Knowledge Base

"Error Code: 0x80004005” error message when you install Windows XP

Article ID: 306081

Article Last Modified on 4/5/2005

APPLIES TO

Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

This article was previously published under Q306081

SUMMARY

When you install Microsoft Windows XP or activate the operating system, you may receive an error message. This problem may occur if an antivirus program interferes with the installation or if a Windows Product Activation file is manually modified. This article describes two possible ways to resolve this problem.

SYMPTOMS

When you install Microsoft Windows XP, or when you try to activate the operating system immediately after you install Windows XP, you may receive the following error message:

A problem is preventing Windows from accurately checking the license for this computer. Error Code: 0x80004005

Note You may also experience this problem after you upgrade from Microsoft Window 98 Second Edition to Windows XP Home Edition.

CAUSE

This problem may occur if a file that the Windows Product Activation requires is damaged or missing. This condition may be related to one or both of the following conditions:

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

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, use either of the following methods:

Method 1

Note Follow this method if this error occurred after an upgrade from Windows 98 Second Edition.

Boot from the Windows XP CD-ROM, and then perform an in-place upgrade repair and use a valid product key.
For more information, 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 and reinstalling the operating system that you were running before you upgraded to Windows XP. For more information, 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 Microsoft Windows XP by using the Windows XP CD, and then replace the files. To do so, follow these steps:

Insert the Windows XP CD in the CD drive or DVD drive, and then restart your computer. When you receive the following message, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD:

Press any key to boot from CD

Note Your computer must be configured to start from the CD drive or DVD drive. For more information about how to configure your computer to start from the CD drive or DVD drive, see the documentation that came with your personal computer or contact the manufacturer.
When you receive the following message, press R to start the Recovery Console:

This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft 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 quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.
Press 1 to access your primary drive installation with Recovery Console.
When you are prompted to do so, type the administrator password. If you have not set an administrator password, press ENTER to continue.
Type cd %SystemRoot%\System32, and then press ENTER.
Rename the following files by using the REN command. To do so, follow this syntax:

REN file_name.extension file_name.old
- Wpa.dbl
- Pidgen.dll
- Actshell.html
- Licdll.dll
- Regwizc.dll
- Licwmi.dll
- Wpabaln.exe
Type the drive letter of your CD-ROM drive followed by a colon (for example, "D:"), and then press ENTER.
Type cd i386, and press ENTER.
Type the following commands one at a time. 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
Type Exit and press ENTER to restart the computer.

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