Windows XP Locked in Oracle VirtualBox

T

In my organisation, software is still used which are 16 bit & I use Windows XP in Oracle Virtual Box. I access XP only once in a month. At every instance it asks for activation, I used to run some commands which extend the trial period of activation to another 30 days. I was doing this since last one year but now something happened that it is not allowing to log in at all even if I run those commands. I’ve tried many workarounds on the internet but none worked.
I cannot access my files in XP which are very important. I didn’t create any backup.

How do I access those files?

I’m running 64-bit Win10.

this is the error

*uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210630/a8bfb2766f55d18ef09758322db526dd.jpg

Is your virtual drive partition encrypted by any chance? Such as using Bitlocker?

If it isn't encrypted, you could create a bootable Linux USB and select it as the boot device when your VM starts. Browse to your hard drive where your files are and copy out the files that you need.

I think it would be better if you copy all of your files out and then later reinstall Windows on your VM.

T

Desmond David said:
Is your virtual drive partition encrypted by any chance? Such as using Bitlocker?

If it isn't encrypted, you could create a bootable Linux USB and select it as the boot device when your VM starts. Browse to your hard drive where your files are and copy out the files that you need.

I think it would be better if you copy all of your files out and then later reinstall Windows on your VM.

Thanks. I’ll do and post the results.

I think technically you don't need to create a bootable USB since you can mount ISOs directly in Virtualbox from the VMs settings.

Try using keys on win world PC. they provide legit evaluation keys and are not pirated.

Edit: Sorry they dont have keys for win XP. I was mistaken, they only have till win 2000 and ME

T

*uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210630/6adb88221877caa90e9e27cf47599fe4.jpg

Getting these options .. usb doesn’t show here

Have created usb drive of ubuntu

theterminator said:
*uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210630/6adb88221877caa90e9e27cf47599fe4.jpg

Getting these options .. usb doesn’t show here

Have created usb drive of ubuntu

Just insert the ISO of ubuntu into the vm and reboot.

After that it will directly boot. USB Boot is not supported without extension pack, so instead just use the ISO

T

RumbaMon19 said:
Just insert the ISO of ubuntu into the vm and reboot.

After that it will directly boot. USB Boot is not supported without extension pack, so instead just use the ISO

How to “insert”?

From here

T

*uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210630/566ad92530ddf4aa7acb91e886066919.jpg

There is no Device option here

Settings > Storage

Then select an ISO for one of the drives.

That option is on the VM's Page, Start the VM, And then insert from there. After inserting, reset the VM from Machine > Reset

T

After resetting got error during boot that

“This kernel requires an x86-64 CPU, but only detected an i686 CPU. Unable to boot - please use a kernel appropriate for your cpu. “

I’m running 32-Bit Windows XP.

theterminator said:
After resetting got error during boot that

“This kernel requires an x86-64 CPU, but only detected an i686 CPU. Unable to boot - please use a kernel appropriate for your cpu. “

I’m running 32-Bit Windows XP.

Wait.

Ubuntu requires x64 cpu, so either enable virtualisation OR use something like Hiren's boot CD or other Win PE based OS.

theterminator said:
In my organisation, software is still used which are 16 bit & I use Windows XP in Oracle Virtual Box. I access XP only once in a month. At every instance it asks for activation, I used to run some commands which extend the trial period of activation to another 30 days. I was doing this since last one year but now something happened that it is not allowing to log in at all even if I run those commands. I’ve tried many workarounds on the internet but none worked.
I cannot access my files in XP which are very important. I didn’t create any backup.

How do I access those files?

I’m running 64-bit Win10.

this is the error

*uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210630/a8bfb2766f55d18ef09758322db526dd.jpg

What Happens when you press yes?

If it asks for Key, maybe find one and use that

T

RumbaMon19 said:
Wait.

Ubuntu requires x64 cpu, so either enable virtualisation OR use something like Hiren's boot CD or other Win PE based OS.

What Happens when you press yes?

If it asks for Key, maybe find one and use that

I tried with some product keys but it didn’t work.

How do I enable virtualisation?

Just look for a 32-bit linux distro. For example, Debian has a i386 version as well.

theterminator said:
I tried with some product keys but it didn’t work.

How do I enable virtualisation?

*docs.oracle.com/en/virtualization/virtualbox/6.0/admin/nested-virt.html

in short,

1) Enable Virtualisation in BIOS
2) Enable virtualisation in VM settings> system > acceleration

Can you tell which specific version of XP is it? SP1,SP2 or SP3? Also, professional, home or any other?

Here is Ubuntu 32 bit ISO

*releases.ubuntu.com/16.04/ubuntu-16.04.6-desktop-i386.iso

this is direct download link I got from here

*releases.ubuntu.com/16.04/

T

RumbaMon19 said:
*docs.oracle.com/en/virtualization/virtualbox/6.0/admin/nested-virt.html

in short,

1) Enable Virtualisation in BIOS
2) Enable virtualisation in VM settings> system > acceleration

Can you tell which specific version of XP is it? SP1,SP2 or SP3? Also, professional, home or any other?

Here is Ubuntu 32 bit ISO

*releases.ubuntu.com/16.04/ubuntu-16.04.6-desktop-i386.iso

this is direct download link I got from here

*releases.ubuntu.com/16.04/

I downloaded Linux Mint 32 bit, Ubuntu 32 bit from above link and still couldn’t get the error away.
Its a windows xp Home edition Service Pack 1

theterminator said:
I downloaded Linux Mint 32 bit, Ubuntu 32 bit from above link and still couldn’t get the error away.
Its a windows xp Home edition Service Pack 1

Try this at last now

*www.hirensbootcd.org/

It should run as it has winPE on it.

Did you try enabling virtualisation? just google [ enable virtualisation <Your MOBO/ PC> in virtual Box]

if this works, only then you may try one of the Home version keys from here

*gist.github.com/denizssch/72ec2aa1c5d0a84ffb57076f7dbf30d6

T

*uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210630/cc4ef529811add5546983f2ccececb07.jpg

Now the system won’t let me activate.. when I log in to windows this message pops up and whether I hit Yes or No, it will log me off.

T

Well I don’t know how, i thought of booting xp then the message came while booting … Press any key to boot from CD… I chose that and started setup , there is an option to repair existing installation which i selected and it started to repair but I’m stuck at the message below which asks for a product key and will not skip. The keys at github don’t work.

*uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210630/e646e242926e1588dbf12a6932de2296.jpg

T

SaiyanGoku said:

Now I can’t reach to that Window. I need a product key now.

T

wait … one of the keys worked … awesome!!!!

T

So it turned out ..one of the keys worked and I was able to boot to XP but it started asking for activation again & that video by SaiyanGoku helped a lot

… I activated it by dialling to the US number and got activated.
Thanks all

just saved tons of data for me.

theterminator said:
So it turned out ..one of the keys worked and I was able to boot to XP but it started asking for activation again & that video by SaiyanGoku helped a lot … I activated it by dialling to the US number and got activated.
Thanks all just saved tons of data for me.

Amazed to see that worked. How much did the call charge to you?

I thought the phone method works only with OEM copies

T

RumbaMon19 said:
Amazed to see that worked. How much did the call charge to you?

I thought the phone method works only with OEM copies

I don’t know, i’m on jio prepaid.
The key I used is of an OEM. Now my copy of XP has no internet since I don’t need any so no Windows Updates

. I think it will work for time eternity.

Learn from this and take backup!

T

rhitwick said:
Learn from this and take backup!

I generally have backup enabled in all of my devices. I pay monthly ₹749/- for 2 TB & have 4.5 TB local storage.
But this was an office thing where most of it lies with the organisation.