Windows Product Activation Error

My SONY VAIO desktop PC running XP gave me an error over the weekend I have not seen before. The computer is about 3 yrs old and relatively problem free

After boot up, you get the main login screen with the different users listed. When you select any of the users, the following window message box appears:

Windows Product Activiation. A problem is preventing Windows from accurately checking the license for this computer. Errror Code: 0X800703e7

After closing the message box, it goes back to the login screen with the users.

I booted up in safe mode and tried to do a restore back to a few days ago when the computer was working fine. That didn’t clear the problem

Also in safe mode, I ran the disk defragment utility and did my best to get it degfragmented, but it is still heavily degfragmented.

I have the System Recovery Disks that came with the computer. I did not try them last night as I’m not sure what effect they will have

Anyone seen this before? suggestions or ideas?
thx...Jeff

Hi Jeff, welcome to Virtual Dr :)

Have a look at this KB article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914232

It would seem to be caused by disk corruption, so download the 6-floppy set of boot disks from here:

Bootdisks

and go to the Recovery Console. At the command prompt, type "chkdsk /R" without the quotes.

thanks Nick.

if I have the System Recovery CD's, do i still need to download the boot disks? or will the system not read the CD drive?

Jeff

Those recovery CD's don't normally allow you to boot to the RC, you need a proper Windows CD to do that. You can try though - if you don't see an option for the Recovery Console just cancel out.