Cloning with XP?

[Steve]

Question on this article:

How to Use Sysprep with Windows Product Activation or
Volume License Media to Deploy Windows XP
(http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
us;299840)

"Product Activation with Retail Media Windows Product
Activation is designed to work with drive imaging products
that are available from third-party manufacturers. You can
use the Sysprep utility that is included with Windows XP
to reset activation up to three times.

After Windows XP is imaged and then deployed, Windows
Product Activation initiates the activation timer, which
resets the installation ID (and enables the full grace
period) at first start after the installation of Windows
XP is complete on the target computer. Unlike Volume
Licensing, unique product keys are required for each of
the target computers. However, a manual telephone call is
not necessary as long as the target computers have
Internet connectivity and the product keys are valid; in
that case, the computer activates online automatically."

-----

I've been working on this for hours & getting kinda fuzzy.
I have a classroom with 50 laptops with XP Pro. Does this
mean that I can only reimage them 3 times & then I can't
anymore? I want to be able to reimage when we are done
with a training to be fresh for next wave of people.

 

[Mike Kolitz]

Hi Steve,

No, I believe that means that you can run Sysprep with the directive to
reset activation up to three times on the same installation of the operating
system. So, if you install XP, and run Sysprep with instructions to reset
the activation, you can run Sysprep again (and tell it to reset the
activation) two more time.

Does that make more sense?

 

[Steve]

Yes but I want to make sure I get this right.

Here is what I'm going to do. We have 50 laptops in a
classroom that I want to reimage say once a month. So I'm
going to Build a model computer, run sysprep & then image
that. So when I clone the computer to the 50 laptops &
then boot them up they come to the registration part where
I put in product key for Windows & username/computer name,
etc. Then you ahve to do online activiation I take it.
Does this mean I can only reimage them 3 times & then I
can't anymore?

Can you tell yet that I'm just getting into this stuff &
trying to learn Thanks for all the help.

 

[Mike Kolitz]

No problem, Steve.
What the article is saying is that you can only run Sysprep and reset the
activation grace period three times per installed operating system.

So, if you install Windows XP on your model computer, run Sysprep, and then
create an image from that model computer, each computer you create from that
image will have had sysprep run on it once.

You could run Sysprep two more times on each machine (which you probably
wouldn't need to do, unless you're rebuilding your image) before you run
into the three time limit.

In short, you can put that image on as many workstations as you have XP
licenses for. The limitation only comes into play when and if you have to
run Sysprep again (and if you choose to reset the activation grace period
when you do).

 

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

Yes but I want to make sure I get this right.

Here is what I'm going to do. We have 50 laptops in a
classroom that I want to reimage say once a month. So I'm
going to Build a model computer, run sysprep & then image
that. So when I clone the computer to the 50 laptops &
then boot them up they come to the registration part where
I put in product key for Windows & username/computer name,
etc. Then you ahve to do online activiation I take it.
Does this mean I can only reimage them 3 times & then I
can't anymore?

Can you tell yet that I'm just getting into this stuff &
trying to learn Thanks for all the help.

Steve,

You will have an issue with your reactivation - UNLESS you are using volume
licensed media
Since you will be deploying to each machine once a month when you then
attempt to activate it using its unique product activation key - you will
receive the message that it has already been used and you will then have to
activate via telephone.
I assume you ARE using VL media and keys (you did not mention this in your
original post)

--
Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these
newsgroups

 

[Stefano]

I assume you ARE using VL media and keys

--

Mike,

I have a similar issue in my company.
Is it possible to make my master image using VL media and insert an OEM key
during installation?

TIA
S.

 

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

Mike,

I have a similar issue in my company.
Is it possible to make my master image using VL media and insert an OEM
key
during installation?

TIA

Stefano ,

No.
VL Media requires the use of the VL key.
OEM keys are tied to the OEM media.

--
Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these
newsgroups