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xp won’t reactivate after upgrading system state

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Recently, I had to reinstall xp sp2. I used a sp2 slipstream disk. I weekly
back up my system state so I can reinstall my settings in case something like
this happens.
After I reinstalled xp, I used backup to upgrade my system state. My system
state is also sp2. After I rebooted, whenever I tried to log in, a message
saying I needed to activate the product came up. I oked it but it brought me
back to the log in screen. After a couple of tries it just reboots the
system. I was able to activate it with the initial reinstall; I also tried
the reinstall without activating but both times on the reboot the same thing
happened.
Do I need to go into the recovery console and change some settings or is
there something else I need to do?
Does this activation message have to do with the restore settings?
Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks

Topic

Reply To: xp won’t reactivate after upgrading system state

In reply to xp won’t reactivate after upgrading system state

The root cause of the reactivation request depends on many variables. Including any hardware changes since the original activation, and the specific back up and restore method.

Microsoft does recognize that people need to wipe there systems and start over from time to time, and will reactivate with no issues.

This only becomes an issue should you switch to new hardware within 3 to 6 months after your last activation, or reinstall XP very often.

If the automatic on-line activation fails, you call an 800 number and provide the person on the other end with codes from the PC. They will provide you with an activation code.

Chas

Reply To: xp won’t reactivate after upgrading system state

In reply to xp won’t reactivate after upgrading system state

The product activated when I reinstalled xp. It didn’t want to activate after I used the backup utility to upgrade a saved system state.
In other words I reinstalled and was able to login.
I then went into the backup utility and browsed to the hard disk where the prior saved system state file had been saved. After I did the restore; I had to reboot the system so that those upgraded system state settings would take effect.
It was at this login screen where I was unable to login from, where the “this product needs to be activated” message came up.
I’m sorry if I was not clear about this in my original post.

Reply To: xp won’t reactivate after upgrading system state

In reply to xp won’t reactivate after upgrading system state

If you reinstall windows XP, you MUST activate it! With backup you can’t resolve the activation issue. You have one option, to save an image with Norton Ghost or other image maker application.

Reply To: xp won’t reactivate after upgrading system state

In reply to xp won’t reactivate after upgrading system state

I wondered about that.

When you restored your backup files, you also restored the old activation files. If the activation files on the hard drive do not match details that Microsoft stores elsewhere about activation Windows assumes you are trying to use someone else’s activation code on your system and locks you out.

This should be a no issue reactivation by calling the Microsoft Activation number for where you live.

My best advice should you need to reload XP again would be to restore from your backup before you activate XP.

Here is a very good article on Windows Product Activation:

http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm

Chas

Reply To: xp won’t reactivate after upgrading system state

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