XP Home, SP1:
Logging on to my computer I receive the error 'A problem is preventing
Windows from accurately checking the license for this computer - 0x80090006'

Now, here's where it gets interesting: I was running VLC media player, which
terminated unexpectedly - my DVD drive icon vanished from 'My Computer'. I
restarted (noticing on startup that BIOS could see the drive) and after
hitting OK to log in, I received this error, and was logged out.
NOW - I'm finding that I can't boot from my XP CD with EITHER my DVD drive
or my CD drive!

As far as I can tell, the change in hardware hash caused by Windows failing
to detect my DVD drive has caused it not to accept my license, but I can't
reinstall Windows because my drive can't be detected! Any ideas?!

If the solution is registry based I can always boot from a different hard
drive to edit the registry...

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315341



regards,
S.Sengupta[MS-MVP]

Christian Linnell wrote:

Thanks S, unfortunately since my CD drives can't be detected by Windows, I
can't boot from it or even access it at runtime (if I boot from a different
HD). Can I reinstall without the CD? I don't have the image copied to my
computer unfortunately...

--


"S.Sengupta" wrote:

If you can't boot with your instal disc the problem is hardware not software.
WindowsXP is not running when you boot up. Check your motherboard bios setting to
boot from CD as first option .

regards Bussoguy


Christian Linnell wrote: