XP Activation: Secrets and Tips X 9/1

The Forbidden Secrets of Windows XP Product

Activation that Even Microsoft Don't Tell You!
With the information in this article you can:
• Eliminate major system problems that Windows XP activation
can cause
• Save time reactivating Windows XP after re-installation
• Completely automate the activation of Windows XP for a more
efficient installation

Most XP users are aware that their version of Windows is the first to include
Microsoft’s product activation. At the time of Windows XP’s release,
activation was a hot discussion topic. Some users felt that it was unreasonable
to restrict their usage of a product that they had purchased outright. While
there was much focus on the rights and wrongs of product activation, much
less was said about how it worked, or how to get the best from it. For example,
did you know that re-installing Windows, or even slightly changing your
hardware configuration, could mean that you have to reactivate your copy of
Windows? This article describes the activation process and shows you how to
take control over it, to avoid unnecessary and time-consuming calls to the
activation phone line.
Dr Steve North:
“Windows Product Activation is much misunderstood, and can cause a great many
problems when re-installing Windows or changing your PC’s hardware configuration. Use
the steps and tips presented in this article and you will be well-prepared to overcome the
most common activation annoyances.”

• Take control of Windows Product Activation ................ X 9/2

• How does WPA monitor your computer? ....................... X 9/5
• Never reactivate Windows XP again .............................. X 9/5
• Start the activation process without waiting for a
reminder............................................................................. X 9/7
• How to change an incorrect Windows Product Key ...... X 9/8
• Create an unattended Windows XP setup and
Product Activation ............................................................ X 9/9

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!? Take Control of Windows XP Product

Activation
XP users are only
allowed to install
Windows Product Activation (WPA) is a technology used to
XP on one PC. enable or activate a copy of Windows XP for a specific PC.
Under the Microsoft End User License Agreement (EULA),
users are only allowed to install Windows XP on one
After installation, machine. After installation, you have up to 30 days to
you have 30 days activate XP. If you install but initially decide not to activate,
to activate XP.
you will get periodic reminders that you need to complete
WPA. After the 30-day grace period, you will not be able to
use Windows, except to perform the activation process.
You can activate Activation may be performed on the Internet or by calling a
XP over the telephone operator at Microsoft. Once you have activated
telephone, or on
the Internet.
Windows XP for your PC’s hardware, you will not be able to
activate it for a different computer, unless you can convince
Microsoft that it has been legitimately replaced.
Changing too There is a further complication. Changing your PC’s
many of your PC’s hardware may cause Windows XP to require reactivation.
hardware
Minor changes are usually fine: the occasional change of a
components may
mean that you network card, or a CD drive, is not likely to trigger WPA.
need to reactivate. However, changing too many components at the same time
may lead XP to believe that it is running on a new computer.
If this happens, you will need to contact Microsoft and
explain the situation. In most cases, Microsoft will reactivate
Windows XP and you will not have any further problems.
WPA looks for multiple component changes within a fixed
period of time but Microsoft keeps secret the actual processes
used to work this out. Whenever possible, it is advisable to
spread out your hardware modifications over several months
to avoid WPA difficulties.
There are many myths surrounding WPA. One of them is that
WPA is a way to obtain personal information about the end
Activation and user. This does not seem correct. WPA is completely separate
registration is not from product registration, which is optional with Windows
the same thing.
XP. When you activate XP, you are not asked any personal

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details. A second myth is that WPA continually sends

Microsoft data concerning your computer usage. There is no WPA does not
evidence that WPA uses the Internet at any time other than ‘phone home’ to
Microsoft.
during the initial activation.
What values are exchanged during Windows
Product Activation?
Whether WPA takes place over the telephone or on the
Internet, the same two values are exchanged. Most of the
numbers involved in the generation of these two values
undergo some sort of mathematical ‘hash’ or ‘hashing’
function. This means that an algorithmic process is applied
to the original number(s) that results in a (usually much
shorter) summary. With hashing, complex information can
be contained in a minimum number of digits. Hashes are
either reversible (two-way) or non-reversible (one-way). The
two WPA values work as follows:
• You send the Installation ID – this is a 50-digit decimal You send the
hash value created from the Product Key (found on your Installation ID and
Windows XP certificate) and a 64-bit value based on the you receive the
Activation ID.
current hardware configuration of your system. Your PC
sends it via the Internet, or you read it out to an
operator over the telephone.
• You receive the Activation ID – this is a 42-digit value
that is either received by your PC via the Internet, or an
operator reads it to you over the telephone. You then
type it into an on-screen box.
How is the Installation ID generated?
The 50-digit Installation ID is generated on your PC by a MSOOBE.EXE
Windows program called MSOOBE.EXE (Microsoft Out-Of- creates the
Box Experience). This application hashes the Windows XP Installation ID.
Product Key with a hardware value that describes your PC.
The resulting Installation ID is different each time
MSOOBE.EXE runs.
The hardware value used to create the Installation ID consists The hardware value
of 64-bits of data. In binary, each of the 64-bits can be either is a 64-bit
binary number.
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a ‘1’ or a ‘0’. Within the 64-bits, groups of characters describe

different elements of your PC’s hardware. For example, the
first five bits relate to your display adaptor. The following
table shows you which hardware devices are examined to
create the Installation ID, and the significance of each device
in creating the number:
Hardware element Bits
Display Adapter 5
SCSI Adapter 5
IDE Adapter 0011 4
Network Adapter MAC Address 10
RAM Amount Range 3
Processor Type 3
Processor Serial Number 6
Hard Drive Device 7
Hard Drive Volume Serial Number 10
CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVD-ROM 6
Is the PC Dockable (Yes = 1 No = 0)? 1
Hardware Hash version 3
Total characters in the hardware section used for the
63
Installation ID hash
Note: only 63 of the 64 available bits are used.
Microsoft cannot This hash is ‘one-way’ and (this is very important) Microsoft
reverse the hash to is not able to reverse the process to discover what hardware
identify the
you have installed. They are only checking the degree to
hardware inside
your PC. which your hardware may have changed. The most they can
hope to glean from the Installation ID is that you have a PC
that is fitted with a sound card, a graphics card, a CD drive
and so on.
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How does WPA Monitor Your Computer? !?

Your Windows XP system needs to know whether it has been
legitimately activated. A record of this is kept in the file
WPA.DBL is a
C:\Windows\System32\WPA.DBL. This is an encrypted database file that
database that keeps a record of the: keeps track of
• Expiry date by which WPA is required (30 days after changes to your
hardware.
installation).
• Activation ID (after a successful WPA).
• Current 64-bit hardware value (this changes when you
modify your PC).
• 64-bit hardware value at the point of successful WPA
(this is a snapshot which does not exist before
successful WPA and stays the same afterwards).
It is interesting to note that, if you compare WPA.DBL before WPA.DBL is used
and after WPA, you will notice that it has increased in size. to determine if
This is because the 64-bit hardware snapshot has been added reactivation
is required.
to the database. Each time Windows XP starts, the two
64-bit hardware values are examined. If the current
hardware value exceeds Microsoft’s permissible level of
variation (and the specifics of this variation are kept secret),
then Windows XP will require reactivation.
It should be noted that transferring WPA.DBL on to another
PC (and trying to install the same copy of Windows XP) will
not work. Even if the hardware appears identical, the
hardware value is generated from very specific production
batch serial numbers that are found on individual
components. Where these vary, WPA will fail. This will
happen even where identical PCs have been manufactured at
the same factory within several weeks of each other.

Never Reactivate Windows XP Again

At this point, you are probably thinking that WPA is not
going to pose too much of a problem for you. If you are
!?
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If you re-install someone who rarely modifies your computer’s hardware,

Windows XP, you then reactivation is unlikely to be necessary. However, you
will need to
reactivate it.
will also need to reactivate if you re-install Windows XP.
This applies whether you are re-formatting your hard drive
and starting from scratch, or re-installing on top of a failed
installation.
Backup WPA.DBL There is also the potential problem of a corrupted WPA.DBL
and you will not file. Microsoft’s WPA phone lines are only open during
have to reactivate.
business hours. If WPA.DBL is damaged over a weekend,
Windows XP may insist that you need to reactivate and
(unless you are happy to use Internet-based WPA) you will
be stuck until Monday morning.
Luckily, there is a solution. If you backup the file WPA.DBL
before re-installing, you can simply put it back in the folder
C:\Windows\System32\ and Windows XP will think that you
have activated the product. Of course, this will only work if
your hardware is exactly the same as it was when XP was
previously installed.
It is also a good idea to keep sequential backups of WPA.DBL
with different hardware configurations. For example, you
might have a copy of WPA.DBL that worked with a specific
combination of graphics card, network card and hard drive.
Keep multiple Then, if you ever want to use this combination again, you
backups of
WPA.DBL to reflect
already have the required WPA.DBL. Follow the steps below
different hardware to save the activation status information:
setups.
1. Right-click on Start and then click Explore.

 2. Navigate to the folder C:\Windows\System32. Please

note that you may have to click on the link that says
Show the contents of this folder.
3. Copy the files WPA.DBL and WPA.BAK to a floppy
disk, Zip disk, CD-R or USB Flash Drive.
After re-installing Windows XP you can restore the


activation file:
1. When you first start Windows XP, you will be asked
if you want to proceed to activation.

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2. Restart your PC. After re-installing

XP, put WPA.DBL
3. As soon as the text appears on the black screen, start back in
tapping F8 . Avoid holding this key down C:\Windows\
continually, as this may generate a stuck key error. System32.
The Windows Advanced Options Menu should appear.
4. Use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode.
5. Press Enter . You may have to click Yes to confirm
that you want to enter Windows Safe Mode.
6. Right-click on Start and then click Explore.
7. Navigate to the folder C:\Windows\System32. Please
note that you may have to click on the link that says
Show the contents of this folder.
8. Rename the new copies of WPA.DBL and WPA.BAK
to WPA.DBL.OLD and WPA.BAK.OLD, by right-
clicking on the icons and choosing Rename.
9. Copy your backed up WPA.DBL and WPA.BAK into:
C:\Windows\System32.
10. Restart Windows and you will not be asked to
activate.

Start the Activation Process Without

Waiting for a Reminder
If you don’t complete the activation process immediately
!?
after installation, you will receive periodic reminders to act
To activate XP,
before the 30-day period expires. However, what do you do there’s no need to
if you are now ready to initiate WPA but don’t want to wait wait for the next
for the next reminder? This tip allows you to start WPA at a reminder.
time of your choosing:
1. Click Start > Run.
2. Type: C:\Windows\System32\oobe\msoobe /a
3. Press Enter and the Product Activation Wizard will
start.

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!? How to Change an Incorrect Windows

Product Key
When you first install Windows XP, you will be asked to
enter the Product Key number from the Microsoft certificate
that came with your original CD. On recent PCs this
certificate is sometimes found attached to the computer’s
case, rather than on the CD’s jewel case.
With an incorrect It is possible to get into a situation where you incorrectly
Product Key, you type the Product Key. In most cases, Windows will tell you
cannot activate XP
or get updates.
that the number is incorrect. However, there are various
generic Product Key numbers that will work with any CD. If
you happen to enter an incorrect but valid Product Key, the
installation will proceed. The problem will only become
apparent when you find that WPA fails and that you are
unable to apply Windows updates or Service Packs.
You can also find yourself in this situation if you have more
than one copy of Windows XP and you accidentally key in
the Product Key from the wrong one. Assuming that you
now have a correct Product Key, or wish to correct a typing
error during installation, the following tip will allow you to
avoid a complete re-installation. You should only attempt
this procedure if you are confident about editing the
Windows registry. Proceed as follows:


1. Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System
Tools > System Restore.
2. Select Create a Restore Point and click Next.
3. Type a memorable name for your restore point.
4. Click Create > Close.
5. Click Start > Run.
6. Type: regedit
7. Press Enter .
8. Navigate to the registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\
Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WPAEvents
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9. In the right-pane, double-click OOBETimer. Changing any of

the digits will
10. In the Edit Binary Value screen, change one of the trigger the Product
digits in any pair to a random number (0–9) or a Activation Wizard
random character (A–F). and allow you to
change the
11. Click OK.
Product Key.
12. Close the Registry Editor.
13. Click Start > Run.
14. Type: C:\Windows\System32\oobe\msoobe /a
15. Press Enter and the Product Activation Wizard will
start.
16. Select Change Product Key. Note: this option would
not have been available before the registry was
edited.
17. Enter the correct Product Key.
18. Click Update.
When Windows XP restarts, you should now be able to
successfully complete the WPA process.

Create an Unattended Windows XP Setup

and Product Activation
Windows XP has a built-in mechanism for automating the
!?
The Windows XP
installation of Windows and its activation. The Windows XP
CD contains a
installation CD includes a tool called Setup Manager. This program called
allows you to answer all of the questions that are asked Setup Manager for
during setup, including the entering of the Product Key. creating an
Setup Manager generates a text file that can then be used installation
answers file.
any time that you want to install Windows – using this
‘answers’ file allows you to perform an unattended
installation.
Simply set it running and come back to a working
installation of XP! You can take this automation one step
further by instructing Windows Setup to perform WPA via
the Internet, without any user intervention. To get started,

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you will need your bootable Windows XP installation CD

and a blank, formatted floppy disk. The first step is to extract
Setup Manager from your Windows XP CD:


1. Put your Windows XP CD in your CD/DVD drive.
2. Click Start > Run.
3. In the Open text field, type:
D:\Support\Tools\DEPLOY.CAB where D: is the drive
letter for your CD/DVD drive.
4. Click OK.
Extract 5. In the right-pane of Windows Explorer, right-click
SETUPMGR.EXE
from DEPLOY.CAB.
SETUPMGR.EXE and then click Extract.
6. When the extraction screen opens, navigate to the
desktop and click Extract.
7. When the extraction completes, close Windows
Explorer.
8. On the desktop, double-click SETUPMGR.EXE.
9. Click Next.
10. Select Create New and click Next.
11. Select Unattended Setup and click Next.
12. Choose your version of Windows XP and click Next.
Select Fully 13. Select Fully Automated and click Next.
Automated.
14. Select Set up from a CD and click Next.
15. Select I accept the terms of the License Agreement
and click Next.
You must correctly Complete the remaining screens as you would when
enter your Internet installing Windows XP. The Product Key screen is
settings so that XP particularly important. It’s possible to mistype your key here,
can auto-activate
online.
and missing this will halt your installation dead in its tracks.
Double-check the accuracy of your entry on this page. You
won’t get an ‘invalid key’ error while building the answers
file, but you will when actually installing Windows using the
unattended floppy disk. Also, make sure that all of the

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Internet settings are entered correctly. These will be required

to auto-activate Windows XP during the installation.
16. When you get to the last screen, Setup Manager will Edit the file
ask you where to save the answers file that it has UNATTEND.TXT
so that
just generated. Browse to the desktop and save it as:
auto-activation
UNATTEND.TXT. is enabled.
17. Click OK.
18. On the desktop, double-click UNATTEND.TXT and it
will open in Notepad.
19. In the section of the file under the heading
[Unattended] (usually at the top of the page), type:
AutoActivate = Yes
20. In the section of the file under the heading
[UserData], make sure that you have entered the
Product Key correctly:
ProductID = <YourProductKey>.
21. Click File > Save.
22. Right-click UNATTEND.TXT and click Rename. Rename
23. Type: WINNT.SIF and press Enter . UNATTEND.TXT to
WINNT.SIF and
24. Put a blank, formatted floppy disk into drive A: copy the file to a
25. Right-click WINNT.SIF and click Send To > 31/2 floppy disk.
Floppy (A:).
The next time that you want an automatic installation (or
re-installation) and activation, proceed as follows:


1. To set the BIOS so that it boots from CD, first restart
your PC.
2. To enter the BIOS press Delete as soon as your
computer starts loading. You may have to press it
several times, but don’t hold it down. Note if your PC
doesn’t use Delete to enter the BIOS setup, look for
a message on-screen telling you which key you do
need to press.

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3. When the BIOS/CMOS screen opens, look for a

section called something like Boot Sequence. The
exact name varies from PC to PC.
4. Make sure that your CD-ROM drive is listed as the
first boot device.
Insert the floppy 5. Insert your Windows XP CD and the floppy disk
disk containing containing the file WINNT.SIF.
WINNT.SIF and you
6. Save all changes to the BIOS settings and Windows
are ready to go.
will continue trying to load. Without waiting for it to
complete, restart your PC. Windows Setup will
automatically look for a floppy disk containing a
WINNT.SIF file.
7. After the automatic installation and activation has
finished, remember to go back into the BIOS and put
drive C: back at the top of the boot sequence.

1.
Windows Product Activation (WPA) is a much-feared
2.
3. feature of Windows XP, as it can prevent you from using
4.
5. your PC, and can also be responsible for lengthy re-
activation phone calls to Microsoft. In this article, we have
l o o ked at how WPA stores information in the file WPA.DBL
and how this file can be backed up for use during the re-
installation of Windows XP.

You’ve also been shown some great activation tips such as:
what to do if you’ve accidentally entered an incorrect
Product Key and how to start WPA without waiting for a
reminder. Using the last activation secret in this article
(unattended setup and WPA), you can now sit back, have a
well-deserved break and let Windows do all of the work (for
a change!).

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