Sam
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Registered: 24th Dec 99
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Anybody here familiar with the SYSPREP tool on Windows?
What I normally do when I install Windows is I press control + shift + F3 at the registered name/company name screen on the Windows installation, install drivers/apps etc. specific to that computer and then run sysprep /oobe /shutdown when I'm done so the next time the system is turned on it shows the end user the screens where they have to enter the Windows license key and their name etc. to finish setup.
I have here an old laptop with XP on it and an OEM license key. I only have retail Windows CDs so I normally overcome this problem by using the XP Product Key changer program from Microsoft after XP is installed, which asks for the license key, converts the install from retail to OEM and then activates it online.
In the case of this particular laptop, I want the end user to accept the license agreement and enter the license key as per what would normally happen if I do it the usual SYSPREP way, rather than pre-activating it for them and them not having to accept the license agreement.
Is there any way around this at all? Should I just try to obtain a generic OEM CD?
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pow
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Registered: 11th Sep 06
Location: Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire
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Hi 
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Steve
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iv used it before but only to generate a new SID for cloned PCS on the same network.
ended up using a tool could newsid, which is quicker then sysprep, wont do what you want though 
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pow
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You can do what you're asking.
The Sysprep tool for Windows XP is housed on the CD under Support\Tools\Deploy.cab (open the cab and sysprep is in there.
I think you can create a unattend.xml that DOESN'T accept the user agreement. I've done it with kids laptops here 
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pow
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quote:
Originally posted by Steve
iv used it before but only to generate a new SID for cloned PCS on the same network.
ended up using a tool could newsid, which is quicker then sysprep, wont do what you want though
NewSID is dirty, never use it if you can avoid it.
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Steve
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Registered: 30th Mar 02
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havent used it for years, use RIS and MDS these days
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pow
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Anyone using Windows XP in an office environment should be shot now IMO.
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Steve
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do you want a fight you fucking twat
we use RIS where any clients are still using XP and MDS for server 2008/win7 setups
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pow
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It's called WDS these days Steve 
Server 2003/XP is sooo fucking outdated now, offices should be upgrading now!
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Sam
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Shitloads of people still use XP in business environments TBH (even 2000 in some cases).
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VrsTurbo
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quote:
Originally posted by pow
Anyone using Windows XP in an office environment should be shot now IMO.
What a fucking stupid comment. Around 60% of all the clients i work for still use XP. Alot of high end applications still dont work on windows 7. In the enviroment your use to (schools etc) i can see where you are coming from as they are pretty much top notch when it comes to software/hardware upgrades.
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pow
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My Dad's company still use XPP and IE6 FFS 
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VrsTurbo
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i even have a site that has an NT4 server! its runs there whole network!
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Steve
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Registered: 30th Mar 02
Location: Worcestershire Drives: Defender
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yeah WDS sorry not with it
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pow
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Your joking right? Every network I look after is now windows 7/Server 2008 R2 with the ODD Vista Business client knocking around. And I have a plan to upgrade all of them
[Edited on 05-10-2011 by pow]
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Steve
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Location: Worcestershire Drives: Defender
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fk u
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pow
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hi
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Sam
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OK I have tried to reseal the existing install and it loads up the license agreement and key entry screens etc. but because it was installed with a retail CD it's moaning that the key is invalid (it's an OEM key, COA attached to the base of the laptop).
I have now decided to experiment using a retail XP disc, changing the volume label and the PID value in i386\setupp.ini, burning it using nLite and installing off that burnt CD.
No idea whether this will work or not though!
[Edited on 05-10-2011 by Sam]
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Dom
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Registered: 13th Sep 03
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Surely nabbing an OEM disc would sort this? Although you can pee around with the PID on the setupp.ini file and get a retail CD to accept an OEM license.
As for the upgrading debate, XP is tried and tested, Win7 is not however which is why a lot of enterprise companies haven't made the swap. And as Vrs said, a lot of software fails to work with newer OS's.
Edit - Changing the PID to 51882OEM will allow an OEM license on a retail disc apparently
[Edited on 05-10-2011 by Dom]
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Sam
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Yeah but the retail discs I have include SP3, the ones from the special shops only seem to go up to SP2 for OEM.
I suppose I could slipstream SP3 onto a SP2 disc but then not much point considering I've altered my retail SP3 to be OEM (whether it works is another matter, currently installing XP on the laptop using said disc so I'll report back later ).
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John
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Why do you not just install it and not worry about EULA?
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Sam
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If it was just me selling the laptop then yeah I wouldn't bother, but because it's my company that's going to sell it I want to make sure it's all legal and above board TBH.
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John
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Nobody would ever know, ever.
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pow
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Registered: 11th Sep 06
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I can't see anyone ever being bothered, what make is the laptop Sammy boy? I have a fair few OEM XP discs here
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Sam
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Location: West Midlands
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It's some really ancient thing with a 3.5" floppy drive built in
Clevo D22ES or something like that.
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