Here's what I do on the eMachine. Make sure you have the restore/recovery discs supplied for THAT PC. Now, google for DBAN or KILLDISK and make a bootable disc after getting the .ISO file for that purpose. Once, you've burned a bootable disc and it works, then place in eMachine. Reboot and allow it to access the disc, if working it will prompt you. Once done, access the "wipe clean" or delete the entire HD. Once that's done its fully available for your restore/recovery discs. Doing it this way removes any past installs or s/w problems and such. It also tests the HD in a round about way as well as a benny. OK, if that works and all is restored, then the MS message should be to get the XP activated. If it fails at that time, then something else is at work here. I exclude any other source of XP restore/recovery discs, we need only the original OEM type discs supplied when brought new. If the "auto-activate" doesn't work then call the phone#, it should supply info that you respond to, otherwise a true phone call talking to someone maybe required. However, you should do OK on the interactive robo-phone method.