I know a lot of guys around here like to use the XP 64 eval and I wondered if anyone liked it enough to buy a real copy and try to do the upgrade? Because I just did and I am having a problem. I can't log in until I activate Windows. When I click ok to activate, the box goes away and I'm stuck at the login screen.

From what I've read so far, the answer is some kind of registry editing, which right away had stuff not there in the instructions, which makes me hesitate to pursue that.

I read about another guy with activation problems who just installed network drivers in safe mode but I don't have any yellow question marks by my network devices in safe mode.

One thing that might be a factor is that this is a dual boot machine, Win XP 64 and Ubuntu 64 Hardy Heron. I can still boot into Ubuntu fine. I have read that one should install Windows XP first and then Ubuntu, which was done on this machine, but then I've tried this upgrade to a real copy of Win XP 64 and my BOINC is stranded there until I can figure out how to log into my rightfully purchased OS.

The only solution I can think of now is somehow rescue the BOINC files off of the Windows partition and do a complete reinstall of the Windows part and then probably a complete reinstall of the Ubuntu part. Unless somebody knows a better way. Thanks for reading this, if you got this far.

I've had no end of problems with Evaluation copies. Once full copy purchased, I tend to reformat partition evaluation is on then install full copy. It may be a bit long winded, but it bypasses problems similar to yours.

Copy boinc folder onto pen drive, install xp then copy back (if you go for reformat that is).

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Once you save the BOINC Folder.

Put the CD in the drive and let it boot up... Follow the prompts until it finds the previous version and it will warn you... Do Not do an upgrade or repair! It should ask you to do a clean install and "Overwrite" the existing installation of XP 64 (deleting the Windows directory)... Then the information for the boot manager for dual boot should be fine. That will leave you with some artifacts in Documents and Settings folder but nothing you can not live with...

The problem with upgrades from a trial version, it sometimes does not properly replaced the time bombed hive.

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I copied the BOINC folders from both partitions to usb drives in preparation for reinstallation. When I started the Windows XP 64 disk in, there's an option after picking installation to do a repair install, so I tried that one. At one point, it did ask me to put in the motherboard disk for some Infineon trusted device driver, and then it went back to the installation, which didn't take nearly as long as the first upgrade did. This time, I was able to activate Windows. And I still have my dual boot.

It looks like it's back in business but if I throw loads of errors, you guys can say "I told you so."

Thanks, Pappa and Sirius B for responding.

:)

Once you save the BOINC Folder.

Put the CD in the drive and let it boot up... Follow the prompts until it finds the previous version and it will warn you... Do Not do an upgrade or repair! It should ask you to do a clean install and "Overwrite" the existing installation of XP 64 (deleting the Windows directory)... Then the information for the boot manager for dual boot should be fine. That will leave you with some artifacts in Documents and Settings folder but nothing you can not live with...

The problem with upgrades from a trial version, it sometimes does not properly replaced the time bombed hive.

Speaking of Hives, I've got one that on boot says It's been repaired, then the next time the PC boots up It will say that the Hive has been repaired again and It will always do this no matter how many times I boot the PC or reboot the PC(all on My own, Not the PC of course), It's an annoyance more than anything else and so far repair installs(2nd option) of XP x64 have done nothing too, But at least I don't have the Trial version. :)

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

I would do a CHKDSK /F on the machine to see if it would more the file off a "soft sector error" spot on the drive.

Speaking of Hives, I've got one that on boot says It's been repaired, then the next time the PC boots up It will say that the Hive has been repaired again and It will always do this no matter how many times I boot the PC or reboot the PC(all on My own, Not the PC of course), It's an annoyance more than anything else and so far repair installs(2nd option) of XP x64 have done nothing too, But at least I don't have the Trial version. :)

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Please consider a Donation to the Seti Project.

I would do a CHKDSK /F on the machine to see if it would more the file off a "soft sector error" spot on the drive.

Speaking of Hives, I've got one that on boot says It's been repaired, then the next time the PC boots up It will say that the Hive has been repaired again and It will always do this no matter how many times I boot the PC or reboot the PC(all on My own, Not the PC of course), It's an annoyance more than anything else and so far repair installs(2nd option) of XP x64 have done nothing too, But at least I don't have the Trial version. :)

I did that already, No change, Sorry I didn't mention It before, This happened after a power failure a few months back around here I might add. :D

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

Have you tried SFC?

I would do a CHKDSK /F on the machine to see if it would more the file off a "soft sector error" spot on the drive.

Speaking of Hives, I've got one that on boot says It's been repaired, then the next time the PC boots up It will say that the Hive has been repaired again and It will always do this no matter how many times I boot the PC or reboot the PC(all on My own, Not the PC of course), It's an annoyance more than anything else and so far repair installs(2nd option) of XP x64 have done nothing too, But at least I don't have the Trial version. :)

I did that already, No change, Sorry I didn't mention It before, This happened after a power failure a few months back around here I might add. :D

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Please consider a Donation to the Seti Project.

Have you tried SFC?

I would do a CHKDSK /F on the machine to see if it would more the file off a "soft sector error" spot on the drive.

Speaking of Hives, I've got one that on boot says It's been repaired, then the next time the PC boots up It will say that the Hive has been repaired again and It will always do this no matter how many times I boot the PC or reboot the PC(all on My own, Not the PC of course), It's an annoyance more than anything else and so far repair installs(2nd option) of XP x64 have done nothing too, But at least I don't have the Trial version. :)

I did that already, No change, Sorry I didn't mention It before, This happened after a power failure a few months back around here I might add. :D

Tried that just now and It didn't find anything unusual at all. I actually had to Google sfc to find out It's just a system file checker, then type It in after going to the windows/system32 folder.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

XP, both 32 & 64bit can be very problematic on repair/reinstallation. I've often been plagued by "ntlkrnl.exe" & no matter what I used to do, it woud not let me reinstall.

I did find a workaround & often use whenever this problem crops up.

Use Win98SE bootup disk - fdisk & delete non dos partition - reformat (fat32). reboot with XP disk & continue from there, letting XP convert disk to ntfs.

Nice clean install, no problems whatsoever. Until I mess it up again, that is.

Once up & running, copy over all data files/drivers etc off server. Job done.

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XP, both 32 & 64bit can be very problematic on repair/reinstallation. I've often been plagued by "ntlkrnl.exe" & no matter what I used to do, it would not let me reinstall.

I did find a workaround & often use whenever this problem crops up.

Use Win98SE bootup disk - fdisk & delete non dos partition - reformat (fat32). reboot with XP disk & continue from there, letting XP convert disk to ntfs.

Nice clean install, no problems whatsoever. Until I mess it up again, that is.

Once up & running, copy over all data files/drivers etc off server. Job done.

Ah yes the old scorched earth tactic. ;)

Of course I could always try installing XP x64 or XP Pro(x32) to a different folder, Which would be a clean install as the hives would be different I'd think.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

Yes

You could install XP Pro (32) to se seperate folder which would give access to the file system. You could then search for "ntoskrnl.exe" from either the Install Cd or any of several updates/service Packs/or another computer - to copy it into the correct folder.

So in some cases you could google for construction of a "repair floppy" for those type issues... Technet also should have the process for NT, 2000 and XP along with the use of the repair console.

XP, both 32 & 64bit can be very problematic on repair/reinstallation. I've often been plagued by "ntlkrnl.exe" & no matter what I used to do, it would not let me reinstall.

I did find a workaround & often use whenever this problem crops up.

Use Win98SE bootup disk - fdisk & delete non dos partition - reformat (fat32). reboot with XP disk & continue from there, letting XP convert disk to ntfs.

Nice clean install, no problems whatsoever. Until I mess it up again, that is.

Once up & running, copy over all data files/drivers etc off server. Job done.

Ah yes the old scorched earth tactic. ;)

Of course I could always try installing XP x64 or XP Pro(x32) to a different folder, Which would be a clean install as the hives would be different I'd think.

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Please consider a Donation to the Seti Project.

I have had to use this process on a number of occasions on XP Home - always successful. I would guess the process for x64 would be similar.

F.

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XP, both 32 & 64bit can be very problematic on repair/reinstallation. I've often been plagued by "ntlkrnl.exe" & no matter what I used to do, it woud not let me reinstall.

I did find a workaround & often use whenever this problem crops up.

Use Win98SE bootup disk - fdisk & delete non dos partition - reformat (fat32). reboot with XP disk & continue from there, letting XP convert disk to ntfs.

Nice clean install, no problems whatsoever. Until I mess it up again, that is.

Once up & running, copy over all data files/drivers etc off server. Job done.

NTLDR.EXE missing also is notorius for a sudden stop with error message : ntldr.exe not found, aborting!

Nowadays i [i]'copy the Windows XP CD onto another drive, as i prefer having 2 harddisk's.(Or four, in RAID5)
Never have to look for the CD, when you to change/install something.
XP64, can be difficult, 'cause off the necessary 64BIT (certified)drivers' and program's. F.i. Flash doesn't exist as a 64BIT plugin for IE64, so i use FireFox 3 (x86)instead, better then IE x86.
Prefer the NTFS file system for WINDOWS XP, never had noHDD problems since then. Maybe cincidence, don't know, glad i changed.
Even use 'it' on USB stick's. It has some advances, it can be compressed, as WINDOWS XP, does so, in it's system dir.(C:\Windows\systemxx) it can be encrypted etc..

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