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"This copy of Windows must be activated before you can log on."

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?
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Answer
These steps will work as long as the PC only has one User Profile, and has Internet Explorer 8 installed.

In my case, I:

(1) Followed the steps already listed here, with one adaptation: Safe mode: Command Prompt
" 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. *Safe Mode Command Prompt*
Once you are at the desktop in "Safe Mode", Click "Start" then click "Run".
At the run command prompt type the following EXACTLY

rundll32.exe syssetup,SetupOobeBnk

(2) Restart the PC, and boot it back into Safe Mode Command Prompt. 

(3) On a separate PC, download IE8 for WinXP  and put it on a thumb drive. I renamed the file to IE8install to make it easier later.

(4) Plug the thumb drive into the problematic PC 

(5) In command prompt install IE8. Your thumb drive's letter may be different. If e: doesn't work, try f: etc until you find the right one. 
type e: *enter*
ie8install.exe *enter*
(6) Complete the install, restart the PC, and you should be good to go. 

I thank everyone else in this thread for their help. It advanced a several hour headache.



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Answer
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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 EXACTLY

rundll32.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 OK

Wait 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

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Last updated April 30, 2024 Views 431,152 Applies to: