How to Activate Windows XP & Keep It Running Forever

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Here's how to fix Windows XP registration errors permanently
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Do you have Windows XP installed on a PC or virtual machine and want to activate it permanently? Windows XP's activation servers are long gone, but there are still ways to register your product key. If you get errors like "this copy of Windows must be activated" or "this copy of Windows is not genuine," we'll show you how to enter a genuine product key and get rid of the activation messages that persist. Plus, if your registration key isn't working, we'll show you a trick to get a new one. Read on to learn how to make Windows XP genuine forever.

Quick Steps

  1. Open regedit .
  2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > Software > Microsoft > Windows NT > CurrentVersion > WPAEvents .
  3. Right-click OOBETimer and select Modify .
  4. Delete everything in "Edit Binary Value" and click OK .
  5. Open the Activate Windows Wizard and choose the phone option.
  6. Click Change Product Key , enter your product key, and click Update .
Section 1 of 2:

Activating Windows XP Permanently

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    • Use this method if you have already entered a valid Windows XP product key but still get errors or pop-ups telling you your version of Windows is not genuine.
    • If the Windows XP product key you used to activate was not accepted, or you cannot find your product key, jump down to Generating a Windows XP Product Key .
  2. This opens the Windows registry editor.
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  8. This opens additional options in the right panel.
  10. In the Edit Binary Value window, select all the values in the value data box, then press the Del or ← Backspace key to delete them all. Once deleted, click OK and close the Registry Editor.
  11. Here's how:
    • Click the Start menu and select Run .
    • Type or paste this into the Run dialog: %systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a
    • Click OK .
  12. In the Activate Windows wizard, choose the second option, which should be "Yes, I want to telephone a customer service representative to activate Windows," and then click Next to continue.
    • You won't actually need to call anyone.
  14. If it doesn't work, you might be using a product key for a different service pack or version of Windows XP. You can usually find product keys that work for Windows XP by searching for them online.
  15. To make sure this worked, follow these steps:
    • Click the Start menu and select Run .
    • Type oobe/msoobe /a and click OK .
    • If a box appears saying “Windows is already activated," it means your Windows XP is genuine. However, you'll still need to do one more thing to make Windows XP genuine forever .
  16. Now that you're using a genuine copy of Windows XP, complete these steps to make the change permanent:
    • Click the Start menu and select Run .
    • Type regedit and click OK .
    • Navigate to the key you went to earlier:
      • Double-click HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
      • Double-click Software .
      • Double-click Microsoft .
      • Double-click Windows NT .
      • Double click CurrentVersion
      • Click WPAEvents .
    • Right-click WPAEvents in the left panel and select Permissions .
    • Deny all permission to all groups and users so the changes cannot be reset.
    • Click OK and restart Windows XP .
  17. To prevent Windows XP from attempting to install updates, thus triggering a warning about a non-genuine license, follow these steps:
    • Go to Start > Control Panel . Be sure that the Control Panel is in classic view.
    • Double-click Automatic Updates.
    • Select Turn Off Automatic Updates and hit Apply .
    • Since it will be annoying to have alerts every two minutes that Automatic Updates is turned off, double-click the small "red" icon by the clock in the bottom-right to open Security Center, select Change the way Security Center alerts me , and uncheck the "Automatic Updates" option.
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Section 2 of 2:

Generating a Windows XP Product Key

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  1. If the product key you have isn't working, there is a tool you can use to generate a new one. However, it'll only work for the 32-bit version of Windows XP (all service packs). [1] You can download the EXE file from this download link
    • Because this XPKeygen is a key generator, your browser will try to block the download and say it's a virus or ransomware. While many key generators are virus transport vectors , we tested Endermanch's tool and found the alerts to be false positives. To unblock the download in Chrome, you will need to disable Safe Browsing temporarily–be sure to turn it back on as soon as you're finished. To disable it: [2]
      • Click the three-dot menu in Chrome and select Settings .
      • Click Privacy & Security in the left sidebar.
      • Click Security in the right panel.
      • Select No protection and then Turn Off to confirm.
      • Download the file.
      • If you also get an error, open your Windows Virus & Threat Protection settings, click Protection History, select the most recent entry, and click Allow . Then, download the EXE again.
      • If you're worried about running the program, you can download the EXE file and run it in a virtual machine or a sandbox app like Sandboxie Plus .
  2. You'll probably want to turn down the volume first, as the generator plays some 8-bit arcade music upon opening, just like in the days of the old internet .
  3. The XP versions available are the two most commonly available 32-bit versions of Windows XP, Windows XP VLK and Windows XP VLK (OEM), the latter of which was designed to mimic the version of Windows XP that came installed on computers purchased from manufacturers. According to the developers, the x64 versions are not currently working. [3]
    • If this is an upgraded OS (for example, you upgraded from Windows 98 to XP), check the "upgrade" box.
  4. The product key will be based on the random number you generate. [4]
  5. This generates a product key, the 16-digit alphanumeric code at the bottom.
    • The key you generated should work, but you may want to try generating a few extra just in case.
    • You can now use this product key to activate Windows XP permanently.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Can we do this procedure in safe mode?
    Community Answer
    Boot up in Safe Mode with Command Prompt. At the cmd window, type "explorer" or "explorer.exe" and then go to the run box (WINDOWS KEY + R). Type the following exactly without the quotation marks: "rundll32.exe syssetup,SetupOobeBnk". This will renew the 30-day activation for Windows XP. Restart your computer after that.
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  • Question
    I tried the procedure in safe mode. It worked three times, but doesn't anymore. The rundll.command no longer works. What can I do now?
    Community Answer
    This wiki is just resetting the XP Activation grace period, which you can only do 3 times and then XP stops working. You must enter a legit XP key and activate online or over the phone for XP to keep working.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    What do I do if my Windows is unable to find %systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe/a?
    Community Answer
    Put a space before the "/a" and see if that works, otherwise do the below: Run>CMD cd %systemroot%\system32\oobe\ msoobe /a And if that fails: Run>oobe/msoobe.exe /a
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      Tips

      • It is not a good idea to connect Windows XP to the internet . Not only does the built-in version of Internet Explorer that comes with Windows XP not support modern websites, but the operating system can be infected with viruses and malware just by having an internet connection. [5]
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      • Depending on who you talk to, using a key generator (also known as a keygen) is not always the most ethical thing to do. However, since you can't get support for Windows XP or purchase a new copy, using a key generator might be the only fix if your product key isn't working.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://github.com/Endermanch/XPKeygen
      2. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/9890866?sjid=784755280426186656-NC
      3. ↑ https://github.com/Endermanch/XPKeygen
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPlqrIcOJZE
      5. ↑ https://www.xda-developers.com/connected-windows-xp-internet-didnt-survive-long/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Modify the OOBETime registry key.
      2. Start the Activate Windows wizard.
      3. Select the option to call a customer service rep.
      4. Click Change Product Key .
      5. Enter your key.
      6. Click Update .

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