Author:
Robert Simon
Date Of Creation:
15 June 2021
Update Date:
12 May 2024
Content
This wikiHow teaches you how to get past the trial version of Windows XP by using your existing product key, or using the software to determine your product key. Note: The following information should only apply if you purchased a genuine copy of Windows XP but still cannot activate.
Note: You can combine the following three ways depending on the situation:
- Manually change Windows XP product key - contains instructions on how to use the existing product key to activate Windows XP.
- Use Windows Key Finder - which describes the detailed steps to get a device's product key through Windows Key Finder.
- Windows activation loop repair - required only when you've expired and need to reset the loop.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Manually change the Windows XP product key
Hold down ⊞ Win and press R. A "Run" program will open, where you can access your computer's registry (database).
Type "regedit" into the Run field.
Press ↵ Enter. The Registry Editor tool will launch.
Take a look at the options branch on the left side of the screen. You need to go through some of the folders in the list to get to the destination folder.- Since the registry stores most of your computer's important system information, you should consider clicking File and choose Export (Export) in the upper left corner of the screen to back up the database before proceeding.
Expand the folder "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE". Note that to expand, you need to click the mark + to the left of the folder, not just clicking it.
Expand the folder "SOFTWARE". Each folder that you need to expand next will be in the previous folder (for example, the "SOFTWARE" folder is in the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" folder, and so on).
Expand the "Microsoft" folder.
Expand the "Windows NT" folder.
Expand the "CurrentVersion" folder.
Don't expand the folder "WPA Events", click it. You should see the folder contents displayed in the window on the right side of the Registry Editor page.
Right click on the "OOBETimer" entry.
Click Modify (Edit).
Select the content "OOBETimer". This item will contain a random pair number and sequence.
Click Delete (Erase). Values shown here will be deleted.
Type in the new number. It doesn't matter what you type, but you have to keep the consistency of the structure (for example, if you delete four characters, you need to type in four).
Click OK after completion. Changes will be saved.
Exit the Registry Editor tool.
Open the Run dialog box again. Remember that you can use key combinations ⊞ Win + R.
Type ’% systemroot% system32 oobe msoobe.exe / a’ into the Run window, do not include the quotes. This command will open the Windows XP activation wizard.
- For best results, simply copy and paste this text into the Run field.
Click OK.
Check the box to the left of the option "Yes, I want to telephone a customer service representative to activate Windows" (I want to call the customer service representative to activate Windows).
- If you see the message "Windows XP is already activated", it means changing the key manually is ineffective. At this point, try using Windows Key Finder.
Click next (Next).
Click Change Product Key (Change the product key) is at the bottom of the "Activate" window.
Type Windows XP product key (Windows XP product key). Note: you can try this step a few times with different codes.
- If you do not know the version of Windows XP your computer is using, check your computer's manual before entering the associated product key.
Click Update (Updated) to create a new Windows XP ID for the computer. After that, you need to confirm Windows XP activation.
Click Back.
Check the option "Activate Windows over the Internet" to make the process faster.
- Note that the option to call Microsoft "telephone a customer representative" has been discontinued since Microsoft stopped supporting Windows XP on April 8, 2014.
Follow the instructions on the screen. After you activate Windows XP, you can continue using the operating system without being locked out. advertisement
Method 2 of 3: Use Windows Key Finder
Open Winkey Finder home page. Winkey Finder is a free program that doesn't need to be installed, it can locate and find the product key of Windows XP.
Click on the latest version of Winkey Finder. Version 2.0 is the latest as of January 2017.
- Since this version is still in beta, you can download version 1.75 later.
Click Download Winkey Finder (Download Winkey Finder) is at the bottom of Winkey version.
Right-click on the Winkey folder. This is where you save the file when you clicked Download (eg Desktop).
Click Extract All (Extract all). The locked content will be extracted to the desktop.
Double-click the Winkey Finder folder. This is one of the content just extracted.
Double-click the Win Keyfinder program. This is the only executable file (".exe") in this directory.
View the product key. After running Winkey Finder, the Windows XP product key will appear immediately, you will be able to use this key to activate the Windows XP activation wizard the next time Windows asks for an update.
- If you are more careful, you should copy the product key on paper.
Method 3 of 3: Handling Windows activation loop
Restart the computer. You can choose this task in the Start menu, or you can simply hold down the power button until the computer turns itself off, then press it again.
Click F8 as soon as the computer icon appears. You need to proceed the first time the icon appears while the machine is restarting.
- Press F8 several times until the advanced options panel pops out.
Use arrow keys to select Safe Mode with Command Prompt (Safe mode with command line environment). When you start your computer in this mode, you will get past the Windows activation loop long enough to reset the time for the trial XP.
Press ↵ Enter. You need to wait a minute or more for Safe Mode to run.
Type ’explorer.exe’ enter the Command Prompt program (excluding the quotes).
Press ↵ Enter. A dialog box will pop up.
- You may need to wait a minute or more before this window pops up.
Click Yes (maybe OK). You will then be able to access the desktop interface.
Keep key ⊞ Win and press R. The Run tool will open so you can complete this process.
Type "rundll32.exe syssetup, SetupOobeBnk"(do not include the quotes). This command will set the Windows XP retry timer to 30 days.
Click OK.
Restart the computer. Once the boot screen loads, you should be able to log in as you normally would and no longer get stuck in the activation loop. advertisement
Advice
- Windows XP has no longer been officially supported since April 2014, so you cannot speak to a customer service representative.
Warning
- Using the associated product key may not work, in which case you should use Winkey Finder to assist in activating Windows XP.
- Manually reset the database can only restore Windows XP to the 30-day trial version.
