You didn't get thanked from the previous person so I thought it only appropriate that you recieve thanks from someone, you did save my day. I also think from the lack of response at all you managed to help the other person as well.
I was having a similar problem where I put my wifes HDD in a new machine and ran a repair to finish the job. When it was finished it said that I could not log on until I activatedd windows, when I selected ok, nothing at all would happen, I got her desktop picture and that was it. I tried the advice you had offered to the other person in need and we have desktop! My assumption as one with moderate pc skills and knowllege, is that it couldn't connect to the internet properly and since I couldn't do anything I had no way to configure the connection to suit the hardware change.
Now the problem seems to be that when I select to activate windows, still nothing happens. Click on it, a momentary hourglass, then nothing. I was able to do some windows updates etc. and I'm hoping that will fix whatever is snagging that part of the system. If it doesn't I may be back to ask for the kind help of all those who are willing to give of their knowllege.
Thank you Hargak and Thank you to all of you who deserve it and do not recieve it.
Peace
