2-3 pcs on same lan, 1 copy of windows

  • Thread starter Thread starter Robert Blackwell
  • Start date Start date
R

Robert Blackwell

Does this present a problem?

I'm going to be a couple new computers that will be exactly identical
hardware wise. I'm planning on loading reloading everything on them myself,
partitioning, creating an image for backup, and then clone the other drives.

So, I'd legitimately have enough licenses but all computers would be using
the same cdkey since I'd have cloned the other drives.
Basically, what I'm getting at, is if there will be a problem because
windows detects duplicate cd-keys and suspects piracy.


Thanks
 
You will need to purchase 3 copies of Windows XP and use 3 different CD keys
to activate.
 
drives.
Click to expand...

Activation is not a problem, once it is activated, I clone the drive and
copy to the other 2 or 3 computers. The hardware is exactly identical so
windows wont know a thing.

You didn't really answer my question.
 
That is a violation of the EULA.

Robert Blackwell said:
Activation is not a problem, once it is activated, I clone the drive and
copy to the other 2 or 3 computers. The hardware is exactly identical so
windows wont know a thing.

You didn't really answer my question.
Click to expand...
 
Greetings --

Cloning won't fool the activation process.

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH
 
But, if he has purchased a license for each PC, as he has claimed,
wouldn't he be able to clone the one system and just call MS for phone
activation?

GLCrews,MCP
 
Robert Blackwell said:
Does this present a problem?

I'm going to be a couple new computers that will be exactly identical
hardware wise. I'm planning on loading reloading everything on them myself,
partitioning, creating an image for backup, and then clone the other drives.

So, I'd legitimately have enough licenses but all computers would be using
the same cdkey since I'd have cloned the other drives.
Basically, what I'm getting at, is if there will be a problem because
windows detects duplicate cd-keys and suspects piracy.
Click to expand...

Do not activate the system you are going to use for the image.

Install the unactivated image on each of the other two machines.

Download http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/keyfinder.exe and use it to
change the product key on the cloned computers to one of the other
licenses so that each copy has a unique product key.

Then activate each computer separately. It should only take a few
seconds over the Internet and you will be 110% legit in every detail.

Cloning an activated copy will fail because the activation control
data includes Universally Unique Identifiers such as the MAC address
of the network adapter and the volume/serial number of the formatted
hard drive.

Good luck



Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."
 
The problem is, he has no intention of purchasing additional licenses. He
intends to "fool" Microsoft.
 
Greetings --

I didn't see where he had any intention of obtaining a legitimate
license for each PC. But, to answer your question, he could clone the
hard drives and then change the Product Keys to the appropriate one
for each PC during the activation process.

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH
 
Thanks, Bruce...

I build multiple, identical systems for clients all of the time. Up
till now, I have done this with Win98 and Win2000 and cloned one image
to the rest, which is no big deal. I was just curious if it were
possible to do this, with the correct number of licenses, as a
time-saving measure.

Thanks...

GLCrews,MCP
 
The new tool for this is called sysprep.

--
Just my 2¢ worth
Jeff
__________in response to__________
| Thanks, Bruce...
|
| I build multiple, identical systems for clients all of the time. Up
| till now, I have done this with Win98 and Win2000 and cloned one image
| to the rest, which is no big deal. I was just curious if it were
| possible to do this, with the correct number of licenses, as a
| time-saving measure.
|
| Thanks...
|
| GLCrews,MCP
 
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