While browsing the web I fell victim to mssearchnet.exe and its associates.
Using help from other people I managed to eliminate most of the problem
except for a dandy little warning message that, when double-clicked, would
install a program called "Spyaxe" on my computer. I believed that I had found
a tool for eliminating the last bastion of mssearchnet.exe from my computer,
but when I restarted my computer after running it, I got an error message
during log in; apparently there was an error that prevented Windows from
determining whether or not my copy of Windows was valid or not.

I restarted my computer in safe mode and attempted to use System Restore to
turn the computer back to an earlier date, but all it did was narrow the
error message down to "This copy of Windows must be activated with Microsoft
before you can log on." Etc., etc.. So, I located the activation key on my
console and attempted to use it, but all I got was an "incorrect product key"
error from internet activation.

Now, my copy of Windows is OEM, so theoretically I should be getting tech
support from them, but I am fairly sure my manufacturer (Zuke Technologies)
went out of business (nasty ebay comments in the past month, website down,
etc.) and am not expecting any help from them, though I did send a message.
And, since my copy of Windows is OEM, they have washed their hands of me.
Looking for whatever help I can get; Windows runs fine in Safe Mode but won't
start up in normal mode due to the activation error. This copy has worked
fine since 2003 (time of purchase).

Troubleshooting invalid CD key error message during Windows XP setup
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310637/en-us
--
Mary Sauer MSFT MVP
http://office.microsoft.com/
http://msauer.mvps.org/
news://msnews.microsoft.com
"Giant Hogweed" <Giant Hogweed@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:AC9852E5-6A9C-40D8-9C3C-7C1B608EA9E2@microsoft.com...
> While browsing the web I fell victim to mssearchnet.exe and its associates.
> Using help from other people I managed to eliminate most of the problem
> except for a dandy little warning message that, when double-clicked, would
> install a program called "Spyaxe" on my computer. I believed that I had found
> a tool for eliminating the last bastion of mssearchnet.exe from my computer,
> but when I restarted my computer after running it, I got an error message
> during log in; apparently there was an error that prevented Windows from
> determining whether or not my copy of Windows was valid or not.
>
> I restarted my computer in safe mode and attempted to use System Restore to
> turn the computer back to an earlier date, but all it did was narrow the
> error message down to "This copy of Windows must be activated with Microsoft
> before you can log on." Etc., etc.. So, I located the activation key on my
> console and attempted to use it, but all I got was an "incorrect product key"
> error from internet activation.
>
> Now, my copy of Windows is OEM, so theoretically I should be getting tech
> support from them, but I am fairly sure my manufacturer (Zuke Technologies)
> went out of business (nasty ebay comments in the past month, website down,
> etc.) and am not expecting any help from them, though I did send a message.
> And, since my copy of Windows is OEM, they have washed their hands of me.
> Looking for whatever help I can get; Windows runs fine in Safe Mode but won't
> start up in normal mode due to the activation error. This copy has worked
> fine since 2003 (time of purchase).