Make OEM reinstallation CD ask for product key

[DWalker07]

Lately I have found myself needing to reinstall Windows XP Pro for several
people, on desktops or laptops which have the 25-character OEM license key
on the COA sticker attached to the computer.

They have usually lost their reinstall CD, or else they don't have it with
them, and I happen to have an OEM reinstallation CD from the same
manufacturer. HOWEVER, if I install Windows XP using this CD, it doesn't
ask for the license key (and later investigation shows that it is
activated, using the OEM's preinstallation key or whatever it's called).

I know that I can do some stuff to get the key changed to the one on the
sticker, after installation, but I would really like to know how to invoke
the installation process, or even modify the CD (I know how to do that) to
ask for the product key during install.

Thanks for any help. Let me know if there's a better forum.

David Walker

 

[Ian D]

Lately I have found myself needing to reinstall Windows XP Pro for several
people, on desktops or laptops which have the 25-character OEM license key
on the COA sticker attached to the computer.

They have usually lost their reinstall CD, or else they don't have it with
them, and I happen to have an OEM reinstallation CD from the same
manufacturer. HOWEVER, if I install Windows XP using this CD, it doesn't
ask for the license key (and later investigation shows that it is
activated, using the OEM's preinstallation key or whatever it's called).

I know that I can do some stuff to get the key changed to the one on the
sticker, after installation, but I would really like to know how to invoke
the installation process, or even modify the CD (I know how to do that) to
ask for the product key during install.

Thanks for any help. Let me know if there's a better forum.

David Walker

The OEM CD is BIOS locked to computers from the same
manufacturer. That's why no product key or activation is
needed. A single product key assigned to the OEM is coded
onto all the CDs and written to the registry of each machine.
The product key on the sticker represents the XP licence for
each individual computer. If the OEM disk works, there is no
need to change the product keys in the registry.

If you change the installation so that it asks for a product key,
XP will then need to be activated, and due to MS policy re OEM
product keys, it will not activate. Your customers will then be
stuck with non-functioning XP installations after the 30 day
grace period.

Your OEM CD is obviously identical to the CDs the owners
received with their machines, so no licence rules have been
broken by your leaving things the way they are. It would
also, be legal for you to make a CD copy for anyone that has
lost theirs, as their computers are licenced to use XP.

 

[Nepatsfan]

Lately I have found myself needing to reinstall Windows XP Pro for several
people, on desktops or laptops which have the 25-character OEM license key
on the COA sticker attached to the computer.

They have usually lost their reinstall CD, or else they don't have it with
them, and I happen to have an OEM reinstallation CD from the same
manufacturer. HOWEVER, if I install Windows XP using this CD, it doesn't
ask for the license key (and later investigation shows that it is
activated, using the OEM's preinstallation key or whatever it's called).

I know that I can do some stuff to get the key changed to the one on the
sticker, after installation, but I would really like to know how to invoke
the installation process, or even modify the CD (I know how to do that) to
ask for the product key during install.

Thanks for any help. Let me know if there's a better forum.

David Walker

I got to be honest with you David. I'm baffled as to why you'd want to make
a reinstall more complicated. You do realize that using the license key from
the sticker means your installation won't be automatically validated. Odds
are you'll end up having to make a phone call to activate XP. I don't get
it. You're using the right CD for the situation. Same manufacturer, same
version of XP. What's the problem with what you're doing?

FWIW, the Dell and Compaq installation CDs I have store the manufacturer's
SLP installation key in the winnt.sif file which is located in the I386
folder on the installation CD. For me that's D:\I386\winnt.sif. I've never
tried this, but my best guess is that if you edit this file in Notepad and
remove the portion of the file that looks something like this you'll be
prompted to enter a CD key during the installation.

[UserData]
ProductKey="XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX"

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

The OEM CD is BIOS locked to computers from the same
manufacturer. That's why no product key or activation is
needed. A single product key assigned to the OEM is coded
onto all the CDs and written to the registry of each machine.
The product key on the sticker represents the XP licence for
each individual computer. If the OEM disk works, there is no
need to change the product keys in the registry.

Spot on. I am amazed at the people that want to make things mode
difficult than they need to be.

If you change the installation so that it asks for a product key,
XP will then need to be activated, and due to MS policy re OEM
product keys, it will not activate.

Actually, they can activate using the code on the sticker, it just won't
*automatically* activate over the internet. They will have to call MS
to activate.

Your customers will then be
stuck with non-functioning XP installations after the 30 day
grace period.

Not if they call MS to manually activate.

Your OEM CD is obviously identical to the CDs the owners
received with their machines, so no licence rules have been
broken by your leaving things the way they are. It would
also, be legal for you to make a CD copy for anyone that has
lost theirs, as their computers are licenced to use XP.

I don't know about the legality, but certainly there is no problem from
a licensing standpoint. I'd do it in a heartbeat.

--
Zaphod

Arthur: All my life I've had this strange feeling that there's something
big and sinister going on in the world.
Slartibartfast: No, that's perfectly normal paranoia. Everyone in the
universe gets that.

 

[DWalker07]

Lately I have found myself needing to reinstall Windows XP Pro for
several people, on desktops or laptops which have the 25-character
OEM license key on the COA sticker attached to the computer.

They have usually lost their reinstall CD, or else they don't have it
with them, and I happen to have an OEM reinstallation CD from the
same manufacturer. HOWEVER, if I install Windows XP using this CD,
it doesn't ask for the license key (and later investigation shows
that it is activated, using the OEM's preinstallation key or whatever
it's called).

I know that I can do some stuff to get the key changed to the one on
the sticker, after installation, but I would really like to know how
to invoke the installation process, or even modify the CD (I know how
to do that) to ask for the product key during install.

Thanks for any help. Let me know if there's a better forum.

David Walker

I got to be honest with you David. I'm baffled as to why you'd want to
make a reinstall more complicated. You do realize that using the
license key from the sticker means your installation won't be
automatically validated. Odds are you'll end up having to make a phone
call to activate XP. I don't get it. You're using the right CD for the
situation. Same manufacturer, same version of XP. What's the problem
with what you're doing?

FWIW, the Dell and Compaq installation CDs I have store the
manufacturer's SLP installation key in the winnt.sif file which is
located in the I386 folder on the installation CD. For me that's
D:\I386\winnt.sif. I've never tried this, but my best guess is that if
you edit this file in Notepad and remove the portion of the file that
looks something like this you'll be prompted to enter a CD key during
the installation.

[UserData]
ProductKey="XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX"

Good luck

Nepatsfan

I wondered why many Dell XP systems were pre-activated, all using the
same license number and not the license number on the CD sticker. Now I
have read that the OEMs often use one license number for all boxes of the
same mode.

I just figured that if I did a reinstall, I wanted the license number IN
the system to match the license number from the sticker.

If that's not necessary, then I won't worry about it. I was just
concerned when the various keyfinder programs showed a different product
key than the sticker on the box showed.


David

 

[Nepatsfan]

Lately I have found myself needing to reinstall Windows XP Pro for
several people, on desktops or laptops which have the 25-character
OEM license key on the COA sticker attached to the computer.

They have usually lost their reinstall CD, or else they don't have it
with them, and I happen to have an OEM reinstallation CD from the
same manufacturer. HOWEVER, if I install Windows XP using this CD,
it doesn't ask for the license key (and later investigation shows
that it is activated, using the OEM's preinstallation key or whatever
it's called).

I know that I can do some stuff to get the key changed to the one on
the sticker, after installation, but I would really like to know how
to invoke the installation process, or even modify the CD (I know how
to do that) to ask for the product key during install.

Thanks for any help. Let me know if there's a better forum.

David Walker

I got to be honest with you David. I'm baffled as to why you'd want to
make a reinstall more complicated. You do realize that using the
license key from the sticker means your installation won't be
automatically validated. Odds are you'll end up having to make a phone
call to activate XP. I don't get it. You're using the right CD for the
situation. Same manufacturer, same version of XP. What's the problem
with what you're doing?

FWIW, the Dell and Compaq installation CDs I have store the
manufacturer's SLP installation key in the winnt.sif file which is
located in the I386 folder on the installation CD. For me that's
D:\I386\winnt.sif. I've never tried this, but my best guess is that if
you edit this file in Notepad and remove the portion of the file that
looks something like this you'll be prompted to enter a CD key during
the installation.

[UserData]
ProductKey="XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX"

Good luck

Nepatsfan

I wondered why many Dell XP systems were pre-activated, all using the
same license number and not the license number on the CD sticker. Now I
have read that the OEMs often use one license number for all boxes of the
same mode.

I just figured that if I did a reinstall, I wanted the license number IN
the system to match the license number from the sticker.

If that's not necessary, then I won't worry about it. I was just
concerned when the various keyfinder programs showed a different product
key than the sticker on the box showed.


David

On a computer from a major OEM, the key on the sticker is not used. I'd
guess that there are several million Dell computers happily running XP Pro
under the same key (it starts with XJM6Q). As long as you're reinstalling on
a Dell, you're fine using the installation CD and associated SLP key. Bottom
line, don't worry about it.

Take a look at the Royalty OEM section of this article for a good
explanation of this issue.

http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000506.html

If you want some more info on this subject do a Google search for System
Locked Preinstallation.

Nepatsfan

 

[Stefan Kanthak]

Actually, they can activate using the code on the sticker, it just won't
*automatically* activate over the internet. They will have to call MS
to activate.

No, that's just plain wrong! You can use ANY OEM-CD-Key with ANY OEM-CD!
The CDs used by (major) OEMs for system locked preinstallation just differ
in the four OEMBIOS.* files they provide for their hardware. If these
match the BIOS of the machine the CD gets installed to XP will be activated
automatically.

See MSKB 899356 and the whitepaper referenced there!

Stefan

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

No, that's just plain wrong! You can use ANY OEM-CD-Key with ANY
OEM-CD!
The CDs used by (major) OEMs for system locked preinstallation just
differ
in the four OEMBIOS.* files they provide for their hardware. If these
match the BIOS of the machine the CD gets installed to XP will be
activated
automatically.

See MSKB 899356 and the whitepaper referenced there!

Um, OK, but you've missed a critical point. If you make the install ask
for the product key and the user supplies the key from the sticker on
any large OEM (like Dell, HP, etc.) then they WILL have to call MS to
activate. Trust me. Or don't trust me, try it yourself. As I
understand it, some years back MS made the change because people were
using the keys from the stickers to activate additional computers.
Since then, the keys on the stickers have required you to call MS for
activation.

--
Zaphod

Arthur Dent, speaking to Trillian about Zaphod:
"So, two heads is what does it for a girl?"
"...Anything else he's got two of?"

 

[Stefan Kanthak]

ARGH! Your linebreaks suck!

Um, OK, but you've missed a critical point.

NO! Read what I wrote!

If you make the install ask
for the product key and the user supplies the key from the sticker on
any large OEM (like Dell, HP, etc.) then they WILL have to call MS to
activate. Trust me. Or don't trust me, try it yourself.

BTDT! Many many times! Again: read what I wrote!

As I
understand it, some years back MS made the change because people were
using the keys from the stickers to activate additional computers.
Since then, the keys on the stickers have required you to call MS for
activation.

Read the white paper! TRY to understand it (and how SLP works).

Stefan

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

ARGH! Your linebreaks suck!

I'm set to break at 72 characters, and have not had anyone complain
before. What would you prefer that it be set to?

NO! Read what I wrote!

I did. You missed what I was saying.

BTDT! Many many times! Again: read what I wrote!

I have also BTDT, may hundreds of times. I did read what you wrote.
You missed (and appear to continue to miss) what I was saying.

Read the white paper! TRY to understand it (and how SLP works).

I had read it before you mentioned it, and read it again when you
referred to it to make sure I didn't miss anything. Here is a quote
from that whitepaper:

"In order to reduce a significant source of piracy, Microsoft has
disabled online activation for COA Keys that are attached to PCs that
have been pre-activated by OEMs. This change should have a minimal
impact on licensed users who generally do not use their COA Key to
activate the software because it has been pre-activated by the OEM.
However, if a licensed end user needs to activate because the OEM
pre-activation does not work as expected (e.g., after the replacement of
a defective motherboard) they can do so via phone-based activation."

Notice that it says the same thing I was saying. MS disabled online
activation of the keys on the stickers (COA keys) of major OEMs because
of piracy. If you use the key on the sticker (COA), you will have to
call MS to activate. Now, what is it about that that I've gotten wrong?
Be specific, and if you can, please quote a relevant passage from the
whitepaper or other authorative source.

--
Zaphod

Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster: A cocktail based on Janx Spirit.
The effect of one is like have your brain smashed out
by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick.

 

[Peter Foldes]

Stefan

You are plain wrong here. Have tried this numerous times and it does not work.Zaphod
was correct with his post on this

 

[Stefan Kanthak]

I'm set to break at 72 characters, and have not had anyone complain
before. What would you prefer that it be set to?

Don't let your NUA rebreak quoted lines!

I did. You missed what I was saying.

NO! ONCE AGAIN: READ THE WHITE PAPER, READ WHAT I WROTE, TRY TO
UNDERSTAND!

I have also BTDT, may hundreds of times. I did read what you wrote.
You missed (and appear to continue to miss) what I was saying.

No, you are plain WRONG!

I had read it before you mentioned it, and read it again when you
referred to it to make sure I didn't miss anything. Here is a quote
from that whitepaper:

"In order to reduce a significant source of piracy, Microsoft has
disabled online activation for COA Keys that are attached to PCs that
have been pre-activated by OEMs. This change should have a minimal
impact on licensed users who generally do not use their COA Key to
activate the software because it has been pre-activated by the OEM.
However, if a licensed end user needs to activate because the OEM ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
pre-activation does not work as expected (e.g., after the replacement of ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
a defective motherboard) they can do so via phone-based activation."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've underlined the relevant lines for all the mentally challenged!

Notice that it says the same thing I was saying. MS disabled online
activation of the keys on the stickers (COA keys) of major OEMs because
of piracy. If you use the key on the sticker (COA), you will have to
call MS to activate.

NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACTIVATE BECAUSE YOU USE THE KEY ON THE COA!
You MAY have to activate because you changed your motherboard or
replaced the BIOS. SLP activation don't cares about the key, it cares
about the OEMBIOS.* and whether these match the BIOS.

Now, what is it about that that I've gotten wrong?
Be specific, and if you can, please quote a relevant passage from the
whitepaper or other authorative source.

I've underlined it!

Stefan

 

[Stefan Kanthak]

Stefan

You are plain wrong here. Have tried this numerous times and it does not work.Zaphod
was correct with his post on this

No, I'm correct, you are wrong!

And please stop top posting and full quotes!

Stefan

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

Don't let your NUA rebreak quoted lines!


NO! ONCE AGAIN: READ THE WHITE PAPER, READ WHAT I WROTE, TRY TO
UNDERSTAND!

<Major Snippage>

It is quite apparent that you and I are having a classic "failure to
communicate". As such, this has gone beyond productive so I'm going to
bow out. EOT.

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

Don't let your NUA rebreak quoted lines!

I'm not sure how to do that with my (unfortunately, company mandated)
Outlook Express. Pointers appreciated.

 

[Stefan Kanthak]

I'm not sure how to do that with my (unfortunately, company mandated)
Outlook Express. Pointers appreciated.

Set the margin to the highest possible value (132) and insert CRs
manually at about column 70. See <http://oe-faq.de/> or
<http://home.arcor.de/skanthak/presetoe.html>.

Stefan

 

[Stefan Kanthak]

<Major Snippage>

It is quite apparent that you and I are having a classic "failure to
communicate". As such, this has gone beyond productive so I'm going to
bow out. EOT.

s/bow/chicken/

Read the preconditions for SLP and preactivation once again, and you might
recon your misconception.

Stefan

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

Set the margin to the highest possible value (132) and insert CRs
manually at about column 70. See <http://oe-faq.de/> or
<http://home.arcor.de/skanthak/presetoe.html>.

Sorry, I'm not about to manually groom my replies to accommodate a
single gripe about formatting.

 

[Dave R.]

It won't help, Peter. Stephan has gotten his brain stuck in the wrong
mode and can't see what you and Zaphod are saying. As General Honore
said after Katrina, he is "stuck on stupid". But, it is fun to watch
him make a fool out of himself!

 

[Dave R.]

s/bow/chicken/

Read the preconditions for SLP and preactivation once again, and you
might
recon your misconception.

BTW, bowing out gracefully from a thread like this has nothing to do
with being chicken. Has a lot to do with restraint and recognition that
further posting won't make matters better, but probably will make things
worse. Honestly, I've never really mastered that (which of course is
why I'm posting!) And in case you missed it, EOT in this case probably
means "End of Transmission" or "End of Thread", meaning Zaphod likely
won't be responding.

Oh, and (because I can't resist) - *You* should carefully (re)read what
DWalker07 and Ian D said, and what Zaphod clarified, and *you* might
"recon" *your* misconception. The whole point is that *if* you bypass
SLP and preactivation and use the *COA Key from the sticker* on the
outside of the PC, it will not automatically activate over the internet
and you will have to call M$. But once you do that, Windows will be
fine. Get it? Got it? Good!