Windows XP Activation site down???

[Greg Burns]

The only thing we had to do was

change the workstation name on them after the imaging.

Surely, you ran Norton Ghost Walker or something similar to change the SIDs?

That is the primary reason we run SYSPREP prior to creating our image. If
running a SID remover program doesn't cause reactivation this may be a great
solution.

Greg

 

[Leythos]

Surely, you ran Norton Ghost Walker or something similar to change the SIDs?

That is the primary reason we run SYSPREP prior to creating our image. If
running a SID remover program doesn't cause reactivation this may be a great
solution.

Didn't need to change the SID, once they joined the domain it didn't
matter any more.

 

[Greg Burns]

We started by wiping a master machine, doing a
fresh install, building it out, making a full ghost image, and then
restoring that image to every machine. The only thing we had to do was
change the workstation name on them after the imaging. Since each has a
license it worked perfectly and didn't have a single one ask about
activation.

So you are saying that since you never ran SYSPREP you were able to place
this same image onto different hardware (OK, same models of computer but
different MAC addresses, etc) it didn't trigger re-activation? Interesting.
A feature of the OEM installation I suppose.

Had we done the sysprep route it would have taken forever.

Why do you say that? All of our images are in a syspreped state. After a
machine copied to a new computer, all we need to do is assign it a name at
boot-up, joins our domain, and activate (which used to be a sigle click
procedure). Done. How is that more time consuming than your method of
renaming the computer?

Greg

 

[Greg Burns]

I thought it used the SID when joining the domain! How is this possible?

Can anybody comment on this?

Greg

 

[Leythos]

So you are saying that since you never ran SYSPREP you were able to place
this same image onto different hardware (OK, same models of computer but
different MAC addresses, etc) it didn't trigger re-activation? Interesting.
A feature of the OEM installation I suppose.

Yea, all the machines were exactly the same, same hardware. the MAC is
only one part of the system that the hash is created from. I can take a
2003 server right here, pull out the Gig nic, insert a 10/100 nic and it
won't ask anything (except for the drivers).

We loaded the full machine, activated, and with MS Office 2003 installed,
from a blank machine (all licenses purchased) to a ghost image, then
restored that image to 15 machines at a time (all we had space for) and it
didn't ask for activation on any of them.

Why do you say that? All of our images are in a syspreped state. After a
machine copied to a new computer, all we need to do is assign it a name at
boot-up, joins our domain, and activate (which used to be a sigle click
procedure). Done. How is that more time consuming than your method of
renaming the computer?

The activation was what I was saying would take a long time - if MS won't
allow internet activation you have to call, and that's a PITA.

In our method, all licenses are still valid, but there is no additional
activation, other than the one for the master image.

 

[Leythos]

I thought it used the SID when joining the domain! How is this possible?

It's my understanding that your domain SID is generated when you join the
domain, and it is not tied to the local workstation SID.

Been doing this for years and never had a problem with it.

Can anybody comment on this?

Let me know too.

 

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

It's my understanding that your domain SID is generated when you join the
domain, and it is not tied to the local workstation SID.

Been doing this for years and never had a problem with it.


Let me know too.

Your domain SID is newly generated BUT you local machine SID is the same
across all your cloned machines
1. this is a security risk
2. It may break at any time as we have always reserved the right to use
system properties as needed and without warning. So you ideally should/must
correctly prepare you images.

Your machines may also have support issues with the vendor or Microsoft as
you have incorrectly duplicated them by not following all the published
documentation about how to do "cloning"
--

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

 

[R. McCarty]

SysInternals offers a nice program called NewSID that can take
care of that outside the SysPrep process. I support a Charity &
as part of their Image/Setup procedure we use NewSID.

Program description & some "White Paper" type details at:
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/source/newsid.shtml

It's my understanding that your domain SID is generated when you join the
domain, and it is not tied to the local workstation SID.

Been doing this for years and never had a problem with it.


Let me know too.

Your domain SID is newly generated BUT you local machine SID is the same
across all your cloned machines
1. this is a security risk
2. It may break at any time as we have always reserved the right to use
system properties as needed and without warning. So you ideally
should/must correctly prepare you images.

Your machines may also have support issues with the vendor or Microsoft as
you have incorrectly duplicated them by not following all the published
documentation about how to do "cloning"
--

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

 

[Leythos]

Your domain SID is newly generated BUT you local machine SID is the same
across all your cloned machines
1. this is a security risk
2. It may break at any time as we have always reserved the right to use
system properties as needed and without warning. So you ideally should/must
correctly prepare you images.

Your machines may also have support issues with the vendor or Microsoft as
you have incorrectly duplicated them by not following all the published
documentation about how to do "cloning"

Mike, thanks for the feedback. We use to run newsid on the NT4/2000
machines, but with the XP ones it never has "appeared" to make any
difference. As for support issues, that to has not been a problem, but
it's not like we can't go back and do a newsid.

The problem really goes back to MS and the OEM's such that you can't buy
Dell workstations without an OS, and that means you can't get them with a
Volume License, and that MS is making it damn hard for IT people to mass
install systems in a reasonable manner in a corporate environment - do you
really think I'm going to take and hire some kid to run around and
activate all the machines?

I've seen all the articles on how to clone, seen all the real-world
methods, tested many, and also understand that MS can change everything in
a blink of an Eye.

I appreciate your reply.

 

[DevilsPGD]

In message <[email protected]> "R.

SysInternals offers a nice program called NewSID that can take
care of that outside the SysPrep process. I support a Charity &
as part of their Image/Setup procedure we use NewSID.

Program description & some "White Paper" type details at:
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/source/newsid.shtml

Going from memory doesn't NewSID require reactivation?

 

[Greg Burns]

MS can change everything in a blink of an Eye.

Hear, hear!

 

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

Mike, thanks for the feedback. We use to run newsid on the NT4/2000
machines, but with the XP ones it never has "appeared" to make any
difference. As for support issues, that to has not been a problem, but
it's not like we can't go back and do a newsid.

The problem really goes back to MS and the OEM's such that you can't buy
Dell workstations without an OS, and that means you can't get them with a
Volume License, and that MS is making it damn hard for IT people to mass
install systems in a reasonable manner in a corporate environment - do you
really think I'm going to take and hire some kid to run around and
activate all the machines?

Just one clarification - the Windows XP licenses available through Volume
Licensing are ALL ONLY upgrades - you cannot get a full copy license through
VL.
So you actually have to have a machine with an OS to qualify for VL.

from
http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/licensing/howtouse.mspx

Volume licensing only covers Windows operating system upgrades
Some people think that having a Volume Licence Agreement means they don't
need to buy a licence for Windows when they want to install it on a new PC.
This is not true. Volume licences can only be used to cover the upgrade of a
PC once it has the initial operating system already installed. This is true
of ALL types of volume licence agreement, including academic agreements.


Also see
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/volbrief.mspx
and see the Volume License Product List at
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/downloads/default.mspx
(All Windows XP are Upgrade only)
--

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

 

[Greg Burns]

Mike,

(Re-imaging rights section)
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/volbrief.mspx

Please let me know if my interpretation of this is correct...

We own a MOLP version of Windows XP Pro. I believe it has a 50 license
count.

Since we own at least 1 license of this MOLP disc we can reinstall all of
OEM Dell Windows XP Pro machines using this disc??? If so, that is great
news!

Just one clarification - the Windows XP licenses available through Volume
Licensing are ALL ONLY upgrades - you cannot get a full copy license
through VL.
So you actually have to have a machine with an OS to qualify for VL.

So you are saying we may use our MOLP disc to upgrade 50 machines that have
a prior OS (say Windows 2000) to Windows XP? (This is what we have
understood it to mean).

Is Microsoft Open License Program (MOLP) and Volume License the same thing?

Thanks,
Greg

Mike, thanks for the feedback. We use to run newsid on the NT4/2000
machines, but with the XP ones it never has "appeared" to make any
difference. As for support issues, that to has not been a problem, but
it's not like we can't go back and do a newsid.

The problem really goes back to MS and the OEM's such that you can't buy
Dell workstations without an OS, and that means you can't get them with a
Volume License, and that MS is making it damn hard for IT people to mass
install systems in a reasonable manner in a corporate environment - do
you
really think I'm going to take and hire some kid to run around and
activate all the machines?

Just one clarification - the Windows XP licenses available through Volume
Licensing are ALL ONLY upgrades - you cannot get a full copy license
through VL.
So you actually have to have a machine with an OS to qualify for VL.

from
http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/licensing/howtouse.mspx

Volume licensing only covers Windows operating system upgrades
Some people think that having a Volume Licence Agreement means they don't
need to buy a licence for Windows when they want to install it on a new
PC. This is not true. Volume licences can only be used to cover the
upgrade of a PC once it has the initial operating system already
installed. This is true of ALL types of volume licence agreement,
including academic agreements.


Also see
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/volbrief.mspx
and see the Volume License Product List at
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/downloads/default.mspx
(All Windows XP are Upgrade only)
--

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

 

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

Mike,

(Re-imaging rights section)
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/volbrief.mspx

Please let me know if my interpretation of this is correct...

We own a MOLP version of Windows XP Pro. I believe it has a 50 license
count.

Since we own at least 1 license of this MOLP disc we can reinstall all of
OEM Dell Windows XP Pro machines using this disc??? If so, that is great
news!

Greg,

I believe so - but I am not in the licensing team - contact your local
Microsoft subsidiary to clarify the position.

--

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

Mike,

(Re-imaging rights section)
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/volbrief.mspx

Please let me know if my interpretation of this is correct...

We own a MOLP version of Windows XP Pro. I believe it has a 50 license
count.

Since we own at least 1 license of this MOLP disc we can reinstall all of
OEM Dell Windows XP Pro machines using this disc??? If so, that is great
news!

Just one clarification - the Windows XP licenses available through Volume
Licensing are ALL ONLY upgrades - you cannot get a full copy license
through VL.
So you actually have to have a machine with an OS to qualify for VL.

So you are saying we may use our MOLP disc to upgrade 50 machines that
have a prior OS (say Windows 2000) to Windows XP? (This is what we have
understood it to mean).

Is Microsoft Open License Program (MOLP) and Volume License the same
thing?

Thanks,
Greg

Mike, thanks for the feedback. We use to run newsid on the NT4/2000
machines, but with the XP ones it never has "appeared" to make any
difference. As for support issues, that to has not been a problem, but
it's not like we can't go back and do a newsid.

The problem really goes back to MS and the OEM's such that you can't buy
Dell workstations without an OS, and that means you can't get them with
a
Volume License, and that MS is making it damn hard for IT people to mass
install systems in a reasonable manner in a corporate environment - do
you
really think I'm going to take and hire some kid to run around and
activate all the machines?

Just one clarification - the Windows XP licenses available through Volume
Licensing are ALL ONLY upgrades - you cannot get a full copy license
through VL.
So you actually have to have a machine with an OS to qualify for VL.

from
http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/licensing/howtouse.mspx

Volume licensing only covers Windows operating system upgrades
Some people think that having a Volume Licence Agreement means they don't
need to buy a licence for Windows when they want to install it on a new
PC. This is not true. Volume licences can only be used to cover the
upgrade of a PC once it has the initial operating system already
installed. This is true of ALL types of volume licence agreement,
including academic agreements.


Also see
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/volbrief.mspx
and see the Volume License Product List at
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/downloads/default.mspx
(All Windows XP are Upgrade only)
--

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

On Mon, 07 Mar 2005 23:22:02 +0000, Mike Brannigan [MSFT] wrote:

Your domain SID is newly generated BUT you local machine SID is the
same
across all your cloned machines
1. this is a security risk
2. It may break at any time as we have always reserved the right to use
system properties as needed and without warning. So you ideally
should/must
correctly prepare you images.

Your machines may also have support issues with the vendor or Microsoft
as
you have incorrectly duplicated them by not following all the published
documentation about how to do "cloning"

Mike, thanks for the feedback. We use to run newsid on the NT4/2000
machines, but with the XP ones it never has "appeared" to make any
difference. As for support issues, that to has not been a problem, but
it's not like we can't go back and do a newsid.

The problem really goes back to MS and the OEM's such that you can't buy
Dell workstations without an OS, and that means you can't get them with
a
Volume License, and that MS is making it damn hard for IT people to mass
install systems in a reasonable manner in a corporate environment - do
you
really think I'm going to take and hire some kid to run around and
activate all the machines?

I've seen all the articles on how to clone, seen all the real-world
methods, tested many, and also understand that MS can change everything
in
a blink of an Eye.

I appreciate your reply.

 

[Greg Burns]

http://www.aviransplace.com/index.php/archives/2005/02/22/changes-in-windows-xp-product-activation/

Anybody heard why MS is allowing OEM activations via the internet again? It
started working again last week. Not that I'm complaining... :^)

Greg

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

It depends entirely on the "type" of OEM version. Was your version
preinstalled by a "major" computer manufacturer, such as Dell,
Gateway, HP, Toshiba, Sony, etc. with the Product Key affixed to
the computer case?

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.mspx

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

:

| Anybody heard why MS is allowing OEM activations via the internet again? It
| started working again last week. Not that I'm complaining... :^)
|
| Greg
|

 

[Greg Burns]

Yes, Dell. I started this thread back on the 3rd. That is when I became
aware of what happend Feb.28. (The thread is basically about the issue this
is causing for companies that are syspreping their OEM installations.)

Now it seems, MS is once again allowing internet activations for at least
Dell. Just curious as to why that is.

I assume that we are not the only company affected by this decision. It
really burns me that all reports on this say that this will not have any
impact whatsoever on legal owners of their software. This is just simply
incorrect. I wonder if MS isn't taking some heat from this and aren't
rethinking it some more.

Greg

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

A Dell computer does not require Product Activation if
you use the Dell Reinstallation CD and Product Key. It is
BIOS-locked, thus Product Activation is unnecessary.
Did you at all see an Activation window pop-up asking
you to activate?

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.mspx

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

:

| Yes, Dell. I started this thread back on the 3rd. That is when I became
| aware of what happend Feb.28. (The thread is basically about the issue this
| is causing for companies that are syspreping their OEM installations.)
|
| Now it seems, MS is once again allowing internet activations for at least
| Dell. Just curious as to why that is.
|
| I assume that we are not the only company affected by this decision. It
| really burns me that all reports on this say that this will not have any
| impact whatsoever on legal owners of their software. This is just simply
| incorrect. I wonder if MS isn't taking some heat from this and aren't
| rethinking it some more.
|
| Greg

 

[kurttrail]

Yes, Dell. I started this thread back on the 3rd. That is when I
became aware of what happend Feb.28. (The thread is basically about
the issue this is causing for companies that are syspreping their OEM
installations.)
Now it seems, MS is once again allowing internet activations for at
least Dell. Just curious as to why that is.

I assume that we are not the only company affected by this decision.
It really burns me that all reports on this say that this will not
have any impact whatsoever on legal owners of their software. This
is just simply incorrect. I wonder if MS isn't taking some heat from
this and aren't rethinking it some more.

Carey, hardly reads and understands the posts he reponds to. You can
forget about him reading entire threads.

My guess would be that a lot of people have broken the BIOS-Lock on
Dell's OEM XP Install CD's by slipstreaming SP1 and SP2, and many
businesses did the same creating their own customized install CDs, that
MS PA phone lines were being swamped, so MS unblock Dell.


From
http://www.aviransplace.com/index.p...-clear-up-windows-activations-misconceptions/
1.) Users of genuine Windows will experience no impact
2.) The intent is to dissuade the theft or misuse of the Certificate of
Authenticity or accompanying product key
3.)Honest resellers have requested that Microsoft close this loophole so
that they can compete effectively and they are extremely supportive of
this effort

My Response:
1.) MS didn't take into account the users of genuine Windows, also
slipstream, and create their own customized installs of Major OEM
Install CDs that would be impacted.
2.) The intent to dissuade theft or misuse of COAs is not that much of a
big deal, since the VAST majority of pirated installs are of the VL
variety.
3.) This is just total bullsh*t. Again I doubt the impact of stolen
COAs from major manufacturers is even is a small blip on the pirated OS
scene. VL, and unscrupulous small shops reusing generic OEM PKs would
seem to me to be the bigger problems that would compete with the "Honest
resellers."

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[kurttrail]

A Dell computer does not require Product Activation if
you use the Dell Reinstallation CD and Product Key. It is
BIOS-locked, thus Product Activation is unnecessary.
Did you at all see an Activation window pop-up asking
you to activate?

What did I tell you about Carey?

http://microscum.com/carey/

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"