Repeatedly Prompted to Complete Activation for Windows XP Media Center Edition After You Enter Product Key (811632)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition

SYMPTOMS

During the Windows Product Activation process, you may be prompted repeatedly to enter the product key, and you may not be able to log on to the computer. This problem may occur if you try to activate Windows when you are connected to the Internet, or when you use the telephone automated activation process to contact Microsoft. Additionally, you may not be able to resolve the problem by using the recovery media that is provided by the computer manufacturer to restore the computer to the original shipping configuration.

RESOLUTION

If you have not yet encountered this problem, you can prevent it from happening by obtaining and installing hotfix 811632. This hotfix is available on the Microsoft Windows Update Web site:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

If you encounter this problem and cannot complete Windows Product Activation, contact your computer manufacturer to troubleshoot and resolve the issue.

Service pack information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Microsoft Windows XP. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322389 How to obtain the latest Windows XP service pack

Hotfix information

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that are experiencing this specific problem. This fix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Windows XP service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The typical support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The English version of this fix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel. 
   Date         Time   Version      Size    File name
   --------------------------------------------------
  05-Feb-2003  11:59  5.1.2600.1165  115,200  Dpcdll.dll
Note Do not install this hotfix on a Volume License Media installation of Windows XP. If you do, you will receive the following error message:
A problem is preventing Windows from accuracy checking the license for this computer. Error Code 0x80004005.
If you install this hotfix on a Volume License Media installation of Windows XP, restart in Safe Mode. Only Safe Mode works; Safe Mode with Networking does not work. Then, log on as an administrator, and remove the hotfix.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was first corrected in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/11/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbWinXPsp2fix kbQFE kbWinXPpreSP2fix kbfix kbbug KB811632 kbAudOEM
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