Error "Activate Windows cannot run because local scripting has been disabled" .

Symptom

When you click the Activate Windows link in the Start Menu, or run the command oobe/msoobe /a from Start, RUN dialog, Windows Product Activation screen may not appear, and the following error message is shown:

Activate Windows cannot run because local scripting has been disabled on this computer. Scripting may have been disabled for virus prevention or as a security measure. Once local scripting has been enabled, run Activate Windows again.

Resolution

This happens if Active Scripting is disabled for the My Computer zone, as a security measure. To enable the Activation wizard to run, you need to enable Active Scripting. Follow this:

Type REGEDIT in Start, Run. Press Enter

Navigate to this key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Internet Settings \ Zones \ 0

Double-click the value 1400 and set it's data to 0

If Security_HKLM_Only is enabled, you need to make the modification in this key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Internet Settings \ Zones \ 0

Double-click the value 1400 and set it's data to 0

Close Registry Editor

The value 1400 corresponds to Active Scripting