Windows XP Logs You Off When You Try to Activate the Product

When you try to log on to a computer on which Microsoft Windows XP Professional or Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition has been installed, you receive a message indicating that the grace period has expired and that you must activate Windows XP now. When you click Yes to activate the product, you are logged off and the logon prompt appears.

To resolve the problem, repair the installation of Microsoft Windows XP by using the Windows XP CD. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Insert the Windows XP CD into the CD drive or DVD drive and then restart your computer. When the following message appears, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD:
   Press any key to boot from CD
   
   
   Note Your computer must be configured to start from the CD drive or DVD drive. For more information about how to configure your computer to start from the CD drive or DVD drive, see the documentation that came with your personal computer or contact the manufacturer.
2. When the following message appears, press ENTER:

      This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft 
      Windows XP to run on your computer:
   
      To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.
   
      To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.
   
      To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.
   					

3. When you are prompted to accept the Windows XP Licensing Agreement, press F8.
4. Select your current installation of Windows XP (if it is not already selected), and then press R.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall Windows XP.

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: