Imaging XP Pro

  • Thread starter Thread starter Crockett
  • Start date Start date
C

Crockett

Our organization it starting to purchase systems with XP
Pro preinstalled from both Dell and HP. We get our
laptops from Dell and our desktops from HP. In the past
I've used images of Windows 2000 created for both types of
systems for rapid deployment. I've been reading all kinds
of articles regarding "Activation" and I'm wondering if I
need to do anything special when I create and deploy
images that are XP?
 
You should get a volume license that way you won't be plagued with Windows
Product Activation.
 
If you pull the first system out of the box, boot it, configure and then
create an image, you will be OK. Brian
 
The people that are selling you the computers "should" have the answer. After all, it is their business.

--
Just my 2¢ worth,
Jeff
__________in response to__________
| Please explain what you mean by activate the first one.
| If I pull the first system out of the box, boot it,
| configure it then create my image, will I be OK?
 
Remember that each license is for only 1 PC. A volume license is a (1)
license that allows you to put the same key onto XX PC's whereas a normal
license has to be unique to every PC. You can buy a volume license for xx
seats (machines) and I believe you can add to it when you need to add more.
 
This is probably a question that needs to be directed to the computer
suppliers since they will be providing the hardware and software. If either
one fails to give you a correct and immediate reply then I would go with the
other. Probably Dell will give you the better answer but since you are
buying from both you do need a specific answer simply because of the
activivation scheme plus you probably not even receive the disks for the
operating system.
 
What Brian is suggesting is not going to work. WPA (Windows Product
Activation) will kick in when you boot subsequent computers that have been
loaded with an image from the "first computer". You will not even gain
access to the Desktop and you will be forced to call the Activation Center
to get a code that will enable you to activate that one system. However once
you do that then the first system will no longer be recognized by the
Activation Center. Nor will any of the others. If you once again contact the
Activation Center and get another code then it will, again, only be valid
for that one system. And so on, and so on.

You options are to purchase your systems with XP preinstalled and make
certain that you number all systems and keep the individual product Keys
safely stored for each system in the event that you need to reinstall the OS
on that particular system or purchase the systems without and OS and get a
Volume License from Microsoft. This will enable you to install the same
version on multiple systems without the "hassle" of WPA.
 
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