I've got a volume license copy of XP, and have successfully activated it on
my computer before, but I've changed my configuration significantly and now
it wants me re-activate. Problem is, I get absolutely nothing in the box
that says Activate Windows when I try to follow the steps to do it online.
Consequently, I can't be helped over the phone unless I know my installation
ID, which I don't. And MS wants to charge me 35 bucks to tell me how to
figure out what it is over the phone. I'm hoping someone on here can help
me; I just wanted more RAM, not to no longer be able to use my computer or
access my files at all. And I don't particularly want to spend 35 bucks for
the privelege of fixing it myself, just to once again be able to use
something I rightfully own.

Volume License versions of Windows XP do not require
Product Activation. If you are being prompted to activate,
then you have either a retail or OEM version.

Try the following:

1. Reboot your computer into "Safe Mode".
2. Go to Start > Run and type: %systemroot%\system32 then press the Enter key.
3. Locate these two files: wpa.dbl and wpa.bak
4. Rename the wpa.dbl file to wpaold.dbl and wpa.bak to wpaold.bak
5. Reboot your computer into Normal mode.

This will force activation on the following boot, but should remove the message that
you are already activated message. Sometimes if these files get corrupted, they can cause
this type of problem.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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"Daniel229" wrote:

| I've got a volume license copy of XP, and have successfully activated it on
| my computer before, but I've changed my configuration significantly and now
| it wants me re-activate. Problem is, I get absolutely nothing in the box
| that says Activate Windows when I try to follow the steps to do it online.
| Consequently, I can't be helped over the phone unless I know my installation
| ID, which I don't. And MS wants to charge me 35 bucks to tell me how to
| figure out what it is over the phone. I'm hoping someone on here can help
| me; I just wanted more RAM, not to no longer be able to use my computer or
| access my files at all. And I don't particularly want to spend 35 bucks for
| the privelege of fixing it myself, just to once again be able to use
| something I rightfully own.

Arg. Then why did the guy on the phone make it sound like I had volume
license? I thought that didn't sound right. I'm so confused. Thanks for
the tip; hopefully it'll do the trick. Daniel

"Carey Frisch [MVP]" wrote:

> Volume License versions of Windows XP do not require
> Product Activation. If you are being prompted to activate,
> then you have either a retail or OEM version.
>
> Try the following:
>
> 1. Reboot your computer into "Safe Mode".
> 2. Go to Start > Run and type: %systemroot%\system32 then press the Enter key.
> 3. Locate these two files: wpa.dbl and wpa.bak
> 4. Rename the wpa.dbl file to wpaold.dbl and wpa.bak to wpaold.bak
> 5. Reboot your computer into Normal mode.
>
> This will force activation on the following boot, but should remove the message that
> you are already activated message. Sometimes if these files get corrupted, they can cause
> this type of problem.
>
> --
> Carey Frisch
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows Shell/User
> Microsoft Community Newsgroups
> news://msnews.microsoft.com/
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> "Daniel229" wrote:
>
> | I've got a volume license copy of XP, and have successfully activated it on
> | my computer before, but I've changed my configuration significantly and now
> | it wants me re-activate. Problem is, I get absolutely nothing in the box
> | that says Activate Windows when I try to follow the steps to do it online.
> | Consequently, I can't be helped over the phone unless I know my installation
> | ID, which I don't. And MS wants to charge me 35 bucks to tell me how to
> | figure out what it is over the phone. I'm hoping someone on here can help
> | me; I just wanted more RAM, not to no longer be able to use my computer or
> | access my files at all. And I don't particularly want to spend 35 bucks for
> | the privelege of fixing it myself, just to once again be able to use
> | something I rightfully own.
>
>
>