PC Has Problem at start up, we get a message after the unit is turned on for 10 Minutes or so, the unit is a Compacq Presario 7485, & Win XP, we get a message that reads " Windows Product Activation" -->( A problem has prevented windows from accurately checking the status of the License for this computer. to proceed your copy of Windows must activated with Microsoft, do you want to activate windows now ? ) Then clicking on YES does Nothing !! This is on e Family PC that has been in use for 3 years ! Any Ideas ? THX. IN ADVANCE !! j.m.

SYMPTOMS When you start Microsoft Windows XP, you may receive the following error message: A problem is preventing Windows from accurately checking the license for this computer. Error code: 0x80070002. CAUSE This issue can occur if one of the following conditions is true: The default security provider in Windows XP has been changed. The system drive letter has changed. The security provider issue has been reported with Dell computers on which the Dell Assistant software is installed. NOTE: This issue can be caused by any software that changes the default security provider. It is not limited to Dell computers or the Dell Assistant software. WORKAROUND To work around this issue, use the appropriate method. WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk. Reset the Default Security Provider in Windows XP To reset the default security provider in Windows XP, delete the relevant keys in the Windows registry. To do this: Start the computer. Press the F8 key during startup to start the computer in Safe mode. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe). Delete the following keys in the Windows registry: HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Cryptography\Providers HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Software\Microsoft\Cryptography\Providers Quit Registry Editor. Restart the computer. Reset the Drive Letter of the System Drive To reset the drive letter of the system drive, use one of the following methods. Undo the action that changed the drive letter of the system drive. If you can run Registry Editor, update the drive letter for the system drive in the Windows Registry. To do this: Start Registry Editor. Open the following key in the Windows registry: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Cryptography\Defaults\Provider In each key under the Provider key, change the drive letter in the ImagePath value setting to match the new drive letter for the system drive. Quit Registry Editor. Restart the computer. STATUS

UPDATE, Sadly Pressing the F8 Key has no effect, so we can't even boot in safe mode, called Compaq and got the corporate runaround and was finally told to call Microsoft, there we waited for 22 Min. for support to answer, called back later on the buisness line got the same, 15 min. and no answer, these people are Just Too Big to bother with the little guy ! I can see why the I-Mac is selling, Tisk !!

Im having exactly the same problem, tried accessing dos repair thing with XP but nothing in there to access registry in anyway either. Damn Microsoft, there all a bunch of hopeless goons. When are they ever gonna get anything right. If i find out how to activate it i will post another message.