XP Licensing Question

[cgaspard]

I currently buy a particular Asus model that comes preactivated with
an OEM key directoy from Asus.

My company takes these unit and customizes the installed OS for a
setup simular to a Kiosk.

My question is, If I create an ghost image of one of the Asus installs
that I've modified, do I have to reactivate windows when I install
this image on other units of the same model? All of the units have
their own COA.

Thanks,
Corey Gaspard

 

[David B.]

If they all have the exact same hardware you should be fine, however, unless
Asus uses an image type key as Dell, HP and other OEM's do, your going to
have a bunch of machines with a product key that should only be on one of
them.
Check the installed product key one one of them and see if it matches the
key on the COA, if it does you'll have an EULA violation.

 

[JN]

I believe on the Asus models there is a keycode per unit set in the bios
that Windows reads so you should be all set.

Now if it is pre-activated at the factory through sysprep and there is no
bios key code then you will need to activate every clone. Even if the
hardware is the same, there are many things that ID it as a different
computer to Windows. MAC address on the nic, CPU Serial #, HD serial
number, etc.

If you install the image to a new unit all you have to do is change the
keycode when you are prompted to activate. You do this by Not activating
over the internet.