M.L. said:
After saving some precious folders I reluctantly decided to proceed
with fixmbr in the Recovery Mode.
Result: It booted into Windows just fine. It even restarted OK. I hope
that result is permanent.
Since this sounds like a fresh install of Windows XP, you didn't have
much to lose by letting fixmbr do its job.
In Windows, the WGA window came up, apparently wanting me to enter an
activation key. In addition, a System Preparation Tool 2.0 window
opened asking me to select the option of Factory, Audit or Reseal.
I'll look up what those selections mean and hope one of them takes
care of the XP activation.
You somehow obtained a sysprep "image" to do an install of Windows XP?
You don't install an image. You lay it down on the hard disk (or volume
if using RAID). Sysprep images are used in a corporate environment or
by jobbers to quickly setup similar licensed images; however, that
sysprep image is part of a volume license so you might not be permitted
to distribute that instance to a user outside the organization to which
the volume license was issued. If a jobber using sysprep to build hosts
for resale, they're expected to follow with a product key update that is
unique and provides a separate license to the customer.
You sure that you restored a legitimate image for Windows XP? If using
sysprep, you didn't actually do an install of Windows XP. If you used
sysprep to replace/lay an image into a partition or volume in the
computer, do you have an OEM license where you can slice out instances
for distribution to outsiders (i.e., customers)? The customer doesn't
get your volume license, so what do they get to prove ownership of a
license?
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457069.aspx
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc758953(WS.10).aspx
http://www.petri.co.il/using_sysprep_in_an_image_based_installation.htm
Powerspec B647 was factory delivered with Vista Business but allows a
downgrade to Win XP Pro. However, I don't know if that downgrade
offers an XP activation key. I've been trying to get in contact with
the owner but no luck so far. I suspect she had someone else help her
with the XP install before turning it over to me.
The "downgrade" requires that you have a Windows XP install CD. You
don't actually downgrade an existing install of Vista down to XP. You
do a fresh install of XP, call Microsoft and give them your Vista
product key, and they will give you back an XP product key to use.
Microsoft doesn't care how you get the install media for Windows XP.
They won't supply it. You have to obtain it somehow. They even mention
that it could be for a friend's computer (i.e., you are using their
install media for your computer so you are using it for 2 computers).
They only care that you have a legit copy of Vista (only the Business
and Ultimate versions have the downgrade option) for which they will
issue a product key for Windows XP however you manage to get it
installed. OEMs are supposed to supply their own means for the
downgrade, like providing a separate Windows XP installation. Retail
users of Vista have to somehow obtain a copy of install media for
Windows XP to do a *fresh* install as the "downgrade".
http://download.microsoft.com/downl...cbd-699b0c164182/royaltyoemreferencesheet.pdf
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9040318/FAQ_Giving_up_on_Vista_Here_s_how_to_downgrade_to_XP
You get a downgrade *right*. You don't actually get the downgrade
installation media. That you have to obtain yourself. Once you figure
out how to do a fresh install of Windows XP (to "replace" Vista) then
you call Microsoft to get a product key for Windows XP by giving them
your Vista license key.
Although many instructions say to do a fresh install of Windows XP and
use whatever product key came with it, I don't think you actually have
to use a product key to activate that install of Windows XP. Just do
the fresh Windows XP install and then call Microsoft.
Since you already got the Windows XP install to successfully complete,
just leave it there. Then get the product key from the customer for the
Vista version and call Microsoft to get them to give you the product key
for the existing Windows XP installation (be sure to record that product
key to give to the customer). They need to retain the license doc and
COA for the Vista license to prove they have a legit *right* to the
downgrade (which was actually a fresh install) to the Windows XP
license.