Will this run MxO Well?

**Phluff**

Computer is phine.
But Microsoft is not.

Everything started out good. Loaded a bunch of software, virus protection, did the windows update.
Activated the copy of Windows XP, and it accepted.
Then rebooted.

Soooo

Now it's a nice blue glowing paper weight. SMILEY

This is my problem: http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...Ben-us%3B312295
This article contains information to help you resolve a Windows product activation problem. You may be prompted to activate Windows every time that you start the computer. You experience this problem even if you have already activated Windows. This article describes how to remove a script that may interfere with Windows activation. To do this, you must start the computer in safe mode, modify the Windows registry, and then restore the Windows product activation file. Then, you can reactivate Windows. After you follow these steps, you are no longer prompted to activate Windows when you start the computer.

I could phollow the instructions in that link if I could get the thing to boot in safe mode.
Which is supposed to be by tapping F8 during startup. But nothing happens when I do that.

Any idea how else I can get it to boot in safe mode???
Or how I can get to the Windows Advanced Options screen???

I've been trying for the last two hours. I can get into the bios by hitting 'Del'
But F8 won't get it to the Windows Advanced Options screen.... to boot in safe mode.

**Denary**

Although this isn't an exact science. SMILEY

Just randomly hit the F keys at startup, one of them is usually the correct one. I had the same problem once, Mine was F5

**Michael1** · 07/23/2008 06:04:57

F5 is the Bios key for me.

EDIT: Try F7 it might work too.

**Phluff**

I tried them all! lol

None of the 'Ph' keys did anything... because maybe they didn't work? Yeah. o.O

So then I decided to plug in an old PS2 keyboard.... and 'Ph8' worked like a charm. Yay! SMILEY (I know it doesn't make sense)

Went through the microsoft instructions to correct the 'activation loop' problem. (which is so common, they developed an easy tool for it) It went through the motions ok, but ...I still have the problem. Then I got a couple of hours of sleep. lol

I'm calling the PC manufacturer as soon as they open in a phew minutes. I'll probably have to reinstall windows.

I'm thinking I was not meant to have a new computer. SMILEY

**TSR-KenC**

...

A Kill Bill quote comes to mind: "You didn't think it was going to be easy, did you?"

You'll overcome eventually! Keep us updated.

**Phluff**

phinally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^_^

**LtCmdr_Tsusai**

*hears organ music play and lightning strike somewhere*

**TSR-KenC**

Phantastic!

**phi** · 07/24/2008 06:05:37

YAY! Glad it's working.
It looks good and that's a very ... patriotic ... table cloth and decorations. SMILEY

I've been away for a few days. (Business trips suck)

For future reference, the F8 problem is caused because before windows loads your USB keyboard isn booted. The motherboard can use a PS2 keyboard and mouse natively. As far as the bootloader was concerned, you didn't kave a keyboard plugged in.
In most modern BIOS settings is one for "USB Keyboard" (set it to "yes" . That will let the computer use the USB Keyboard before Windows is loaded.

**imax**

phi wrote:

YAY! Glad it's working.
It looks good and that's a very ... patriotic ... table cloth and decorations.

my god... you have no idea. I never told you I was color blind did I? Well not really color blind, just the colors red white and blue have been burned into my retnas so everything looks like uncle sam's fun land.

**Michael1**

Yay! At last! I'll see you inside. SMILEY

**Phluff**

phi wrote:

YAY! Glad it's working.
It looks good and that's a very ... patriotic ... table cloth and decorations.

I've been away for a few days. (Business trips suck)

For future reference, the F8 problem is caused because before windows loads your USB keyboard isn booted. The motherboard can use a PS2 keyboard and mouse natively. As far as the bootloader was concerned, you didn't kave a keyboard plugged in.
In most modern BIOS settings is one for "USB Keyboard" (set it to "yes" . That will let the computer use the USB Keyboard before Windows is loaded.

Thanks Phi! Wow... now the Ph8 problem phinally makes sense. o.O

And yep, whole house is red white and blue, all year round, inside and out. SMILEY We even keep our Christmas tree up year round (it's all patriotic decorations, so it works phor July Phorth too. SMILEY )

And to complete this thread... hopefully. lol:

I logged into MxO late last night phor the phirst time on the new puter, and it runs smoooooth as silk, NO lag, all on the highest graphic settings! EVEN in the dense node phield in Creston! WOOT! Now I can really play with those user opts! SMILEY Even HL to HL takes a 'split' second, and I could go on and on and on about all the details I can see now, that I've never seen before. SMILEY

Thanks ALL for your help during this ...trying time. o.O And thank you phor listening to me whine about it. ^_^

/phormalcurtsey