Cannot activate Windows XP after reinstallation

[JohnRevka]

I had to reinstall windows xp because I could not escape the blue screen of death after a virus infected my computer. After reinstalling, I initially had a problem of not being able to log in, but this was fixed after I got some help from this site.

But now I have a different problem. I cannot activate windows xp. According to the Microsoft directions you have to go to system tools and click "Activate Windows". However, when I do that I do not see "Activate windows". When I click the bubble warning me I only have 29 days click here to activate, the hourglass shows up for a second before disappearing; nothing happens after that. How am I supposed to activate windows?

 

[kimsland]

3 choices:

1.
Start > Run > %windir%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe > ok

2.
Do a Windows Update, that has to get you activated: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

3.
Contact MS over the phone: http://www.microsoft.com/worldwide/phone/contact.aspx

 

[JohnRevka]

I figured out how to do it

I went to this URL: microsoft.com/genuine

Then I entered my product key and I was done within a few minutes

 

[kimsland]

Oh, thanks

Here's that direct link: http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/validate/ValidateNow.aspx?displaylang=en