Are OEM Product Keys scanable?

[Doug Lowe]

I'm going to be deploying about 50 new computers that will all have Windows
XP OEM. I want to build a database with the product keys so I don't have to
crawl under the desks with a flashlight if I need to reinstall. But I doubt
my ability to type the keys in accurately.

Does one of the barcodes on the stickers hold the product key, and if so, is
it feasible to just scan them using a cheap (under $100) scanner?

Thanks,

--Doug

 

[Galen]

In Doug Lowe had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

I'm going to be deploying about 50 new computers that will all have
Windows XP OEM. I want to build a database with the product keys so I
don't have to crawl under the desks with a flashlight if I need to
reinstall. But I doubt my ability to type the keys in accurately.

Does one of the barcodes on the stickers hold the product key, and if
so, is it feasible to just scan them using a cheap (under $100)
scanner?
Thanks,

--Doug

You could or, as you deploy them, you can just save the key:

ProduKey - Recover lost product key (CD-Key) of Windows/MS-Office:
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/
http://kgiii.info/

"I am glad of all details, whether they seem to you to be relevant or
not." - Sherlock Holmes

 

[Doug Lowe]

Thanks, that's a cool little program. I think I'll just run it on each box &
write the files to a network share.

 

[Galen]

In Doug Lowe had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

Thanks, that's a cool little program. I think I'll just run it on
each box & write the files to a network share.

Why write it? I think you can save it's results to a network share and then
database it and have that and something like Everest info per each PC... <g>
It's poor-man's asset management software done all on your own. Is that the
right app? It's been ages since I've played with it? File > Save? Point to
network directory? *hint* As you roll 'em out run it, no install needed
even? Add any info you want to the saved file as it's being saved perhaps?

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/
http://kgiii.info/

"I am glad of all details, whether they seem to you to be relevant or
not." - Sherlock Holmes

 

[Doug]

That's what I had in mind, it has a bunch of options to save the file in
various formats including tab-delimited or even XML.

I was thinking to do something like produkey /sxml
\\server\share\%computername%.xml to create an XML file for each computer in
a network share. It's not something I need very often, only when a computer
crashes and I need to reinstall the OS or Office. So I don't care about a
fancy database format.

I'm building a deployment batch file that I'll run on each box anyway, to
configure a few loose ends. I'll just stick that command in the batch file
to get it done.

Everest looks pretty interesting, I'll have a look at it.

Thanks!

--Doug