CD Key needed before windows 98 loads

  • Thread starter Thread starter ray
  • Start date Start date
R

ray

I have recently purchased a 2nd hand pc that initially booted up into
windows98 and then presented the familiar User and company dialogue
box followed by the windows cd key entry box.......after entering the
required data the machine loaded ok and has never done it since...the
salesman said that this would happen when i bought it so i was ready
for it......windows was fully loaded all the hardware drivers etc were
correclty loaded and i got straight into setting up internet and
applications......
however i am very interested to find out how this boot up procedure is
is achieved....
thanks for any tips
 
Hi Ray,

This behavior is achieved with an OEM Windows Pre-Installation Kit, which
most OEM manufacturers use when building computers. The software is
included on a separate CD from Microsoft that is packed with bulk OEM
operating system CDs.

Russell
http://tastycomputers.com
 
thanks folks......
it wouldn't be as simple as loading windows plus / drivers etc,
deleting the cd key and product id from registry and then reboooting i
spose
 
thanks folks......
it wouldn't be as simple as loading windows plus / drivers etc,
deleting the cd key and product id from registry and then reboooting i
spose
Click to expand...
No. You need to use the resource kit that is on the CD.


--
Conor

"The vast majority of Iraqis want to live in a peaceful, free world.
And we will find these people and we will bring them to justice."
- George Bush
 
Russell said:
Hi Ray,

This behavior is achieved with an OEM Windows Pre-Installation Kit, which
most OEM manufacturers use when building computers. The software is
included on a separate CD from Microsoft that is packed with bulk OEM
operating system CDs.
Click to expand...
Actually on W95, W98 & WME the OEM PPK was on the main OS CD (OEM CD's
only), but to access required running some obscure commands from the command
prompt. W2000 & WXP included the PPK on a separate cd. The PPK then gets
installed onto an already running computer. On that already running
computer you then ran the config tool which created a boot floppy disk. This
config tool allowed you to set things like custom logos, custom strings on
internet explorer, set up links in the Internet Explorer favorites etc. You
then booted the target pc with the floppy and OEM cd and it would start an
install process. Once that install process had finished it would have all
the customisations applied and boot you into a special mode called "audit
mode". From audit mode, you could install any additional software or drivers
as needed. Then once finished you would "seal" the computer, meaning that on
next boot it will prompt for username and key etc. If you were manufacturing
a bulk run, you would take an image of the drive just after (or before) you
sealed it, then you could put that onto all the resulting computers. On all
versions of windows other than W98SE that have been imaged in this fashion,
you can get back into audit mode by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+F3 keys at the first
screen where it asks for the username.
 
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