Cannot find oembios.bin during Win XP Pro upgrade

[CH]

I tried to upgrade my Dad's computer to Win XP Pro from
Win 98SE. Every time I try, I get an error message saying
it cannot find the file 'oembios.bin.' I skip the file
and installation completes. I then get to the login
screen and when I click on the user to log in, I get an
error saying "A problem is preventing Windows from
accurately checking the license for this computer. Error
code 0x80070002." I clcik OK and the computer goes back
to the login screen and gets stuck in a loop. I believe
this error is caused by the lack of the oembios.bin file.
I searched for the mentioned error and it pertains to Dell
computers. The computer I'm working on is a Compaq. It
also gives two possible causes and a workaround for each.
Neither workaround applies to this machine -- the system
drive letter has NOT changed and neither of the two keys
mentioned are present in the registry. Anyone have any
ideas?

 

[Rob]

youre using a SLP bios locked OEM version of XP. it looks in a specific
memory location in the BIOS for a matching manufacturer string. if it
doesnt find it, it knows you're trying to install it on a machine different
that the one it shipped with. it can only be installed on the machine it
shipped with per microsofts OEM licensing agreements.

 

[Rob]

incidentally, microsoft got pretty smart with this SLP methodology. the
oembios files are actually submitted to whql signed with an OEM verisign ID.
whql then signs them as well and sends them back to the OEM, so you cant
just go playing around and trying to edit the file. the only way to bypass
it would be to know what string it is looking for in what area in bios, and
write the string to that area (which of course would probably destroy your
bios). on the machines im working on now, it searches f000:0000 thru
f000:ffff for a specific string (Intel BIOS). On another Intel product, the
string might have to be put in a different location and a new OEMBIOS file
created and sent to microsoft for signing.

 

[Guest]

Same thing is happening to me when i'm trying to install XP Pro on a laptop that came with XP Home
Rob, is there any way to find out the string it is looking for and modify it? Or am i stuck with Home Edition for 10 years? )

 

[Rob]

If this is because of an SLP locked installation, you're likely out of luck.
The manufacturer of the hardware places a string in the BIOS (Microsoft says
it has to contain the manufacturer name, so that would be what to look for).
The big question is where in BIOS. In the Intel BIOS I've worked with,
Intel saves an area to store this kind of info between FFFF:0000 and
FFFF:FFFF. So in the file I submit to Microsoft, I say to search in that
area for the manufacturer string. I then encrypt the file with a Verisign
key, Microsoft countersigns it, logos it, and sends it back with a .CAT
file. The moon, sun and stars would have to align for you to insert the
correct string into your BIOS, in the correct location, without screwing up
your BIOS. Really you should just do the right thing and buy the retail
version of Pro and save yourself the headaches.

Same thing is happening to me when i'm trying to install XP Pro on a laptop that came with XP Home.
Rob, is there any way to find out the string it is looking for and modify

it? Or am i stuck with Home Edition for 10 years? )

 

[Guest]

Thank you for the reply, Rob.
Funny thing, i wouldn't have problems with buying XP Pro if i didn't have it. But i do. Does that mean that i have to pay what i don't really need every time i buy a new laptop?

 

[Rob]

If you order laptops that often, then you might be best off buying a retail
copy and ordering each laptop with no OS
(if that's an option). Of course you'll only be able to install the retail
copy on one laptop at a time.

Thank you for the reply, Rob.
Funny thing, i wouldn't have problems with buying XP Pro if i didn't have

it. But i do. Does that mean that i have to pay what i don't really need
every time i buy a new laptop?