Windows XP Activation Infinite Loop

These work-arounds will still work, but now it is only temporary.

Now, after about a month, you'll get shut out of your own PC.


When Windows loads and goes to the log-in screen, where you will enter your password and click OK, you will get an error telling you to activate Windows.

It will read . . .

"A problem has prevented Windows from accurately checking the status of the license for this computer.
To proceed your copy of Windows must be activated with Microsoft.
Do you want to activate Windows now?
Yes - No"

You'll click Yes, it will log you out, and take you back to the log in screen.

This loop will continue forever.


While some claim to have a work-around for this, we haven't found one yet that will get the job done.

So even if you use the information below to get your licensed version of windows XP reloaded onto your computer, after about a month, you'll get the endless Windows XP Activation Loop.


All things considered, it could be worth looking into a Windows XP online repair service, such as that available from ReImage before you try an XP reinstall.

It could save you from being forced into "upgrading" to Windows Vista or Windows 7 whether you want to or not.

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Understand This.

We understand just how frustrating it is when you are
having trouble (re)installing your Windows XP software.

The information contained on this page is intended to help you overcome the major issues you may encounter when you reload your licensed version of windows XP.

Licensed is the key word here.

We DO NOT support, encourage, or condone illegal activities which include pirating, bootlegging or copying ANY software.

That Being Said . . .

Windows Product Key

One of the first problems you might encounter is finding your twenty-five character Product Key for your Windows XP Software CD.

Microsoft doesn't put this on the CD where it belongs.

We assume this is to thwart piracy, but it really becomes a major problem for you (the Honest Windows User) when you are trying to reload Windows XP onto your computer.

To Find The Product Key for your Licensed Windows XP CD:

Insert the Windows XP CD into a working computer.

Exit the Autorun introduction.

Open "My Computer".

Right Click on the Windows XP cd-rom drive and select explore.

Open the USWXP32P_ZX folder.

Open the sysprep folder.

Open unattend.txt.

Your CD's product Key is found within the unattend.txt file.

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Bypass Windows XP Activation

If you've already reloaded your Licensed Windows XP software a couple of times, Microsoft may see this as an act of stealing and therefore, not allow you to again activate your Licensed Version of Windows XP.

If this is happening to you, there is a way to activate it yourself.

How To Bypass WPA (Windows Activation) on Windows XP

Click "Run..." on your Start Menu.

Type "regedit" (without the "") in the box and press enter.

The will open the Registry Editor and display a long list of keys on the left.

Browse through the list for:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\
    CurrentVersion\WPAEvents.

On the right, you will see a stringz value named OOBETimer.
    This is the activation data.
    Any changes you make, Windows will change back within a few seconds.

Whatever this value is, change to FF D5 71 D6 8B 6A 8D 6F D5 33 93 FD.
    This is not a unique value. It is the same for every machine activated.

After you've changed it, right-click WPAEvents and choose "Permissions..."
    A window will open with a list of user names.

Click SYSTEM, and in the list below ("Permissions for SYSTEM") check every
    box under "Deny".

Click OK and you've activated Windows XP. (No need to even reboot).

You may find the "Permissions" section to be a bit tricky. If so follow this:

Under "Permissions..." for WPAEvents, Go into the Advanced settings.

Uncheck "Inhereit from parent the permission entries that apply to child
    objects. Include these with entries explicitly defined here"

When prompted what course of action to take from here, click "COPY".

From there, Highlight the SYSTEM line, and click edit.

Deny all options, apply, and run your activated Windows.