<ghines@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:7ab3cc6a-0e01-451b-a400-d9468b2e8f5c@xxxxxx
Quote:
> Hi all,
>
> I have a Dell PC that I want to image as we will be purchasing
> several more of the same model. The PC comes with Vista Business
> preinstalled and activated, all ready to go.
>
> I've installed our applications, done all the necessary configurations
> and then sysprep'd it using my unattend file using the command:-
>
> sysprep /generalize /oobe /shutdown /unattend:sysprep.xml
>
> I've then taken an image using imagex and restored it to another PC
> (same make and model). All worked fine except I'm not prompted for a
> Product Key and Vista says it's activated.
>
> I did a bit of searching and found I should be deleting the
> DigitalProductId registry value under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software
> \Microsoft\windows NT\CurrentVersion. I did this, before I sysprep'd,
> and now I'm prompted to enter the Product Key. So I enter the key
> that's on the side of the Dell PC and the installation completes
> without any problems or errors.
>
> However, when you try and activate you get the error message:-
>
> "The Windows Vista Business product key you typed is invalid for
> activation"
>
> with several options for you to choose. One is to enter a different
> product key. If you select that option and enter the same product key
> Vista gets activated without errors.
>
> How can I change my installation so it accepts the Product Key during
> the installs and then automatically activates without having to enter
> the same key again?
>
Preserving the OEM pre-activation like you had in your initial image is
a good thing. The reason you are having the problem activating with the
key from the sticker (per
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l...chNet.10).aspx )
is that "In order to reduce a significant source of piracy, Microsoft
has disabled online activation for COA Keys that are attached to PCs
that have been pre-activated by OEMs."
Regards,
Dave