fixing an old laptop, did a repair install, when logging in, is says this copy of windows must be activated before you can log on, do you want to activate windows now?

i click yes, it logs in, but right back out. when i click on the user account, it repeats t the process.

Anybody got any solutions?

You must Activate via phone with MS its the only way to activate windows xp now have fun talking to guy from India.

it doesn't even give the option, logs in, shows the background, then logs out, no window, no nothing

You should get a message that you have to activate now (while on the logon screen), once you choose to activate the copy of windows it brings the windows activation screen up from the long screen and there is a button for telephone. If there isn't, it sounds like the copy of the WPA software is hosed...

The obvious question is did you reinstall windows with the same version already installed? Ie OEM installed but used retail cd. Thatll screw activation

-gosh

FYI, I hope you don't have dial-up!

If you do, when it brings up the activation options screen, when you tell it to activate online,

it will just go to the generic "Windows is unable to activate online." error message.

The Windows Product Activation software DON'T LIKE NON-ETHERNET SETUPS!

It won't even dial the modem.

Once I upgraded to ADSL, Windows Product Activation processes went fine.

Edited December 21, 200718 yr by RJARRRPCGP

nope, t1 line,

it never brings up the activation screen at all,

i did use a oem retail disk, but it also was xp home, and i just told it to archive and install