Microsoft KB Archive/914232

Knowledge Base

You may receive error code 0x80004005 or other error codes when you try to start a Windows XP-based computer

Article ID: 914232

Article Last Modified on 10/26/2007

---

APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

---

Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure to back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry

SUMMARY

When you try to start a Microsoft Windows XP-based computer, you may receive an error message that contains different error codes. This article describes the causes of the different error codes. This article also provides workarounds for the following error codes:

• Error code 0x80004005
• Error code 0x80090006
• Error code 0x8009001d
• Error code 0x80070002
• Error code 0x8007007f or error code 0x8007007e
• Error code 0x800705aa, error code 0x8007007e, and error code 0x80004005
• Error code 0x800705aa, error code 0x80070002, error code 0x80004005, error code 0x800405aa, and error code 0x80090019
• Error code 0x800703e7

Additionally, this article contains workarounds for some error codes that are not in this list.

SYMPTOMS

When you try to start a Windows XP-based computer, you may receive an error message that resembles the following:

A problem is preventing Windows from accurately checking the license for this computer. Error code: 0xnnnnnnnn

Note In the error message, nnnnnnnn represents the specific error code that you may receive. For example, you may receive error code 0x80004005.

CAUSE

The following sections describe why you may receive a given error code.

Error code 0x80004005

This problem may occur if a file that the Windows Product Activation (WPA) requires is damaged or missing. This behavior occurs if one or both of the following conditions are true:

• A third-party backup utility or an antivirus program interferes with the installation of Windows XP.
• A file that WPA requires is manually modified.

Error code 0x80090006

This problem occurs because the drive letter has changed.

Error code 0x8009001d

This problem occurs if you modified the MountedDevices registry value to change the boot drive letter assignment or the system drive letter assignment.

Error code 0x80070002

This problem can occur if one of the following conditions is true:

• The default security provider in Windows XP has changed.
• The system drive letter has changed.

Error code 0x8007007f or error code 0x8007007e

This problem frequently occurs after you upgrade a service pack. After you upgrade, there appears to be a corrupted file, a missing file, or a file mismatch.

Error code 0x800705aa, error code 0x8007007e, and error code 0x80004005

This error code occurs when the Dpcdll.dll file is missing or corrupted.

Error code 0x800705aa, error code 0x80070002, error code 0x80004005, error code 0x800405aa, and error code 0x80090019

This problem occurs because there are some error codes in a third-party program.

Error code 0x800703e7

This problem occurs because the disk is corrupted.

WORKAROUND

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

To work around this problem, use one of the following methods based on the error code that you receive.

Workaround for error code 0x80004005

To work around this problem, use one of the following methods.

Method 1

Note You should follow this method if this error code occurs after you upgrade from Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition.

Start from the Windows XP CD-ROM, and then perform an in-place upgrade repair. Make sure that you use a valid product key. For more information about performing an in-place upgrade, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

315341 How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP

You can also resolve this problem by uninstalling Windows XP. Then, reinstall the operating system that you were running before you upgraded to Windows XP. For more information about how to uninstall Windows XP, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

312569 How to manually start the uninstall process to remove Windows XP

Method 2

To resolve the problem, repair the installation of Windows XP by using the Windows XP CD, and then replace the files. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Insert the Windows XP CD in the CD drive or in the DVD drive.
2. Restart your computer.
3. When you receive the following message, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD:

   Press any key to start from CD

   Note Your computer must be configured to start from the CD drive or from the DVD drive. For more information about how to configure your computer to start from the CD drive or from the DVD drive, see the documentation that came with your personal computer. Alternatively, contact the manufacturer.

4. When you receive the following message, press R to start the Recovery Console. This part of the Setup program prepares Windows XP to run on your computer.

   To set up Windows XP now, press ENTER. 
   
   To repair a Windows XP installation by using Recovery Console, press R.
   
   To exit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

5. Press 1 to access your primary drive installation by using the Recovery Console.
6. When you are prompted, type the administrator password. If you do not have an administrator password, press ENTER.
7. Type cd %SystemRoot%\System32, and then press ENTER.
8. Rename the following files by using the REN command. To do this, type REN File_Name.extensionFile_Name.old at the command prompt.
   • Wpa.dbl
   • Pidgen.dll
   • Actshell.html
   • Licdll.dll
   • Regwizc.dll
   • Licwmi.dll
   • Wpabaln.exe
   Note In the previous command, File_Name.extension represents the new file name. Additionally, File_Name.old represents the old file name.
9. Type the drive letter of the CD drive together with a colon, and then press ENTER. For example, you type D:, and then press ENTER.
10. Type cd i386, and then press ENTER.
11. Type the following commands individually. Press ENTER after each command.
    • Expand licwmi.dl_%Systemroot%\System32
    • Expand regwizc.dl_%Systemroot%\System32
    • Expand licdll.dl_%Systemroot%\System32
    • Expand wpabaln.ex_%Systemroot%\System32
    • Expand wpa.db_%Systemroot%\System32
    • Expand actshell.ht_%Systemroot%\System32
    • Copy pidgen.dll%Systemroot%\System32
12. Type Exit, and then press ENTER to restart the computer.

Workaround for error code 0x80090006

To work around this problem, use one of follow these methods.

Use Ghost

If you deploy a Windows XP-based computer by using Ghost from Symantec, rebuild the Ghost image by specifying the –FDSZ switch during the rebuild process.

Use Drive Image Pro

If you deploy the Windows XP-based computer by using Drive Image Pro, upgrade the Drive Image Pro to Deploy Center version 5.0 from Power Quest.

Workaround for error code 0x8009001d

To resolve this problem, you must remove the whole contents of the MountedDevices registry key. This key is located in the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

223188 How to change the system/boot drive letter in Windows 2000

You cannot modify the MountedDevices registry key in Windows XP because there are many hard-coded paths to the C:\Windows drive. These hard-coded paths may not load. Then, that behavior provokes the WPA-related error code.

Workaround for error code 0x80070002

To work around this problem, use the appropriate method.

Reset the default security provider in Windows XP

To reset the default security provider in Windows XP, delete the relevant registry keys from the registry. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Start the computer. Press the F8 key during startup to start the computer in safe mode.
2. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
3. Delete the following registry subkeys from the registry:
   • HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Cryptography\Providers
   • HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Software\Microsoft\Cryptography\Providers
4. Exit Registry Editor.
5. Restart the computer.

Reset the drive letter of the system drive

Use Registry Editor to change the drive letter of the system drive back to its original value. Edit the following registry key to change the value of the system drive:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices

For more information about how to restore the system drive letter, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

223188 How to restore the system/boot drive letter in Windows

Workaround for error code 0x8007007f or error code 0x8007007e

To work around this problem, uninstall the service pack that you installed. Then, reinstall the service pack.

Workaround for error code 0x800705aa, error code 0x8007007e, and error code 0x80004005

To work around this problem, replace the Dpcdll.dll file by using a clean Dpcdll.dll file that has the correct version.

Note To obtain the clean Dpcdll.dll file, copy the Dpcdll.dll file from a new installed computer.

Workaround for error code 0x800705aa, error code 0x80070002, error code 0x80004005, error code 0x800405aa, and error code 0x80090019

Note In most scenarios, the WinTools third-party software causes this problem.

To work around this problem, follow these steps:

1. Disconnect the network cable from the computer.
2. Remove the WinTools third-party software from Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel.
3. Restart your computer, and then press F8 during the initial startup to start your computer in safe mode with a command prompt.
4. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and the click OK.
5. Delete the registry key that has a WinTools value. This key is located in the following registry subkey:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

6. Delete the following registry subkeys if they exist:
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{87766247-311C-43B4-8499-3D5FEC94A183}
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\BrowserHelperObjects\ {87766247-311C-43B4-8499-3D5FEC94A183}
7. Exit Registry Editor.
8. Restart your computer.
9. Delete the following files from the ProgramsDir\Common files\WinTools path: :
   • ProgramsDir\Common files\WinTools\WToolsA.exe
   • ProgramsDir\Common files\WinTools\WSup.exe
   • ProgramsDir\Common files\WinTools\WToolsS.exe
   • ProgramsDir\Common files\WinTools\WToolsB.dll
   NoteProgramsDir represents the Program Files folder where WinTools is installed. By default, this is C:\Program Files.
10. Clean up the hosts file that is located in the %Windir%\System32\Drivers\Etc\Hosts path.
    
    Note%Windir% represents the Windows folder on a Windows XP-based computer. By default, this is C:\Windows.
11. Delete the all the files that have Wtools or Wsup in the name. For example, the %Windir%\prefetch folder may contain some files that have Wtools or Wsup in the name.
    
    Note The %Windir%\prefetch folder is a hidden folder. To access the folder, type %Windir%\prefetch in the Address box, and then press ENTER.
12. Restart the computer in normal mode.

Workaround for error code 0x800703e7

To work around this problem, run the chkdsk command.

For more information about the chkdsk command , visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/chkdsk.mspx?mfr=true

Workaround for an error code that is not in this list

If the error code you receive is not in this list, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Rename the Wpa.dbl file and the Wpa.bak file

If you want to force activation in Windows XP again, rename the Wpa.dbl file and the Wpa.bak file.

Method 2: Rename the Wpa.bak file

Consider the following scenario. You receive an error code that states that you must start Windows XP. However, you cannot start Windows XP. In this scenario you must rename the Wpa.dbl file to invalidate the Wpa.dbl file name. For example, change the name of the Wpa.dbl file to Wpa.dblinvalid. Then, change the name of the Wpa.bak file to Wpa.dbl.

Method 3: Restore the system

Restore the Windows XP-based computer from a restore point by using the system recovery options. For more information about how to restore the system, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457025.aspx

Method 4: Perform an in-place upgrade

Perform an in-place upgrade on the system. For more information about performing an in-place upgrade, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

315341 How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP

MORE INFORMATION

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

307654 How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

316941 How to install Windows XP

REFERENCES

For more information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

302806 Description of Microsoft Product Activation

299056 An error message is displayed when you run Windows product registration

299840 How to use Sysprep with Windows Product Activation or Volume License Media to deploy Windows XP

291997 How to activate Windows XP using an Unattend.txt file

289657 Out of Box Experience (OOBE) does not run after Setup completes

291983 Ports that are used by Windows Product Activation

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

Additional query words: winxp wpa

Keywords: kberrmsg kbprb kbtshoot KB914232

---

Send feedback to Microsoft

© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.