KMS and MAK Activation using a single image file?

[joshbilsky]

I've been testing WinVista Enterprise over the past few months and
been reading up on the license schemes. It seems to me that for a
medium-large corporate environment, a combination of KMS activation
(for machines that regularly connect to corporate LAN) and MAK
activation (for field site machines/laptops that could be off the
network for a while) would be the most logical approach.

With that being said, is there a way, post-image (I've seen mention of
a vb script), to force the machine to use one or the other? We have an
enterprise agreement with MS so our Vista Enterprise DVD does not
prompt for a key code during installation. I wasn't sure if the
activation is something that needs to be set prior to image capture.
The ideal situation would be to maintain a single "production" image
that could be used with either activation scheme depending on the
purpose of the machine.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Adam Leinss]

(e-mail address removed) wrote in

I've been testing WinVista Enterprise over the past few months and
been reading up on the license schemes. It seems to me that for a
medium-large corporate environment, a combination of KMS
activation (for machines that regularly connect to corporate LAN)
and MAK activation (for field site machines/laptops that could be
off the network for a while) would be the most logical approach.

With that being said, is there a way, post-image (I've seen
mention of a vb script), to force the machine to use one or the
other? We have an enterprise agreement with MS so our Vista
Enterprise DVD does not prompt for a key code during installation.
I wasn't sure if the activation is something that needs to be set
prior to image capture. The ideal situation would be to maintain a
single "production" image that could be used with either
activation scheme depending on the purpose of the machine.

Yes, there is a VBScript file included with Vista called slmgr.vbs.
You can change the product key here and force activation. Basically,
if you change it to the default product key, it will assume you are
using KMS and look for a KMS server. Otherwise, you can supply a MAK
and it will activate against Microsoft's servers.

Adam

 

[Seth]

I've been testing WinVista Enterprise over the past few months and
been reading up on the license schemes. It seems to me that for a
medium-large corporate environment, a combination of KMS activation
(for machines that regularly connect to corporate LAN) and MAK
activation (for field site machines/laptops that could be off the
network for a while) would be the most logical approach.

With that being said, is there a way, post-image (I've seen mention of
a vb script), to force the machine to use one or the other? We have an
enterprise agreement with MS so our Vista Enterprise DVD does not
prompt for a key code during installation. I wasn't sure if the
activation is something that needs to be set prior to image capture.
The ideal situation would be to maintain a single "production" image
that could be used with either activation scheme depending on the
purpose of the machine.

Create your image using the product key that is embedded in the Enterprise
installation DVD. They key is the KMS key.

When activating via KMS...

cscript.exe c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs -ato (this assumes your KMS server
is properly registered with DNS)

will activate using the embedded product key against your KMS server


Activating with MAK

cscript.exe c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs -ipk <your MAK product key here>

followed by

cscript.exe c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs -ato

to perform the activation

 

[Tim Mintner \(MS\)]

If you are using KMS don't specify a product key. If you plan on using a
MAK for certain machines you could create a conditional task in the task
sequence to run the slmgr.vbs script to add the MAK key and activate it.

 

[The poster formerly known as 'The Poster Formerly]

If you are using KMS don't specify a product key. If you plan on using
a MAK for certain machines you could create a conditional task in the
task sequence to run the slmgr.vbs script to add the MAK key and
activate it.

Hi Tim.

I was wondering if you could please comment as to if there is a KB
article on the windows updates that were sent out around August 24th and
referred to as "Automatic Updates" in the event log for XP and Vista
machines? Also, it says in the EULA that users have the option of
turning off these features if they do not care to use them. How do we
users turn them off? Thanks.

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