C:\WINDOWS\system32>dir wp*
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 8447-0571
Directory of C:\WINDOWS\system32
10/24/2001 08:28 PM 12,584 wpa.bak
01/14/2002 09:05 AM 12,642 wpa.dbl
After you reinstall XP, to restore the Windows Product Activation database files:
- Start XP to Minimal Safe mode
- Change directory to the \%systemroot%\system32 folder
- Rename the newly created wpa.dbl to wpa.nonactivated and wpa.bak, if it exists, to wpabak.nonactivated.
- Copy your backed up wpa.dbl and wpb.bak files to the system32 folder
- Reboot
This
should work if you want to avoid activating XP after a reinstall or
restore on the same or very similar hardware. It will not work if the
hardware is significantly different from that in place when the Windows
Product Activation database files were created. This is not a hack to
avoid activating installations.
And if you are able to open then at the command Prompt type the following
oobe/msoobe /a or Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Activate Windows.
