Windows will not activate tip:

[Mushin]

Here is a uniqe scenario that I ran into regarding a repair install of Windows and the failure of Windows to be able to activate.

Problem:
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Customers Video Card came un seated.
Customer put video card back in slow.
Windows detected new hard ware and installed the driver.
The computer blue screened on boot in all safe modes.

Testing Performed
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Booted to a live cd with no problems
Booted to UBCD Mini XP with no problems

Determination
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Bad Drivers

Repair Needs
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Wanted to fix with little hands on time since we were swamped with two full benches.

The Process
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Performed a repair install using Windows XP Disc
Booted to Windows and no blue screen
At startup the computer wanted to activate but would not launch Windows Activation.... It just stalled on the clients background image and would not load.

The problem... the repair install thinks IE 7 is installed when it is actually IE8 becase of the disc used for the repair install.

Rebooted to XP Safe mode (Command prompt)
Inserted Windows XP offline update disc
Performed the updates.

Rebooted (normal mode) and activated Windows without problem.
Installed all necessary updates.

Why I am sharing this
----------------------------------
A long time ago we ran into a similar issue and hunted all over the net for the fix. Can't remember what was actually was done to fix the problem back then but I do remember that the problem was with IE7 vs IE8 like I mentioned above.

So knowing this I figured the fastest way to put things in order was to simply boot to command prompt and "install" IE 8... thus fixing the problem and installing updates at the same time.

Although there may be other ways to fix this particular problem this one was ver efficient and hands off. Total "touch" time to fix was under 15 minutes.

 

[mraikes]

LOL - Where were you yesterday when I had this problem?! Similar scenario - repair install over IE8, hung on Windows activation.

I resolved it, but not as straightforward as this solution. Thanks!

 

[FoolishTech]

I've seen similar before, performed all Windows updates, then was able to activate. Never knew it was an IE problem, thanks for the info!

 

[Mushin]

This was the first time we performed that fix in this manner and it was cake so I am glad to hear that other will find it usefull.

 

[cyabro]

Yea had this many times and took me a while to figure out it was an IE issue.
I have a little command you can run from safe mode that resets the activation time back to 30 days so you can boot back in normal mode and get updates, drivers installed etc then activate whenever you like.

rundll32.exe syssetup,SetupOobeBnk

note: it is case sensitive.
Wait a few seconds after running it, you won't see any confirmation or anything then restart the pc.
Activation should now be back to 30 days.

 

[Mushin]

That is the command that I ran way back when I first ran into this problem. I recall that it did not work for some reason and in the end we had to do something with IE. That is what led to the above.

So definately try running that command.... if it does not work... safe mode with command promt and a Windows offline update is a good next step.

 

[cyabro]

That's strange as I've used it a lot and never had it not work.
You have to make sure you type it exactly as I've got it there otherwise it won't work.