Activation Issue -- Sysprep Newb

[martin.jon.orc]

Hello,
My company has about 30 Dell laptops(all identical) that I am
responsible for setting up. There is no volume license each have there
own license key and have been preactivated. I have created an image
using Ghost 8.0 and Sysprep. I have mini-setup run on reboot to prompt
for a license key. When I enter it it tells me that the key is not
valid. I put it on the net and it will not activate over internet. I
have to call MS for activation on each one. These are legal license
keys on new still in the box laptops. Being new to this I assume I am
making a mistake in the image or that them being preactivated has
something to do with it. Please help because I do not look forward to
being on the phone with MS for every one of these. Plus I have another
batch of twenty after this. (different model) Thanks.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Preserving OEM Pre-Activation when Re-installing Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/oempreac.mspx

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User

Enjoy all the benefits of genuine Microsoft software:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.mspx

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:

| Hello,
| My company has about 30 Dell laptops(all identical) that I am
| responsible for setting up. There is no volume license each have there
| own license key and have been preactivated. I have created an image
| using Ghost 8.0 and Sysprep. I have mini-setup run on reboot to prompt
| for a license key. When I enter it it tells me that the key is not
| valid. I put it on the net and it will not activate over internet. I
| have to call MS for activation on each one. These are legal license
| keys on new still in the box laptops. Being new to this I assume I am
| making a mistake in the image or that them being preactivated has
| something to do with it. Please help because I do not look forward to
| being on the phone with MS for every one of these. Plus I have another
| batch of twenty after this. (different model) Thanks.