[Solved] Activation wizard hangs/ won't load

OK, first off I am NOT asking for help to hack my system or do anything shady. I am installing the same copy of Windows XP that was originally on this computer when it was new (AKA, all legit, genuine product key, etc), and I'm trying to log on for the first time. Of course I get the popup message saying Windows must be activated before I can log on, and would I like to do that now?; My problem is that when I say yes the activation wizard doesn't do anything! It loads a blue screen with the keys in the background, but nothing comes up after that--- no text, nothing at all, just a blank blue screen. Of course, if I say "no" to activating windows now, then I get returned to the user logon screen.

I've tried booting in safe mode w/ command prompt, but it tells me that Windows cannot be activated while in Safe mode. I also tried looking through the registry for activation-related entries, but couldn't find any (at least none that were obvious to me . . . I'm not keen on digging around through there without knowing exactly what I'm doing). I thought maybe there'd be a key in there, or that I could create, indicating that it has been activated?

Basically, I just need to know how to get Windows activated without going through the wizard since the wizard won't work. Everything I find on Google is about how to change your product key, activate pirated copies of windows, cracks and keygens and other questionable things. I have all the valid pieces, I just can't figure out how to make them all go together o_O

Thanks!

I always like to get the really silly question out of the way first. Are you actually connected to the Net when the Activation wizard starts to run? If one of those sites you found tells you how to change settings in the Registry OOBE hives to force the wizard to start, that may be the way to go.

I tried that and it actually made things worse--- when I said yes to activate now, it says that Windows is already activated, then returns me back to the login screen, and when I log in . . . "Windows is already activated". etc etc

As to other responder, I can't set up my net connection because when I try to boot windows in safe mode w/ networking, it says I have to activate Windows before I can continue

So, who gets the "Best Answer" award?

I'm not in love with the things either myself. I just notice how rare it is that anybody gets simple recognition from the multitude of things that get fixed/sorted out here. People are much like Halloween trick or treaters, they get what they want and not heard from again, even to say that their problems were fixed or we messed up their system or anything. Oh well...




edit: Credit to lotus1922, we were told that system is up and running now.