How to fix Windows activation problem

Step 1: Start the computer in safe mode
1. Start the computer.
2. After the computer runs the Power On Self Test (POST), press F8 repeatedly to open the Windows Advanced Options menu.
3. On the Windows Advanced Options menu, use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode, and then press ENTER.
4. Use the arrow keys to select the Windows operating system that you want to start, and then press ENTER.
5. When the computer is running in safe mode, log on by using an account that has administrator rights and permissions. Then, click Yes in the message that states that Windows is running in safe mode.

Step 2: Start Registry Editor
Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
Step 3: Remove the RESETS registry subkey
1. In Registry Editor, expand My Computer, and then expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
2. Expand SOFTWARE, and then expand Microsoft.
3. Expand Windows NT, and then expand CurrentVersion.
4. Expand Winlogon, and then expand Notify.
5. Under Notify, right-click RESETS, and then click Delete.
6. Click Yes to confirm the removal of the RESETS subkey.
Note Do not exit Registry Editor. You must use Registry Editor in "Step 4: Modify the registry to deactivate Windows."
Step 4: Modify the registry to deactivate Windows
1. In Registry Editor, expand My Computer, and then expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
2. Expand SOFTWARE, and then expand Microsoft.
3. Expand Windows NT, and then expand CurrentVersion.
4. Under CurrentVersion, click WPAEvents.
5. In the right pane (topic area) of Registry Editor, right-click OOBETimer, and then click Modify.
6. Click to put the pointer in the Value data box. Then, modify any character that appears in the Value data box.
7. Click OK.
Note This step deactivates Windows.
8. Exit Registry Editor.
Step 5: Rename the corrupted Windows activation file
1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
2. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
ren %windir%\system32\WPA.dbl wpa.old
This command renames the WPA.dbl file to WPA.old.
Step 6: Determine the CD or DVD drive letter
1. Insert the Windows CD.
2. Click Start, and then click My Computer.
3. Note the CD drive letter or the DVD drive letter that appears under Drives with Removable Storage. You have to use this drive letter in the next step.
Step 7: Replace the corrupted Windows activation file
1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
2. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
expand F:\i386\wpa.db_ %windir%\system32\wpa.dbl
In this command, replace F: with the letter of the drive that contains the Windows CD.
expand d:\i386\wpa.db_ %windir%\system32\wpa.dbl
This command extracts a copy of the Wpa.dbl file from the Windows CD. Then, it puts this file in the System32 folder of the Windows installation.
3. Examine the output that appears at the command prompt. If the command runs successfully, information that resembles the following appears:
Microsoft (R) File Expansion Utility Version 5.1.2600.0 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp 1990-1999. All rights reserved. Expanding d:\i386\wpa.db_ to c:\windows\system32\wpa.dbl. d:\i386\wpa.db_: 2222 bytes expanded to 2126 bytes, -5% increase.
4. Type exit, and then press ENTER to exit the command prompt.
Step 8: Remove the files that are associated with the script
1. Click Start, and then click Search.
2. Under What do you want to search for, click All files and folders.
3. In the All or part of the file name box, type the following, and then click Search:
reset5.exe; reset5.dll; reset5.dat; reset5.dt*; srvany.exe
This action performs a search for all the following files:
* Reset5.exe
* Reset5.dll
* Reset5.dat
* Reset5.dt*
* Srvany.exe
Note If you use a different search tool such as Windows Desktop Search, use this tool to search for each of these individual files.
4. In the results pane of the Search Results dialog box, right-click each file, and then click Delete.
5. Click Yes to confirm the removal of the file.
6. When you have finished removing these files, exit the Search Results dialog box.
7. Restart the computer and let Windows restart in normal mode.
Step 9: Reactivate Windows
1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Activate Windows.
2. If the Windows Product Activation Wizard prompts you to activate Windows, follow the instructions in the wizard to activate Windows.
3. Restart the computer, and then repeat step 1 of "Step 9: Reactivate Windows" to start the Windows Product Activation Wizard again. You take this step to verify that the wizard does not prompt you to activate Windows again.
4. If the Windows Product Activation Wizard displays a "Windows is already activated" message, click OK to exit the wizard.
or

Use Activation Tools

Ten Useful Registry Edits

            Windows has many possible configuration settings and most of these can be changed by editing the Registry. This article describes ten popular Registry edits. They use the Registry Editor, regedit.exe. These edits have all been tested and should cause no trouble but the user assumes all responsibility for any results. Remember to always back up before editing the Registry. Apply only one edit at a time. First see if the results of a given edit are satisfactory before applying another edit. Generally, a system reboot is necessary before system-wide changes take place. Changes for a particular user require a logoff.

Configure timing of System Restore

Normally, Windows XP System Restore creates a restore point every 24 hours and saves the restore points for 90 days. These default settings can be changed with a Registry tweak. Open regedit.exe and go to the key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\SystemRestoreThe value named "RPGlobalInterval" determines how often System Restore runs. Note that the data value is in seconds and is normally 86400 (in decimal). The value named "RPLifeInterval" determines how long restore points are retained. The data value is normally 7776000 (seconds). Modify the settings to your choice. (Windows XP only)

Close down hung applications more quickly

Sometimes an application will hang or freeze up. Although the Windows Task Manager can be used to close a hung application, the default setting is to wait at least 20 seconds, which can be irritating. The time delay can be configured by going to the Registry keyHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\DesktopFind the string value HungAppTimeout and modify the data to something like 3000 instead of the default 20000. (These values are time in milliseconds.) Applies to a specific user. (Windows XP)

Shut down applications and services more quickly

Related to the previous tip are modifications that can be made to two other Registry settings to speed up the closing of applications and services. Go to the same Registry key as previouslyHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\DesktopFind the string value WaitToKillAppTimeout and modify the setting from 20000 to something like 5000. This setting is per user. A second setting in a different Registry key involves Windows services and is for the whole system. Go to the Registry keyHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\ControlFind the string value WaitToKillServiceTimeout and change it to something like 5000. (Windows XP)

Launch programs automatically at startup

Do you have one or more programs that you want to run every time you turn on your computer? There are several ways to do this but one way is with a Registry entry. Open regedit.exe and go to the keyHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunCreate a new string value (that will be type REG_SZ) named after the desired program with a value containing the full path to your program. For example, to have Notepad always run at startup the data value would be "C:\WINDOWS\notepad.exe". Applies to a specific user. (Windows XP, Vista)

Specify the default download directory for Internet Explorer

Do you want Internet Explorer to always download to a folder of your choice? You can specify the download location by going to the Registry keyHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet ExplorerFind the string value named Download Directory and change the value to the full path of the folder where you want to keep downloads. If the value does not already exist. create a new string value and name it Download Directory. Applies to a specific user. (Windows XP, Vista)

Alphabetize Internet Explorer Favorites

An annoying aspect of Internet Explorer favorites is that new additions are tacked on leading to an unsorted list. A Registry edit will keep the list of favorites alphabetized. Using regedit.exe, navigate to the Registry keyHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MenuOrder\FavoritesRight-click the key and choose "Delete". Applies to a specific user. (Windows XP, Vista)

Disable Desktop Cleanup Wizard

Microsoft likes a clean desktop and every 60 days a so-called wizard will pop up offering to clean unused icons off the desktop. Many people find this annoying and the wizard can be disabled by going to the Registry keyHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\CleanupWizModify or create a DWORD value named "NoRun" (without quotes). Assign a value of "1" (no quotes) to disable the cleanup wizard. A value of 0 (zero) will enable the wizard. Applies to a specific user. (Windows XP)

Disable Tool Tips

Tool Tips (also called InfoTips) are the little popup windows that appear when the mouse cursor hovers over certain icons or objects. Some people find them annoying and they can be turned off by going to the Registry keyHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AdvancedModify the value named "ShowInfoTip". Set the value to 0 to disable. A value of 1 will enable. Applies to a specific user. (Windows XP, Vista)

Speed up Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer can resolve sites faster if you increase the number of connections to a given site. Go to the Registry keyHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet SettingsYou will need to create two new DWORD values. Name one "MaxConnectionsPer1_0Server" and name the other "MaxConnectionsPerServer". Give each a decimal value of 10. Applies to a specific user. (Windows XP, Vista)

Disable User Account Control (UAC) in Vista

A lot of Windows Vista users find the security measure called UAC to be very annoying and like to disable it. Personally, I think it is worth putting up with the constant security alerts but here is the procedure to disable UAC. Go to the Registry keyHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\SystemFind the DWORD named EnableLUA and set the value to 0. This is a system-wide change and requires a reboot. (Vista only)