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.
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:
Insert the Windows XP CD in the CD drive or in the DVD drive.
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 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.
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.
You see a numbered option, such as the following:
1. C:\WINDOWS
Note this path to Windows (In this example, the path is C:\WINDOWS) for later user in step 7 and step 11. Then, press 1 to access your primary drive installation by using the Recovery Console.
When you are prompted, type the administrator password. If you do not have an administrator password, press ENTER.
Type cd C:\WINDOWS\System32, and then press ENTER.
Note In this command, use the path that you noted in step 5 if it differs from C:\WINDOWS.
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
Licdll.dll
Regwizc.dll
Licwmi.dll
Wpabaln.exe
Dpcdll.dll (this one is founded by me)
oobe\Actshell.htm (Note This file is located in the oobe subfolder)
Note In the previous command, you must replace File_Name.extension with the file name from the list of files in this step. Additionally, File_Name.old represents the new name for the file name. For example, use the following command for the Wpa.dbl file:
REN Wpa.dbl Wpa.OLD
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.
Type cd i386, and then press ENTER.
Type the following commands individually. Press ENTER after each command:
Expand licwmi.dl_ C:\WINDOWS\System32
Expand regwizc.dl_ C:\WINDOWS\System32
Expand licdll.dl_ C:\WINDOWS\System32
Expand wpabaln.ex_ C:\WINDOWS\System32
Expand wpa.db_ C:\WINDOWS\System32
Expand actshell.ht_ C:\WINDOWS\System32\oobe
Copy pidgen.dll C:\WINDOWS\System32
Expand dpcdll.dl_ C:\WINDOWS\System32
Note In these commands, use the path that you noted in step 5 if it differs from C:\WINDOWS.
Type Exit, and then press ENTER to restart the computer.