[Mhouser]

I have a issue on my work laptop that I haven't found a solution to.

After rebooting my computer there is a message that states:
Your Windows product must be activated within _ days.
Do you want to activate Windows now?

After I click yes getting a Windows Product Activation window appears.
Windows is already activated. Click OK to exit.

Doesn't seem to effect Windows at all just really annoying to have to go thru this each time windows reboot.

Using Windows XP SP2. Hate to have to reinstall windows again to make this go away, I got another 5 days till product must be activated for an already activated Windows.

[Elvandil]

Go to Start > Run, and type:

chkdsk /r

Answer "Y" to the questions and let the scan finish on reboot.

If that doesn't do it, deactivate your machine and then reactivate it.

Go to Start > Run, and type:

%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a

If that doesn't work, then run regedit, navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\wpaevents

and change any single number in OOBEtimer in the right pane. Close regedit and try the command in the Run box again.

[Mhouser]

Yes that worked after modifying the OOBEtimer in the regedit registry.

Thanks.

[Elvandil]

Good work. 5 days is not very long with a timer running out.

You can mark your own threads "solved" using the Thread Tools above.

[tony007]

How do I change single number they are all preceded by a letter and this is also deleted when I try to delete and change single number???? When day 0 comes what will happen???

[Frank4d]

When time runs out you cannot logon because Windows is not activated, and you cannot activate Windows because you cannot logon.

[tony007]

But thats just it when I get the message and I click on yes I am told that windows is already activated. So what will happen when day 0 comes around.

[avisitor]

You would definitely want to give the Activation Hotline a ring if you have a legit copy of Windows.

[pgypps1]

This is the fix, seems that the registry key WPAEVENTS become read only so that the registration details cant be updated.

Go to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=5d600369-0554-4595-8ab4-c34b2860e087&DisplayLang=en
And download Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset tutorial formally known as ERD Commander
Create the disk as described and boot from it. This will give you a windows looking environment and access to your registry. (note for sata hdds may need to add sata drivers When you start the computer, you press F6 when the CD starts to boot)
Start
Run
REGEDIT
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\wpaevents
I found that clicking on WPAEVENTS informed me I had no right to open it
Right lick WPAEVENTS and reset permissions
Restart the PC and boot windows normally
Job done, just register normally