XP Sysprep File loses windows product key

Hi i have a sysprep file with no problems except the windows key. I put the windows key in to the file through the sysprep setup manager and yet after the machines are sysprep it always asks to put the key back in again, i have checked everything and it seems ok

IS THE KEY IN THE CORRECT LOCATION IN THE SIF FILE

at what point is it asking for the key? putting a key in sysprep will get
you no prompting (unless its a bad key) during factory prep install. after
you seal the machine and reboot as an enduser you'll be prompted for a key
again unless you also include the key in the unattend.txt

"JC" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1B1FF9DF-DA0C-4975-9F77-5FC5E784F0E0@microsoft.com...
> Hi i have a sysprep file with no problems except the windows key. I put
the windows key in to the file through the sysprep setup manager and yet
after the machines are sysprep it always asks to put the key back in again,
i have checked everything and it seems ok

Maybe someone from MS can validate this but I was told sysprep will only
work with a volume licensed media and key??
"Rob" <rob@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:uakG0K8KEHA.892@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> at what point is it asking for the key? putting a key in sysprep will get
> you no prompting (unless its a bad key) during factory prep install.
after
> you seal the machine and reboot as an enduser you'll be prompted for a key
> again unless you also include the key in the unattend.txt
>
> "JC" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:1B1FF9DF-DA0C-4975-9F77-5FC5E784F0E0@microsoft.com...
> > Hi i have a sysprep file with no problems except the windows key. I put
> the windows key in to the file through the sysprep setup manager and yet
> after the machines are sysprep it always asks to put the key back in
again,
> i have checked everything and it seems ok
>
>