WinXP activation, sysprep, open license, retail license

[Guest]

I've looked through quite a number of activation questions, and found the
bits and pieces. Here it is all together, maybe it will help the next guy .
.. .

MS KB299840 explains a lot.

In order to deploy numbers of Windows XP machines via sysprep, and a "third
party" disk imaging tool (I.E. Ghost), use a Volume License copy of Windows
XP media (and the appropriate license quantity and product key of course).

If you use "retail" media, sysprep resets product activation three times.
So, you think it's working - until the 4th machine or so won't activate.

 

[Daniel Rudy]

I've looked through quite a number of activation questions, and found
the
bits and pieces. Here it is all together, maybe it will help the next
guy .
. .

MS KB299840 explains a lot.

In order to deploy numbers of Windows XP machines via sysprep, and a
"third
party" disk imaging tool (I.E. Ghost), use a Volume License copy of
Windows
XP media (and the appropriate license quantity and product key of
course).

If you use "retail" media, sysprep resets product activation three
times.
So, you think it's working - until the 4th machine or so won't
activate.

My understanding is that sysprep is most useful for OEMs who manufacture
a large number of identical computer systems. Sysprep allows you to
install software and make other changes on a single computer system for
mass duplication to other computer systems without creating GUIDs...And
if you accidently create a GUID, it will reset it up to 3 times before
it will not reset it again. That way, when a user gets a new machine,
they must type in the product code on the first boot...Or alternatively,
it can be pre-activated by the manufacturer and from there all the user
has to do is boot the machine.