Clone of OEM XP Installation

[Hubert Rétif]

Hi,

For a customer of mines, I have bought 7 DELL Optiplex Desktop with pre
installed XP. I should deliver them all with the same configuration and as I
did not want to configure each of them separetely, I have set one and copy
the partition image on the 6 other one.

I was never asked for a product key, but I suddendly realized that all 7 PCs
are probably installed with the same key now. Is that a problem? If yes,
what should I do without having to reinstall all PCs?

None of these PCs is complaining and I did not found where I could change
the key.

Thanks,

Hubert.

 

[Guest]

You may have a couple of choices, 1 download this utility and see if you can
change the key this way http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml If
this does not work try running a sysprep back to factory settings.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302577/en-us and
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/299840/en-us
Remember that if these units have MS Office that they will also have the
same key number, the first utility is supposed to handle Office as well.

Good Luck

 

[Kerry Brown]

If you didn't reinstall Windows before cloning you shouldn't have a problem
with the product key or activation. Dells come from the factory
pre-activated with a factory key. If you reinstalled Windows using the key
from the COA you will have problems. If the computers are on the same
network you may run into problems with duplicate SIDs, computer names, etc..

 

[Hubert Rétif]

If you reinstalled Windows using the key from the COA you will have

problems

What is COA?

If the computers are on the same network you may run into problems with
duplicate SIDs, computer names, etc..

They all will be on the same network. Of course I have changed the computer
name after each cloning

If you didn't reinstall Windows before cloning you shouldn't have a problem
with the product key or activation

What I have exactly done:
1. take one of the 7 PCs
2. Install and configure it without activating Office
3. make an image
4. copy this image of all other 6 PCs
5. On these 6 other PCs:
a. change computer name
b. activate Office with its own key
c. create a new user account and delete the generic one

What is your diagnostic?

Thanks,
Hubert

 

[Kerry Brown]

What exactly did this step entail? "2. Install and configure it without
activating Office" If you enetered the XP key affixed to the computer you
will have problems with activating the computers. If you didn't enter the XP
key during this phase then you shouldn't have any problems with activations.
As mt other post stated you may run into problems with duplicate SIDs and
computer names if the computers are on the same network. If it is a work
group you are probably OK. If it is a domain the SIDs will cause minor
problems sonner or later. I recommend using a program like newsid or
ghostwalker to change the SIDs and also make sure each computer has a unique
name.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314828

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/docid/1999070716282425

http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/NewSid.html

 

[Hubert Rétif]

Thanks Kerry and Steve for helping

If you enetered the XP key affixed to the computer you will have problems
with activating the computers

I was never asked to enter an XP key and never had to activate them. Only
Office, and I have done it with a separate key.

If you didn't enter the XP key during this phase then you shouldn't have
any problems with activations

That's the case. Thus I am on the good side, isn't it?

If it is a domain the SIDs will cause minor problems sonner or later.

It will be a domain. Any way I will test it and use your recommended tools.

Hubert.

 

[Kerry Brown]

Your welcom. If you run into any problems let us know. Newsid from
sysinternals.com is probably the easiest to use.