Image OEM license, then sysprep -image to Volume Lic?

[orman]

So now after 90 minutes of reading info on the web, I am still somewhat confused.
Have 50 new PC's with WinXP SP2 OEM on them. I have installed all of our software on one (call it the Master PC). Now I plan on creating a ghost image for putting on the others PC's. I want to use our Volume License key to do that, Windows SP1.
Can this be done using sysprep?
Or can I, (should I...) change the product key to what is ever is currently on that PC.

(Additional info: I tried 'JellyBean', and a registry hack to try to change the product key the Master PC, but gave invalid product key. I assume that is because the key is for XP Sp1, and I'm trying to use it on a XP Sp2 install.)

What do you think?

 

[Ali147gta]

use setup manager to specify the parameters you want, including the licence key and then run sysprep et voila...

hope this helps

 

[bcastner]

You cannot use a VLK on an OEM image.
The PIDs do not match.

 

[tf1]

Nope. You cannot and should not do this with OEM software. OEM software is licenced for the computer with which it was purchased and once installed belongs and lives with that PC until the PC dies. It is strictly non-transferable. That's why it is heavily discounted over Open Licences.

Regards: tf1

 

[Ali147gta]

just to check then, we buy our PC's from Dell which have their own version of win xp on them. What i do is format the machine and then install XP with SP2 from our subscription we have with MS I put the vol licence key in and then after i have built the image file i set the sys prep options and then ghost the image.

am i breaking the law ? or did i misread the question ??

 

[bcastner]

Windows XP upgrade licenses acquired through one of Microsoft's volume licensing agreements, such as Microsoft Open License, Enterprise Agreement, or Select License, will not require activation. Installations of Windows XP made using volume licensing media and volume license product keys (VLKs) will have no activation, hardware checking, or limitations on installation or imaging.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/evaluate/xpactiv.mspx

 

[tf1]

I misunderstood. If you are reformating (and thus erasing the OEM version) and installing Windows with SP2 slip-streamed from your own subscription licence with MS, then there is no activation and what I said is irrelevant because the OEM Windows licence is now dead.

Once you have setup one PC, you can image that PC onto all the other PCs.





Regards: tf1

 

[Ali147gta]

thanks, i was about to start having nightmares :-D

 

[orman]

OK, so I will just wipe out the current hard drive & reintall using our volume license disk, and then blah, blah, blah.. and ghost an image from there.

Curious, looking at the new PC out of the box, the MS Windows tag on the PC with the license number is not the same as the license number on the hard drive... that is the license you see when you right click on my computer and go to properties. That is an OEM license.
Any comments on this?

(Thank you all for commenting!)

 

[tf1]

Someone at Dell has been putting the hard drives into the wrong PCs or the wrong covers on the wrong PCs. The HDDs are batch loaded on a special device and then installed into an assembled PC. The case sticker should match the version of Windows: so someone at Dell has goofed!


Regards: tf1

 

[bcastner]

Dell, HP, Compaq and other OEM manufacturers are permitted under their license to use a single key for their images. And do so.

The COA key on the case is to be used if the OS needs to be reinstalled.

Your 50 new Dell PCs will show the same license key if you examine them with Magical Jelly Bean or similar utility. This is perfectly normal.

 

[bcastner]

The majority of customers acquire Windows with the purchase of a new computer, and most new computers pre-loaded with Windows XP will not require activation at all. Microsoft provides OEMs with the ability to "pre-activate" Windows XP in the factory and estimates that upwards of 80% of all new PCs will be delivered to the customer pre-activated.

"Pre-activation" of Windows XP by the OEMs will be done in one of two different ways depending on the OEM's own configuration options and choices. Some OEMs may protect Windows XP using a mechanism which locks the installation to OEM-specified BIOS information in the PC. This technology works very similar to existing technologies that many OEMs have used over the years with the CDs they ship to reinstall Windows on these computers. We expanded and integrated the existing OEM CD BIOS locking mechanism with product activation, and call this method of protection "System Locked Pre-installation," or SLP.

Successfully implemented, SLP uses information stored in an OEM PC's BIOS to protect the installation from casual piracy. No communication by the end customer to Microsoft is required and no hardware hash is created or necessary. At boot, Windows XP compares the PC's BIOS to the SLP information. If it matches, no activation is required.

Every single piece of hardware could be changed on a PC with SLP and no reactivation would be required — even the motherboard could be replaced as long as the replacement motherboard was original equipment manufactured by the OEM and retained the proper BIOS. In the unlikely scenario that the BIOS information does not match, the PC would need to be activated within 30 days by contacting the Microsoft activation center via the Internet or telephone call — just as in a retail scenario.

OEMs may also activate Windows XP by contacting Microsoft in the same way the consumer would activate. Activation done in this way is the same as activating a retail boxed version of Windows XP.

For OEMs who do not employ either of the above two methods of pre-activation, a new PC acquired with Windows XP preinstalled must be activated by the customer. This activation is completed in the exact same way as would someone who acquired Windows XP by purchasing a boxed version at a retailer.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/evaluate/xpactiv.mspx