Mass OEM deploy using unattended installation and sysprep

[XXX]

Hello out there,

I have a lot of experience using Volume License copies of XP for sysprep
and unattended installations; however, I have recently started with a
company that has about 100 systems which are almost all OEM systems. I would
like to build one master image that works on all systems but now I have to
deal with activation and the perils of OEM!

Is there anyone out there who has successfully done this?

According to this article "Preserving OEM Pre-Activation when Re-installing
Windows XP" :

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/oempreac.mspx

I should be able to install an OEM copy of XP using the generic key provided
by Microsoft, as stated in the above article, and then change the Product
Key after the installtion in order to activate. I've tried doing this and
the install (fresh) goes fine, but when I attempt to change the product key
to the one on the OEM sticker on the system case, I get the following
message "Incorrect Product Key".

I also referred to the following article, "Deploying Windows XP Using
Windows Product Activation":

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/wpadepl.mspx

This article descibes a solution for mass-deploying XP when activation is
required ... i.e. non-volume licensed copies.

I'd love love to hear from anyone who has accomplished this. You can email
me at hotmail.com - derfeus. Or post here.

Regards!

-Fred.

 

[Johan Arwidmark]

Talk to your local Microsoft representative about what is called
re-imaging rights. Shorthand, as long as you buy one VLK licens
(5-pack) you can use that to deploy Windows XP and the OEM licenses
will cover to install.

Se this link
http://technet2.microsoft.com/Windo...e6fa-4b6c-8253-123aac9adc321033.mspx?mfr=true


regards

Johan Arwidmark
Microsoft MVP - Setup/Deployment