Windows XP activation cycles continuously

I performed a repair install of XP SP2 on a friends computer using the CD key on his COA sticker. No problems at all during the install. Everything went as expected. When completed, upon the next boot up, A box pops up saying " this copy of windows has to be activated before you can log on. Do you want to activate it now? ". OK, been here, done that before. I clicked yes and it displays the same box again and again. I tried another repair install only to have the same result. I've run chkdsk a couple of times. Still no joy. Any ideas on how to make it complete the activation?

 

Try this:

If this fails then I can only suggest you back up all your important files, reformat and do a clean install. I would advise that as SP2 is no longer supported that you upgrade the installation to SP3 to protect against new security risks. To speed up this process, search for instructions on line to slipstream Windows XP with SP3, try this one:

http://www.howtohaven.com/system/slipstream-xp-service-pack-3.shtml