If you think you  need to manually run the activation program then if your link is missing. The name of the application you need to run is

msoobe.exe

You'll find it in (depending on how your system is set up, but this is the default place)

C:\windows\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe

So once you open your Command Line you'll need to change directory to get to it and then once in that directory you can just run the command

oobe/msoobe /a

Message Edited by esoterica on 04-22-200611:38 AM

Hi esoterica, thanks. I ran your recommended program, but everything stayed the same way when I tried to re-install Windows Installer 3.1

I went into the SETUP folder of OOBE and clicked on ACTIVATE.HTM. A run time error in the 10th line appeared which asked whether a debug modus should be executed. This is what the 10th line of the script reads:

onload="window.parent.Activation_LoadMe(); window.parent.Agent_Activate('Activation');"

Any chance?

I have had problems updating many name brand computers including Dell, especially after a format and reinstall of XP. Most of the time the problem has to do with the Genuine Validation. I found this download from Microsoft that has solved many of these update problems:

http://www.download.windowsupdate.com/msdownload/update/v3-19990518/cabpool/windowsxp-kb905474-enu-x86_4bafa8793e8cdcaf4ba4ffc494df32d496154544.exe

hope this helps