We have a Laptop with Windows XP that we have used for some time without problems. Suddenly we are getting a windows product activation box we never got before, requiring "This copy of Windows must be activated before you can log on." No new software has been installed recently, so this seems very odd. Is this a virus, or is it real?1 person needs an answerI do too

Boot into "Safe Mode". To do this, turn the laptop on and press F8 as it is booting up. Go into "Safe Mode" by choosing the "Safe Mode" option.Once you are at the desktop in "Safe Mode", Click "Start" then click "Run".At the run command prompt type the following EXACTLYrundll32.exe syssetup,SetupOobeBnk*NOTE: The "Oo"'s in Oobe are "oh's" - not "zero's" There is one space after rundll32.exe. It is case sensitive as far as I know.Click OKWait a few seconds - the screen may blip a few times or so.This just reset Windows Activation for 30 days.Reboot the PC into normal mode - log in - re-activate Windows

To "the sasquatch",I was having the same problem abh1952 was having, and your recommended solution got me back up and running immediately. Thanks so much for your help.One question: Can your procedure be repeated multiple times after the first 30 days to keep things running indefinitely or do you only get a "one time" 30-day reset and that's all?Thanks again.zeredward

I'm not sure. I would imagine if it happens again it could be reset. I had a PC I had to reset because I had to do a Windows Repair install and for some reason it saw the PC as not being activated when indeed it had been activated. So after doing the repair install and then having to go back and apply service pack and Microsoft updates I was finally able to go back and do the activation. So I don't anticipate having to re-do it again.There is a Microsoft KB article on this where you activate Microsoft Windows but keep getting the Activate Windows AFTER you have already activated. It is in the Mircosoft KB - just have to look for it.

Omg thank you SO much! You're a life saver!

Wow thanks so much...so is it fixed now or do I have to do something else?

This did not work for my HP Mini 311. I get a message in safemode that I have to activate before I can launch safe mode too - any ideas? When I go to activate in I go to a blue screen adn it can sit like that for days

Do the F8 Key, but select Command Prompt. Login and when you get the command prompt, cd to C:\Windows\System32. Then type in the line Sasquatch suggested.This just worked for me. I had an HP the I did a repair install on and then got the "Activate" prompt and could not activate. After doing the Safe Mode Command Prompt, I am now logged in.Good Luck.

Thanks this looks promising - I am so close I can taste it! When I go to type \ I get an 'a' with an accent above it. How do I change out of a foreign language in safemode command?

"DDyble" wrote in message news:Email removed for privacy...Thanks this looks promising - I am so close I can taste it! When I go to type \ I get an 'a' with an accent above it. How do I change out of a foreign language in safemode command?It seems that you have managed to boot into Safe Mode with command prompt. When you type, the characters on your VDU screen don't match the ones on the keyboard.It is difficult to provide a definitive answer to this question, without knowing the type of keyboard your computer THINKS you are using - or the keyboard you are actually using. However, the following workaround should provide a temporary solution.Take a sheet of paper and a pen - and draw a diagram of your keyboard.Boot your computer into Safe Mode - Command Prompt.Then, press each key in turn. So if you are using a QWERTY keyboard, you would type QWERTYUIOP{ }.On your diagram, write down the upper case character that each key produces. Repeat the process for the lower case characters - and also for each row of keys.This will probably take a while but sooner or later, you will have a record of which key you need to press for every character.