Windows activation message after installing new RAM

stulaunch

Installed additional Ram on Laptop.

Now i'm getting message to "activate windows in 7 days" when booting up.
If i click yes i get a message after about 3 minutes of blank screen, telling me windows has already been activated, but message comes up again every time i switch it on.

It is a genuine copy of XP

Any ideas on how to stop it?

Thanks

BikerEd

XP will need re-activation if you make significant changes to the hardware on a machine. I'm surprised it is done for just a simple RAM upgrade, but then again being Microsoft perhaps I shouldn't be. I had to reactivate a PC when I did a motherboard swap and from memory the process was swift and painless involving one simple phone call to Microsoft.

S0litaire

Try holding down f10 key during boot to get the windows menu and pick "Safe Mode With Networking".

See if you get the message to Activate windows again. It might be your anti-virus or firewall blocking windows making the changes to the registry it requires to finish the Activation program. Hopefully in Safemode it should not have the anti-virus or firewall loaded so the activation should run through.

stulaunch

Thing is BikerEd when i click to activate windows it comes up with message saying it has already been activated.


S0litaire, it tells me i cant activate windows in safe mode i have to open windows normally

Rock_Bottom

Start > Control Panel > System ... Open System and look at the bottom to see if your computer is activated, if not then click on the link to activate online ... enter the Product Key that can be found on a lable which will be stuck somewhere on your computer .. just type in the number and click the NEXT button.

stulaunch

Rock Bottom, i clicked on register later on opening screen then did what you suggested and it has got my serial number in the system / general page. Theres no link to activate there.

When i restart Laptop it now asks me to activate in 6 days now, so it is counting down because iv'e not been on it since yesterday.

I feel i'm going to have trouble with it if i dont sort it out in the next 6 days.

Any ideas?

Lum

Start \ Run and type: %systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a
then click ok.

What happens when you do that? Does it try to activate?
If you are given the option to activate by telephone then try that because then if it goes wrong you should at least get to speak to someone.

Also do you still have your licensing key to hand, should be a sticker with a 25-digit code somewhere on your PC. You might be needing that soon.

stulaunch

Lum wrote: »

Start \ Run and type: %systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a
then click ok.

What happens when you do that? Does it try to activate?
If you are given the option to activate by telephone then try that because then if it goes wrong you should at least get to speak to someone.

Also do you still have your licensing key to hand, should be a sticker with a 25-digit code somewhere on your PC. You might be needing that soon.

Thanks for the quick reply Lum, going to try that now and yes the licence key is on Laptop.

stulaunch

Lum, i get the same screen as when i click to activate windows on startup.
It says Windows is already activated click ok to exit.

Worst thing is he's supposed to having this Laptop for his birthday on Monday, I haven't got time to take it anywhere to be sorted. Going to have 1 dissapointed boy by Thursday.

stulaunch

I was searching for answer on microsoft website and saw this
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/312295

Does any recommend trying this? I do have a xp home cd.

Looks a bit complicated but i could make a restore point before i try.

stulaunch

Great stuff the microsoft link has sorted it.

It disables some problem script and reinstalls product key.

Thanks everyone anyway