Ghost and OEM Licenses

[Steve Babcock]

All our IBM PCs come with OEM version opf the XP License.

From time to time, we need to create a new image of the PCs.

How do I activate (re-enter / activate) the individual license for each
PC since during the build, I only used and activated the one OEM
license.

Steve

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Preserving OEM Pre-Activation when Re-installing Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/oempreac.mspx

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| All our IBM PCs come with OEM version opf the XP License.
|
| From time to time, we need to create a new image of the PCs.
|
| How do I activate (re-enter / activate) the individual license for each
| PC since during the build, I only used and activated the one OEM
| license.
|
| Steve

 

[Eric]

I have a similar question and didn't want to start a new thread:

I have 40 identical Dell computers running XP and Office 2003 that I have to
install.
Is there a way to setup one machine, image it and then restore the image to
the 39 other machines with corresponding unique key for XP and Office.

Thank you.

Eric.

 

[Tom]

What about XP home users ??

 

[Steve Babcock]

Carey :

This was never a problem before as I could just re-enter the license and activate the machine -
Now when I do this, MS needs me to phone in and activate the PC - At least 10 minutes per PC -
This is just a huge waste of time. There has to be a better was of cloning and being licensed
without having top go through all this.

Previously, cloning XP was easier but with all the license validations, it's become a
nightmare.

Is there a way to get a corporate license based on all the OEM licenses we have ?

Steve

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Product Activation Changes
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/partners/productactivation.mspx

Volume Licensing and Product Activation
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation_volume.mspx

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Steve Babcock"wrote:

| Carey :
|
| This was never a problem before as I could just re-enter the license and activate the machine -
| Now when I do this, MS needs me to phone in and activate the PC - At least 10 minutes per PC -
| This is just a huge waste of time. There has to be a better was of cloning and being licensed
| without having top go through all this.
|
| Previously, cloning XP was easier but with all the license validations, it's become a
| nightmare.
|
| Is there a way to get a corporate license based on all the OEM licenses we have ?
|
| Steve
|
| "Carey Frisch [MVP]" wrote:
|
| > Preserving OEM Pre-Activation when Re-installing Windows XP
| > http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/oempreac.mspx
| >
| > --
| > Carey Frisch
| > Microsoft MVP
| > Windows - Shell/User
| > Microsoft Community Newsgroups
| > news://msnews.microsoft.com/
| >
| > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| >
| > "Steve Babcock" wrote:
| >
| > | All our IBM PCs come with OEM version opf the XP License.
| > |
| > | From time to time, we need to create a new image of the PCs.
| > |
| > | How do I activate (re-enter / activate) the individual license for each
| > | PC since during the build, I only used and activated the one OEM
| > | license.
| > |
| > | Steve
|

 

[Guest]

These documents don't really answer the question - Do the OEM licenses that
we already have qualify us to buy just the VLK?

I have 50 OEM's but am being told by MS that I have to buy 5 more AND the
VLK. Really? That seems excessive.

 

[James]

You can make an image from the OEM version of XP that comes with PCs.
Microsoft said this is an unspported Sysprep scenario
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/828287/). However, you don't have to deal
with the activation problem.
Your OEM Product Key may be in C:\Windows\System32\oobe\oobeinfo.ini. Or you
can use Keyfinder(http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml) to find
out.

James

 

[Guest]

Thanks James,

I also found out that by purchasing the Software Insurance package for 5
installations, you can get a VLK to use. Plus those 5 computers will be
eligible for free upgrades to Vista when it is released. Current retail price
for this insurance is about $145/CDN per installation. Not too bad!

Cheers