Windows XP Activation

[Ray]

Had a strange problem with Windows activation on my main PC last night, I had to reboot the machine to disable a Raid controller in the BIOS that I no longer use. I started the machine up again and Windows started to load and then decided it wasn't activated, which was strange as I hadn't made any changes to my hardware since I upgraded the MB and CPU nearly five months ago and had to reactivate then. 

Tried to reactivate and wasn't allowed to because it claimed I'd exceeded the number of activations on this machine . However on investigating the Windows activation databases I discovered it had generated a new file that was a different size to the previous one, however the problem was finally solved by restoring backup copies of the 2 activation database files from an Image. 

[kinmel]

That's the problem with genuine software, it likes to make the owner's life as difficult as possible. Ordinary users would have had to go through all the hoops to get it working again, while so many of us  can simply bypass their crippleware.

[somanyholes]

That's the problem with genuine software, it likes to make the owner's life as difficult as possible. Ordinary users would have had to go through all the hoops to get it working again, while so many of us  can simply bypass their crippleware.

couldn't agree more!

[Rik]

I'll third that. 

[Simon]

I'll forth it - but where are these activation database files?

[somanyholes]

"When you activate Windows XP, Microsoft stores the data in the Windows Product Activation database files wpa.dbl and Wpa.bak in the folder %systemroot%\system32. If you change the motherboard or make significant hardware changes, XP will require you to reactive. But if you plan to reinstall XP on the same hardware, you can back up the activation status and then restore it after you reinstall and avoid the activation process. You can backup the Windows Product Activation database files to diskette. They are very small. A directory listing from my XP Pro workstation:


C:\WINDOWS\system32>dir wp*
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 8447-0571

Directory of C:\WINDOWS\system32

10/24/2001  08:28 PM            12,584 wpa.bak
01/14/2002  09:05 AM            12,642 wpa.dbl

After you reinstall XP, to restore the Windows Product Activation database files:

    * Start XP to Minimal Safe mode
    * Change directory to the \%systemroot%\system32 folder
    * Rename the newly created wpa.dbl to wpa.nonactivated and wpa.bak, if it exists, to wpabak.nonactivated.
    * Copy your backed up wpa.dbl and wpb.bak files to the system32 folder
    * Reboot

This should work if you want to avoid activating XP after a reinstall or restore on the same or very similar hardware. It will not work if the hardware is significantly different from that in place when the Windows Product Activation database files were created. This is not a hack to avoid activating installations."

http://www.windowsnetworking.com/kbase/WindowsTips/WindowsNT/UserTips/Miscellaneous/BackupRestoreXPActivation.html

[Gary]

I had an odd one, Windows did not like a esata external HDD using the J Micron esata controller, windows decided after plugging my HDD in that it was not a genuine copy (XP) rebooted and it was fine until it decided the next day it was not a genuine copy again, which it was as it was a retail copy bought from Staples, the wonderful world of windows genuine advantage glitches

[Simon]

Thanks, So!  You must have been at the handbooks this morning! 

[vitriol]

great tip there so!

[Ray]

I had an odd one, Windows did not like a esata external HDD using the J Micron esata controller, windows decided after plugging my HDD in that it was not a genuine copy (XP) rebooted and it was fine until it decided the next day it was not a genuine copy again, which it was as it was a retail copy bought from Staples, the wonderful world of windows genuine advantage glitches

Funny, Gary, that was just the controller I had disable on my PC when it restarted and decided it wasn't activated, must be some conflict with Windows and the Jmicron controller possibly.

[Sebby]

Activation is a pain, though I've always found MS very easy to deal with if it won't activate online.