Windows Activation and Validation

[sstrauss87]

HP wx4400 will not allow me to activate or validate windows after I doing an OS repair from a boot cd. I've contact Microsoft but they made me come here. Windows XP pro. tried "oobe/msoobe /a" but the activation window does not appear. thanks for any help

[TheOldMan]

In looking for the item with the model   HP wx4400   I get this page: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Home.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=12883&prodSeriesI...

I have to assume that  is not the product the post is concerning.  A more complete model number and the OS install/repair that is being attempted.  Please tell what led up to this activity, also.

[sstrauss87]

The os was severly damaged by multiple trojans and rootkits. I ran avg boot cd and removed over 160 viruses. unfortunaly many system files were infected and could not be removed, I booted from a windows xp sp3 recovery disk and did a OS repair, now the computer will boot into windows but complains that windows is not genuine, I cannot run upddate but it will not allow me to activate or validate windows even with the "oobe/msoobe a/" command.

[sstrauss87]

its an hp workstation desktop wx4400
sn:2ua7510l8l

[TheOldMan]

OK, I think I found the product: http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/ca/en/sm/WF06b/12132708-12132710-12132712-12132712-12132712-12581458-...

That page indicated the OS is WinXP Pro.  If there was that much OS damage, why not do a complete reinstall with the windows xp sp3 recovery disk?  Wipe out the data on the drive and start over with a clean install.  If the virus files were/are still on the drive, they have to be removed to make a usable OS anyways.

[sstrauss87]

Impossible, the computer is used by one of our mechanical engineers and It would cost to much time and money to reformat the disk. I find it hard to believe that there is no way to activate windows on a hp machine, there must be some way.

[TheOldMan]

Considering "The os was severly damaged by multiple trojans and rootkits." I would think it more important to rid the system of the malware, but that is your call.  Try to run the SFC /Scannow  on a command prompt, in other words click on the "Start" button, then click "run", then type      SFC /Scannow      however, you will need a real Windows CD when it asks for it, not a recovery disk.

The easiest way to achieve an activated WinXP system is to use the Recovery media on a complete reinstall.  If you had the WinXP install disk, then a repair install would work.  I do not believe a repair install is possible from Recovery media.

BTW:  "I booted from a windows xp sp3 recovery disk and did a OS repair, now the computer will boot into windows but complains that windows is not genuine"  Just what was done here?  Where did this media come from?

[sstrauss87]

We figured it out, The computer has been fully recovered, thanks for your interest.