XP Activation locking users out
 

As the title says, my father's computer has essentially locked him out. It starts up normally and all that, but when he clicks his name to log in, the PC asks him to activate windows. He clicks yes and it takes him to the default windows background with an activation box.

The problem is here: It says he's already activated XP

The only option is exit or to close the window. Doing either of these sends him back to the log in screen where he's prompted to activate windows once again.

Outside of a complete reformat, which he definitely doesn't want to do, is there any way to get past this?

BTW, will safe mode get past this?

What is stopping you from just activating the copy of Windows by phone?

It doesn't even give a phone activation choice. There is no other options other than:

Yes or No to Activate windows and when the Activation wizard pops up, Exit since it's already activated according to the PC.

Unless there's some way they can unlock the PC via phone or a method over the phone.

Question. Legit Windows? If so, it's Microsoft's fault, and you can yell at them. :p

If not, show me your Event logs.

Are you able to start in Safe Mode?

Apparently it's not legit. He got the installation done by one of his friends, so it's probably a bootleg. How do I get the event logs to show?

Safe Mode - Yes
Safe Mode w/ Networking - No

I tried to do what some guy said when I googled for this problem by going into the registry editor and going to the Windows/WPAEvents thing... problem is there's no such directory.

Can you try booting into safe mode and doing a system restore?

Event logs = Start --> Run --> Eventvwr.msc (I'm only interested in Application and System event logs)

You can save the log files as *.evt and attach here, in a zip file.

Go to mininova, get the windows xp pro student SP2 edition, reinstall. Problem solved.