Xp Home activation headache

Hi, folks. Can anyone tell me how to activate Windows Xp Home from the command line?

This damned laptop (HP, no recovery disks, nothing useful in HP_recovery) installed windows like a charm from a factory CD after a thorough formatting, using the license key on the laptop. Final step before getting to the desktop: activation. But MS then fails to accept a valid activation.
Instead it prompts for activation again every time you try to log in. Try to click through it and it either says Windows is already activated or that there is an activation error. Then it logs off.

It refuses to boot to safe mode because it doesn't know it has been activated.

But I can get to the safe mode command line. So I am hoping to learn how to activate that way.

Suggestions?

 

Welcome to MajorGeeks

Has it been 30 days since the first install? I believe you may be stuck with reinstalling windows. ed

 

I have done a low-level format and reinstalled three times in the last two days.

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/312295/en-us

 

"Toll-free telephone numbers are available in all countries whose telephony infrastructures provide for them. The telephone numbers to call are displayed when telephone activation is chosen."
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/evaluation/features/activation.mspx

There are a lot of sites out there with info about this issue, but in my [rather limited] experience, I've found that a simple phone call to Microsoft will quickly get things resolved. Despite all their problems, Microsoft is extremely responsive regarding customer issues, and always willing to spend the time to get things resolved.

Basically, there are several (10?) things that are looked at to gain activation. There's a program available that shows how your system measures up, via link on this page...
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.php

Look for "XPInfo" about 2/3 down the page (and maybe read the page, too).
I hope this helps.

 

Google "So I got a pirate copy of Windows and what now.com" -

There is an excellent phone nmber for all you guys who have "lost your activation code" You want advice? Telephone Microsoft! Ask them.

 

Well, I've got both points of view.

In fact, the CD was lost and I am using a CD from another machine, but the license key is the one that came with the machine, so this is a legitimate call for help.

Microsoft was less than helpful. They want me to pay money to solve their problem. Maybe.

But one of these links looks promising - the one with EIGHT steps. But I can get into regedit from the command line, so I am hoping that will do the trick. And thanks for all the fish.

I'll post my results.

 

Nuts.

Didn't work.

But in Step 3 (delete RESETS from HKLM/SW/MS/WinNT/CV/Winlogon/Notify)
there was no RESETS subkey to delete.

So, of course, I didn't.

Other possibilities?

 

Keep in mind, it not Microsofts fault that you lost the disc for your pc, just because it says xp home, all cd'c are not the same, your license key is for one particular version of xp, your key will not work on another. ed

 

(You want advice? Telephone Microsoft! Ask them( YEA RIGHT AND THERE SINK HOLE OF SUPPORT

it could be that your copy of WinDO-Hs has been used 2many times I think the limit for activating the same copy is 3 or 4 not sure Remember

 

Now it tells me the activation period has expired.

The HP website says I have to buy replacement recovery CDs. To hell with that.

I will find a way, and I intend no payment to either Microsoft or HP. If their PC and OS were adequately protected, formatting the drive would not have become necessary in the first place.

 

ONE WORD !!!!!!!!!!LINUX!!!!!!

best for Beginners
http://www.ubuntu.com/

 

Your point is well taken but it isn't an option in this case - it's not my computer.