When xp asks to activate,activate with the "by phone" method,this way you
enter youre "product key",it says too many activations,etc,phone the
registration
number,888 571 2048.Microsoft gives you a new number for the OS

"Todd H" wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I have installed Windows XP SP1 on a hard drive. I ran SYSPREP on it and
> made it my drive master. I imaged the drives with a drive blaster. I booted
> the imaged drives up on the target computers. Each prompted me for a Windows
> Product ID. I typed in my Windows XP SP2 Product ID and continued through
> SYSPREP. After Windows XP was up and running I could reboot as many times as
> I wanted and login (as long as I didnt activate Windows). As soon as I
> decided I wanted to Activate Windows (usually the same day) it connected to
> Microsoft and reported that it activated successfully. Life is good. If I
> power down then power up again, it tells me Windows needs to be activated
> before logging on???? Very strange. I go along with it and say I want to
> connect to Microsoft but after trying for a bit it tells me it cannot
> activate Windows and that my Activation period has expired! It happens on all
> my targets. I can't figure this out. Microsoft is no help when I call them.
> I need to figure out what is going on right away.
>
> Please help.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Todd