Start the computer in safe mode… not safe mode with networking – networking will not allow you to log on due to not being activated but plain safe mode will.
Click start, “Run”.
In the run command line type this in exactly:
rundll32.exe syssetup,SetupOobebnk
Note the comma and capitalization have to be included.
This will give you a new 30 day activation grace period.
Now restart the computer start windows normally.
Now you are able to uses windows but it still will not activate. To fix this you must download IE8.
Note IE7 will work but you might as well go ahead and update all the way to IE8 to make sure there are no further issues.
Once IE8 is installed you will be able to activate windows as normal.
If for some reason you do not see the activation icon – it is located Start-all programs-accessories-system tools
If you do not see it there type this into the run command
oobe/msoobe /a
Other options
Windows stores the activation information in two files in the c:\windows\system32 folder: Wpa.dbl and Wpa.bak. If those files are locked, or permissions are incorrect, Windows may not be able to save its activation information.
You might also want to check the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFTNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
(change Activation Required value to zero)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion
(change RegDone value to 1)