Activation Loop

[thetenfold]

I am in the activation loop. I've already activated it before. It would be a pretty easy fix (I think) except for the fact that I had turned on autologin. So when I go to safe mode to try to fix this, it logs on my user account (which needs the activation) automatically instead of the Administrator account which I need to log on.
I tried the recovery console to rename the wpa.dbl file, and copy a fresh file to the system32 folder, but when I do the expand or copy command in "I:\i386" (I: is my cd drive; D: is my local disk drive) it says access is denied.
Is there anything I can do? Can I change the autologin value off through command line recovery console?

 

[thetenfold]

(I don't know if I can edit my post)
I just got my autologin turned off, and got into safe mode. I expanded new copied of wpa.dbl and all the suggested files from microsoft. I tried changing the oobetimer like it said in another thread. Now when I logon, it logs on but it pops up a blank box right after I click logon and after I click ok, it goes to my background, but no GUI. I can't do task manager, no keys work.

 

[linney]

If you have no access in Safe Mode it sounds like it might be time for a repair install? You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

Other things you can look at.

An easy to follow recovery console description when unable to start computer due to corrupt registry.

http://www.digitalwebcast.com/2002/03_mar/tutorials/cw_boot_toot.htm

This is a layman's version of Q307545 in simple language.


Even more simple with a working machine you can do all the above automatically via a download of the appropriate Guided Help exe.

Guided Help to recover a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

You never know but perhaps just running ChkDsk /r from the Recovery Console might sort out some of the mess, at least enough to allow you into Windows so that you can contact Microsoft Activation Support via the normal Microsoft Support Phone Line?

 

[thetenfold]

If you read my 2nd post, you would see I got into safe mode and I can no longer. I already did a repair install and it didn't help at all. I can't get guided help since I can't get into safe mode anymore.
It doesn't give me an error when I get the blank box, just allows me to click OK. It's a blank unclickable screen from there.

 

[linney]

Did you try the Recover Console option version of the Guided Help?

http://www.digitalwebcast.com/2002/03_mar/tutorials/cw_boot_toot.htm

Do you want to try and save your valuable data followed by a Format and clean install? Have a look at what something like BartPE, or even a Parallel install of XP can do along those lines.

Cannot logon to winxp...losing lots of valuable documents
thread779-975236

 

[thetenfold]

How would I do BartPE if I couldn't log on at all?

 

[linney]

You are on the Internet so I must assume you have access to a working machine. You must use that working machine to create the BartPE CD, which is a bootable CD, and runs a cut down version of XP from CD and instead of the hard drive.

 

[thetenfold]

Actually I'm using a Ubuntu live cd but I do have another pc (not mine but it's in the house and I can use it).
I'll try it out.

 

[thetenfold]

This is the box I'm getting.

http://i40.tinypic.com/ibyxxw.jpg

 

[linney]

Does Windows load if you ignore that message box and don't click on it? The message box is probably coming from some Startup entry in the Registry, login script or batch file or your Startup folder. You need access to fix it.



As you have tried -

http://www.digitalwebcast.com/2002/03_mar/tutorials/cw_boot_toot.htm

via the Recovery Console,

and have tried running BartPE without success,

and have tried a Parallel Install without success,

and can't access Safe Mode.

You could try removing the hard drive and scanning it for malware in another machine, or take it to a repair shop and ask them to get your data off and scan it for malware at the same time

The only other thing I can think of is examining the Registry Hives out of the Windows environment (on another machine) and looking at Startup entries.

disabling startups...
thread779-1003033

On any other machine to load a Registry Hive, as an Administrator highlight one of the two following Keys, it will only be available for these Keys.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
HKEY_USERS

These two articles in the RegEdit Help are a good explanation of the process.

To load a hive into the registry
To unload a hive from the registry

How to edit the registry offline using BartPE boot CD

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/peboot.htm

The final option left might be a format and clean install, and that might be your best option as your machine sounds like it is hopelessly compromised with Activation, and other unknown problems.

.