we haven't screwed up (they can then reformat and reinstall everything for someone else). Problem is that this is no small thing as I am working remotely. If anyone knows a simple fix to uninstall Windows XP Pro when it has an product key timeout then it would be appreciated. This would save me and my support guys a whole load of faff.

 

I haven't messed around much with laptops, but one way you could do it (if you're willing to do a clean install) would be to delete the partition from the hard drive using a Windows 98 or ME startup disc. If you don't have one, you can probably download it.. I think you can also burn it to a CD and boot off that if there's no floppy drive. Type in "fdisk" (no quotes) and follow the onscreen instructions. One of the options will be to delete the partition, which is what you need to do. Next, put in your XP CD and restart the computer. It should give you the option of installing on the unpartitioned space. If you select that, windows will create a partition and format it.

** There might be easier / safer ways to achieve what you need to, so feel free to wait and see what anyone else can suggest.

 

Thanks for your reply.

I would have to give my laptop to support rather than reformat myself, as a whole load of s/w would be lost and would need to be reinstalled.

Does anyone know if I could use the Recovery option (during the install using the new CD) to solve this problem? There is a possibility that if this problem persists then I could get hold of the Administrator password for the laptop. I really don't want to have to exchange the laptop.

 

Try a repair install. During this, the computer should ask for the cd key.

 

Umm, maybe this is a stupid idea, but instead of reinstalling the O/S, why not choose "activate by phone" (as opposed to on-line) on the activation screen, click "change product key", put your new key in, and then call MS to get your computer activated? If you get into electronic robot voice machine hell, just start wailing away on the 0 key or say "collect them another way", you should get fired through to a real human being who should help you activate your product.

Actually, if your current copy of XP has a valid product key which is currently installed on only one computer (and is not an OEM key, such as Dell), you probably don't have to change the key at all. Just tell the dude or lady in activation that it is only installed on one computer, they should give you a code to activate.

If you can't get the activation screen up or if they give you the code but it comes up invalid, you will definately have to follow theefool's advice and run a repair.

 

Thanks all of you who replied, especially 'theefool' who nailed it!!

I hadn't described all of my antics, for the sake of brevity, but I had already spoken to Microsoft and tried fiddling about with the activation process in various ways. It seems that in this particular scenario the normal things will not work.

Thanks again 'theefool' -- I had tried the Recovery and 'install fresh copy' options, but hadn't tried the 'repair' option (I think I got confused and thought that it would just take me back to the Recovery page). The Recovery option required the Administrator password, and 'install fresh copy' would install a separate instance of the operating system, which is not what I wanted. The 'repair' option was just the ticket - it kept all of the user ids and other settings and the new product key was activated automatically. Excellent!!!

 

Glad I could help out. Just be sure to tell others, that MajorGeeks is the place to get your issues resolved!