Why can't I activate Windows XP?

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Who cares, running windows on a computer is like buying a car and having your keys stop working if you put new tires on it.

Microsoft needs to stop acting like a bully in the market place.

I had the same problem with a new system setup. I used the most current version of the MS install disk as well.
The problem IS the lack of identifiable network card. While I was unable to install driver's in safe mode, I was able to install a network card into the machine and get a valid installation id. This enabled me to activate windows and complete my setup

I had a similar problem.

Can't access the net because there are no drivers and no ID Number to tell the tell the "Tech" (someone with a flip book of instructions that they follow no matter what you say even if you have done them five times already and tell them it doesn't work. They make you do them again with each "Tech" and then when it doesn't work again they put you on hold while they read the next steps in the book.)

I've learned three things.
1. Microsoft is no help with this problem except to waste about an hour and a half making you reboot, read numbers, edit the registry, boot to safe mode, get numbers off the center of the install disk, make you change the product key, transfer you to someone else who will go through the same stuff and still not fix the problem.

2. When you install don't add a password when asked - leave blank.

3. Don't name the machine just accept the default name that is in the box.

This allows it to boot to the point that you can add drives. It will begin to ask you to activate incessantly, but wait until you have all the drivers then activate over the net.

This has worked for me.

Barry

Leo,

Thanks for this article, it now gives me renewed hope! I wasted an entire vacation day yesterday trying to re-install Windows XP. The begining story was different. My PC refused to let me install service pack 2, which lead to issues with Norton and I suspect some other software abnormalities. I had tried re-installing the software previously but the re-install would not accept my product key. I suspected it had something to do with the fact that the machine was built at tech school. So, I forked out the money and bought a new install disk and product key. The first attempt appeared to work but Windows ran extremely slow. When I tried to do a windows update, it failed installing service pack 3. I tried installing xp again and I got similar results as you did. The third attempt, I decided to to a complete reload rather than the option to repair the existing install. Same problem, I could not activate with the network card and when I tried the phone option no installation ID. However, I did find that if I attempted a network install then selected telephone at the fail screen, then an installation ID would display. I then did the phone activiation and it accepted the number provided but when I attempted to log in, it would not allow it and would tell me to active Windows. So, I would say OK activate, and it would tell me it was already activated. When I went to bed last night at midnight, I was caught in this endless loop.

I'll now try the save mode approach to see if that helps.

I just went through the whole rigamarow you wrote about above to activate XP over the telephone... only to have it successfully finish and then tell me right afterwards I needed to activate my windows to be able to log in. Thats right, the telephone activation finished with the "Thanks for activating!" screen and then it went into a loop.

Its now 19:27 and I have to have this PC up and running by tomorrow morning. I'm not pleased to say the very least.

And the kicker is, I'm using a brand new XP CD with the code it came with.

Just wanted to add how I fixed my problem. I did an XP repair install over the fubared installation. Since it already had the NIC drivers installed, this time I was able to log in with no problem. I ended up getting home at around 23:00... *sigh*

Hi
I had this problem. I found the network was ok put the sound card driver was not installed. I installed it in safe mode and rebooted. Then it once again told me I had to activate it. This time it still would not do it over the internet but the phone worked. But after I rebooted I get the "need to activate" again. If I click yes I get a message that the computer is already activated. I get caught in a loop. I went to MS and ran through their fix. No good. I gave up. I am now re-formating and will try once again to install. IF this doesn't work I may go visit the MAC store.

I just had the same crap of this activation stuff, and the loop after doing the network driver fix and online activation. Question : when you installed XP, was your LAN cable plugged in or not? Mine was the 1st time. Now its out.... maybe it makes a difference ???

Updated: Problem solved. Unplugging the network cable, as per earlier post. And also, I used another XP OEM CD. Both CD's are original as bought in the package disks.
Somehow I think Leo has a point, the network drivers / Active LAN has something to do with this. In my case: on a G31M Gigabyte mobo.

Certainly a LAN Card CAN have something to do with the missing Activation ID problem, however as a system builder, it is unusual for us to try and register Windows before we install the drivers anyway and virtually all the time, that works.

The missing link here is finding out what triggers the immediate activation screen on startup, rather than the usual 30 days. It does happen with mismatched versions of Windows and Product Keys, multiple activations for the same number and problems reading the Windows CD.

The most annoying part of this is that the legitimate owners and repairers get the problem and the pirates get cheats that do not suffer the same fates. Microsoft needs a better plan.

Thank you Leo for your article, it certainly assisted me as one of the posters had my solution, a different legitimate CD. My WinXP Pro SP2 CD with its Product Key had the fault, yet a new WinXP Pro SP3 CD with my Win XP Pro SP2 Product Key didn't. That stops piracy?

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