Member Avatar for gas55au

Hi
I am running WIndows XP Professional SP1 and my Hard disk had bad blocks on it so I imaged it to a new hard disk. Now I can only boot it up in Safe Mode fully as if I do a normal start it gives me a message "Windows Product Activation" "A problem is preventing Windows from accurately checking the license for this computer . Error Code : 0x80004005"
I have tried running a repair using the XP Pro CD however when it gets to the Enter the 25 digit key it comes up with Invalid key.
I am unsure if it was originally an Upgrade version, Volume licensed version or a full version. Is there any way of telling ?
Cheers

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by samuel_j_n

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Generated

Quick summary and practical next steps for (and others seeing the same 0x80004005 message).

This error almost always means Windows Product Activation (WPA) can’t read required activation files — frequently because those files were corrupted or changed when the old disk had bad blocks and you cloned it. That’s also why the machine often boots to Safe Mode (Safe Mode starts only the minimal services, so the activation check may not run) and why cloning a failing disk can propagate problems into the new drive. ’s suggestion to try a fresh install is valid, but there’s a recovery path you can try first. [MS guidance on the WPA startup errors] (). ()

Gather info before you repair or reinstall: boot Safe Mode (you already can), note the sticker/COA on the case, and run the Microsoft Genuine Advantage diagnostic (MGADiag) while in Safe Mode to learn the license type (OEM, Retail, Volume). That tells you whether a repair install or the product key you have will be accepted. Safe Mode steps (and why it’s useful) are documented by Microsoft. (learn.microsoft.com)

If the WPA files are corrupt you can restore them from the XP CD using the Recovery Console (press R at the XP CD boot menu). Typical commands (run from the Recovery Console) are:

cd \windows\system32
ren wpa.dbl wpa.old
ren pidgen.dll pidgen.old
ren actshell.htm actshell.old
ren licdll.dll licdll.old
ren regwizc.dll regwizc.old
ren licwmi.dll licwmi.old
ren wpabaln.exe wpabaln.old
d:
cd i386
expand licwmi.dl_ %systemroot%\system32
expand regwizc.dl_ %systemroot%\system32
expand licdll.dl_ %systemroot%\system32
expand wpabaln.ex_ %systemroot%\system32
expand wpa.db_ %systemroot%\system32
expand actshell.ht_ %systemroot%\system32
copy pidgen.dll %systemroot%\system32
exit

These are the steps Microsoft documented for recovering WPA files; try them, then reboot and run the Activation wizard. ()

If the XP Repair asks for a key and reports “Invalid key”, that often means the CD/media type doesn’t match the installed license (OEM vs Retail, or Upgrade vs Full). In that case use the matching media/COA, phone-activate with Microsoft, or back up data and perform a clean install with correct media. If you restored the system to a different drive letter or changed hardware during the restore, follow Microsoft’s guidance to restore the original drive letter first. (learn.microsoft.com)

If those recovery steps fail, make a full file backup, then do a clean install using the correct XP media (or replace the old failing disk and install fresh). This is the most reliable long‑term fix if the image came from a drive with bad blocks.

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All 5 Replies

Member Avatar for SnowDog

When you say you imaged it, do you mean you took an image of Windows on the bad drive and put it on another?

If so, surely with bad sectors the installation you took an image from is effectively 'broken', so all you' be doing is copying a broken image on to another disk?

Your best bet is to clean install (and then take an image of the fresh install if you need one).

In the meantime, though, doing this would allow you to figure out if the original suspect bad image was the cause of the problem or not.

Member Avatar for jbennet

if you clone a windows install from one HDD to another it will not work well as product activation will believe that it is a pirate copy

Member Avatar for goldeagle2005

WPA will work if you image the HD and use it on the same computer. If you attach this HD to a diff computer, it will not work

Member Avatar for SOURIN

Do you have a back up copy of the error free OS drive? I would
try restoring it.

I got this message when I tried to upgrade my HD using Norton
GHOST 2003. Experience has taught me to always keep a backup
and use dual boot OS (preferably different e.g. XP and W2k). So I
booted from the 2nd OS (2nd physical HD), deleted the GHOST copy,
restored the files from the back-up, and the message disappeared
on booting.

SOURIN

Hi
I am running WIndows XP Professional SP1 and my Hard disk had bad blocks on it so I imaged it to a new hard disk. Now I can only boot it up in Safe Mode fully as if I do a normal start it gives me a message "Windows Product Activation" "A problem is preventing Windows from accurately checking the license for this computer . Error Code : 0x80004005"
I have tried running a repair using the XP Pro CD however when it gets to the Enter the 25 digit key it comes up with Invalid key.
I am unsure if it was originally an Upgrade version, Volume licensed version or a full version. Is there any way of telling ?
Cheers

Member Avatar for samuel_j_n

Hi
I am running WIndows XP Professional Media center, I can only boot it up in Safe Mode fully as if I do a normal start it gives me a message "Windows Product Activation" "A problem is preventing Windows from accurately checking the license for this computer . Error Code : 0x80004005"
any one one can help me out please

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