SOLVED XP must be activated before you log in- and activation wizard wont load!

Took me some time to figure this out out, but if msoobe doesnt come up, you need to re-install IE8.

You can do it by going into safe mode (without networking should still work), run sysprep tool (xp cd has a copy under TOOLS in some CAB file), that will reset your 30 days, and you can reboot back into normal mode.

Then install IE8. Or remove it and re-install it. After that, finish sysprep (it will nag you on boot) and msoobe should now come up.

Hope it helps someone.