WinXP Home SP3 - Activation issues

Yeah- I've posted with similar problems in the past and never really got those problems fixed (other than reformatting). So, it's the same story: motherboard died; installed new MB; performed XP repair install as I have hundreds of times; system loads to the desktop after the install OK; all drivers installed OK; when I click on the little activation keys in the system tray by the clock, they disappear like they should, but that's it; if I click Start > All Programs > Activate Windows, the same thing happens, the All Programs list closes and that's it; I've tried running %systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a from the Run line and nothing happens. :banghead :cry HELP!!! When I say "nothing happens" I really mean that NOTHING HAPPENS! No beeps, no clicks, no window opens, no error message, absolutely nothing happens as if I hadn't clicked on anything at all.

(I'm trying to avoid a clean install due to the quantity of data that needs saving)

 

Is this a retail, or an OEM copy of Windows? A new mobo to Microsoft is the same as trying to reinstall on a new computer. An OEM install might not like that so much.

 

The PC is/was an older HP tower (socket 478 Celeron 2.6ghz). The MB died, I installed a new s775 with a new CPU, new RAM. I performed a safe re-install of Windows. I would have no problem with calling Microsoft to activate over the phone, but I can't seem to get the activation window to come up. Without the activation window, I can't get the Product ID number (which is VERY different from the product key; the product key is on the sticker on the case, and it was accepted during the install process; the Product ID is 7 groups of 6 numbers per group; the Product Key is 5 groups of 5 mixed numbers and letters per group). Without the Product ID number, I have nothing to give to the automated phone activation 'wizard'. Even if I could get the Product ID, I'd have no place to type in the new Product ID from the automated 'wizard'. :banghead

 

You did the verboten thing when dealing with major branded PCs. HP, Dell and some others have an OEM deal with Microsoft where they use a technique called SLP which somehow ties activation to the BIOS. It does make things more convenient for the user in that you can change the machine configuration anyway you want except for MB and BIOS without causing activation issues. I think your only hope is to call microsoft support and talk to a real person about your problem. I believe they have a program intended for people that innocently wound up with pirated OS to provide a discount for purchase. If you ever get into working on a major branded PC with MB/BIOS problems, you need to deal with the manufacturer to avoid your present headache.
Good Luck!
Jerry

 

I've done many, MANY mobo replacements in Dells, HPs, Compaqs, etc with regular "off the shelf" motherboards (in other words, using boards NOT from the PC maker but I do try to at least match the chipset when possible) and rarely have issues like this. After talking to the PC owner, we've decided to back up over 20gb in music, docs, videos, etc, and format the drive, and install a clean XP. We were trying to avoid doing this because of the time involved in backing up the data (which is a moot point now anyway) and because he doesn't have his Office and Photoshop install discs (or product keys) anymore. Why is it that people NEVER seem to keep track of software that they spent over $100 or $200 on??? It's like taking a $100 bill and having your cat hide it someplace; it's still in your house somewhere, but you can't find it when you need it.