SceneMissing <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>All,
>
>I am currently working on a new Ghost image for my company. I'm using
>Sysprep and Ghost. When I deploy the image to a Dell (which it was
>originally created on) I don't seem to have any issues, but if I put it on
>our Gateway the Windows Product Activation shows up. We do not have volume
>licensing as all the PCs are leased with OEM keys. Is there a way to get
>around this (legally) so I don't have to have an image for each brand of PC?
>
>Thanks for the help!
Both Dell and Gateway (and pretty much all other major OEMs) are now
using the SLP or "BIOS Locked" procedure with their Windows XP. This
means that these copies are self-activating provided they are
installed on a motherboard from that specific OEM.
If these BIOS Locked OEM versions are installed on a different brand
motherboard then they revert to normal activation status. However
since 1 March 2005 Microsoft has stopped the online activation of the
Product Keys used by these OEMs and telephone activations will also be
declined. Hence these versions can now only be used with the "proper"
motherboard.
You have a couple of options:
1. Create a new Ghost image for each brand of computers that you
have.
2. Convince your company to purchase a Volume License for your total
complement of PCs and use that for your image. Depending on your
purchase volume and on your preferred suppliers it should be possible
to acquire new PCs without a preinstalled operating system at a
reduced price/lease rate so as to offset the cost of the volume
license.
Good luck
Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm
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