Urgent: Windows XP Home Activation Error (Code 0x80004005) after Malwarebytes Reboot
 

This thread prompted me to install Malwarebytes. Now I can't log in to Mom's computer running Windows XP Home! :eek::( I am sitting in front of the welcome screen with the admin account that I simply cannot log in.

This is what happened. I just completed a 35-minute full scan after installing Malwarebytes. Three infected files (2 in the system restore folder & 1 as Malwarebytes tool: no idea what it was) were found and I chose to delete. I was asked to reboot and the last infected file would be cleaned/deleted upon reboot. I probably shouldn't have done that. My nightmare starts with the reboot. :(

Fortunately I still have my laptop. I googled and was able to follow the instructions from Microsoft but couldn't get to the Recovery Console screen at all. The activation window keeps popping up. When I clicked "yes", I got the same warning over and over again, Error Code: 0x80004005. With reboot, I first get to CD-ROM/DVD boot command line (i.e. Enter to confirm), then the flying Windows. Next short thing is the welcome screen THEN the "Activation Windows" pops up, asking me to activate before the login. I can't get to the Windows setup screen to choose Recovery Console. I was asked to activation my Windows (W-T-F! Why? :mad:).

Clicking "yes", I get the infamous message, "a problem is preventing Windows from accurately checking the license for this computer. Error Code: 0x80004005", then the welcome screen with my can't-log-in Admin account. If I click "no", I get to the Admin account log in screen directly. Either Yes or No, I am stuck with the same final destination/screen. I am getting nowhere. It appears this old computer needs to (re)activate its XP Home because of the new Malwarebytes add-on or nothing else can happen.

I am not an IT person but I can handle computers with clear instruction. I've used Recovery Console to rebuild my laptop so I know how it works. My Windows XP CD is fine, just tested it in my laptop. The booting sequence is CR-ROM/DVD then HD. I don't know why the Windows activation window cuts in before my system can get to the XP setup menu from CD-ROM.

I don't think it makes any difference but two things I must mention:

1. My own CD is XP-Pro (English) while MOM's computer is XP Home in Chinese. It shouldn't matter since I only need the Recovery Console to repair the corrupted system files, right?
2. During the scan, Malwarebytes once gave me an error code:731(0,6) but didn't quit. The full scan took about 35 minutes. This error code didn't appear to be an issue. A quick skim of google search didn't indicate any major problem for this error code. Anything I should be worried about?

Am I screwed? What can I do to fix the corrupted files MS pointed to? I have SUPERAntiSpyware on my own Thinkpad and never have any issue with it. I thought Malwarebytes (in Traditional Chinese) supposed to be a good pick for mom. :(

Please don't tell me I need to reinstall (or do a clean reinstallation) Windows XP Home. It's my mom's computer and everything is in Traditional Chinese. I don't have her original CDs nor does she know anything about her computer (Mom is very tech challenged). I don't think she even knows what's the license code for her XP Home. :o I was trying to add an extra layer of protection for her PC. Little did I know that I am now blocking her from her computer. :p

I have to put her computer back to "normal" in the next 4 hours, before she needs to check her next online bids. Please help!

This is probably the problem.
XP Pro requires a different key than XP Home.

Unfortunately, I don't have any advice other than to call Microsoft. They have free phone support for security-related problems: http://www.microsoft.com/protect/support/default.mspx

I have a program that can find the CD Key on the CD.

I can email it to you if you want. No guarantees but....

Damn! I was hoping thinking any XP CD can get me to the Recovery Console. Was I wrong?

If I call MS, will they ask me the key for Mom's XP Home? That's a big problem since I don't have it and Mom doesn't know anything.

Yes they will. Also, while it has not been proven, there are rumors that part of the security MS has built into their software reports back basic computer info along with the product key. This is a measure MS uses to try and reduce someone from passing a program CD and related key around to friends, which is why some companies require the original CD to launch the program.

Yes, I am aware of the added security from MS to verify the authenticity of Windows.

What I haven't figures out yet is why am I not getting to the XP setup CD from the reboot? Why the Recovery Console doesn't show up from reading the setup CD?

My own Thinkpad was having some serious compatibility issues with an antivirus a couple of months ago, which lead to one too many blue screens and eventually a unbootable laptop. More than once, may I add. With some google searches, I learned I needed to use Recovery Console and repair my damaged system files. I was able to use a different XP Pro CD to load Recovery Console from a CD-ROM reboot and proceed to the final fix. I'd never asked for activation/validation of my Windows XP.

That's the part I don't understand about Mom's PC. Well, I know what happened to my laptop is different from Mom's. To say at least, Mom's machine is bootable. Does it mean a PC that needs reactivation can't be booted from a bootable CD?

I don't know if I am making sense to you IT guys but I am still searching for the answer. If a PC is able to boot from CD-ROM, wouldn't it read the CD correctly? Since I am putting a XP Pro there, shouldn't it show what's in the CD first, even though the PC is XP Home? Why a product activation is needed before reading the CD?

All I want is to successfully load Recovery Console on the PC so I can get into the repair feature and fix the files as MS suggested. Why is it so complicated? :(

BTW, I've learned my lesson and am now using a different Antivirus, i.e. MSE, on my Thinkpad :D.

Take out the XP Pro CD. Do not continue to attempt to boot from it. That's asking for trouble.
You can't recover XP Home with an XP Pro CD.

Have you tried just booting into Safe Mode?

If you can get into Safe Mode, you can create a boot CD from within the OS and then use that to get to the recovery console.

Not using XP Pro CD no more since it doesn't seem to make any difference.

Can't seem to get into Safe Mode either. Been hitting or tapping F8 key but still get into the same sequence of flying Windows> Welcome> Product Activation Window popping up (i.e. "This copy of Windows must be activated with Microsoft before you can log on. Do you want to activate Windows now?"-- Yes or No).

I am so stuck in the never-ending-vicious cycle! :(

Would it help if I download and make a bootable XP Home CD? It seems to be my best bet right now but I've never done it before.

I followed soitgoes's suggestion and tried online chat with MS support. It seems I was always the 3rd or 4th in line but the CSR never got to me. Even when it showed 2 (or 6 or 11)-minute wait, my chat session was always idle. Refresh didn't help either. They do have free email support but it will take at least one business day and today is Sunday. Why do I run into this in non-business day/hours? Sigh.

I haven't made too much progress the last couple of hours, having Google as the teacher;). I got the 6-disk files but am very confused with how to make a bootable CD. Using WinImage, I was able to exact the 6-floppy files and saved them as 6 images (.ima). This tutor site explained how to convert floppy disks into CDs but I have 6 images (1.44 mb each). How is it possible to "inject" (or combine) all 6 into one image? In WinImage, the image format max out at 2.88 mb. I managed to inject one disk image into another. So I know how to cut it down to 3X 2.88 mb images. How can I make it bigger? I must be missing something. I think I need to burn 1 final image to a bootable ISO CD, right?

Any different way to create the ISO CD? I was able to exact all files from 6 floppy disks into one folder. What should I do to burn those 220+ files into a bootable XP CD?

One more thing, do I have to download UBCD (Ultimate Boot CD) or can I use my IBM RecordNow to make a data disk from the image? Of course I will need to learn how to successfully make the image first. If our techie FTers can either explain or teach me the steps in a plain and simple way, I should (hopefully) be able to accomplish it.

Do I need any other programs to create this bootable CD? Maybe I've been reading the wrong websites/blogs?

If you think I am not that hopeless and are willing to show me the tricks, please either PM or email me with details. Or just post in thread, if the tricks are good for public viewing. :D

Thanks in advance!

ps. Mom now knows her computer isn't functional and I am working on it. I better fix it fast. The sooner, the better.

My suggestion was to call them on the phone.

Well, the free phone support only works for the U.S. and Canada. I am in Taipei right now. Not to mention they ask you to scan the system before calling. No can do. I can't even get beyond the log-in screen? How can I make the scan happen. ;) Do you still think I should try calling?

I found the next best thing from your provided link. But as I said, the phone chat put me in forever wait. I haven't got to the email route since it says 1 business day.

I thought I may have better luck on my trusted FT. :D

I've had better luck with MS support over the phone and via e-mail than via their awful chat. With chat, I've found the reps are dealing with too many customers at once to keep anything straight.

You can call a US toll free number via a voip provider or a service like Skype.

OK. Just got off the phone with the PCSafety support in US.

I called TW office first but they won't be in utill Monday. Then I tried the US number. I gave support request # from online Chat to the support person. After hearing me through, he determined I had a unbootable system due to corrupted files. I would need to talk to the General Support to get further assistance with the activation issue. I can't get the hold of them for another 9 hours :( . The office hours for General Support are 10 am -5 pm CDT (Sat & Sun) or 8am - 11 pm (M-F).

Mom not having the setup CD may make it more difficult. Maybe I should have Mom call the guy who set up this system. Even then, he won't be able to do anything until Monday or Tuesday.

Nothing else I can try between now and then?

I love my Mac ;)

Did your mom originally purchase the computer from a reputable source? China is ground zero for software counterfeting, it's entirely possible that her copy of XP isn't legit.