Windows Genuine Advantage... updated!

[High_Jumbllama]

I just changed my XP Key, with SP2. Would you like me to give you the file?

Naah. No thanks. I am actually using the original that came with my machine. I never have had reason to change it to the one on the sticker.

[uberlad]

A completely non-dodgy method of updating your key is here....

http://www.petri.co.il/change_the_serial_in_windows_xp.htm

It does work fine in SP2 but is not for doing in bulk.

Uberlad

[Evildead666]

That is the method that won't work
It has to be from a volume licencing thing, where i am not. They are each an OEM Licence, but all with the same hardware, albeit different MAC's and stuff like that...
I think the Licence recognises the hardware somehow (intel mobo and cpu 845GVSR and Celeron 2.4GHz 533 FSB and 256K L2) and the MAC range or something...(clutching at straws here)
I haven't tried the script method, cos frankly it takes longer to understand that than make a new image.

I've checked on the Windows Update thing, and just by activating Automatic updates, on an unactivated system, i got all of the critical updates.
The only updates that were not downloaded, were some "Update for Windows XP" and updates for Media Player in the "Optional Software" heading of the Update site.
It seems to have even gotten all of the up to date drivers too...
I also remember a friend of mine mentioning that even with a hacked key, he could get most of the updates by using Automatic Updates, and kept getting booted everytime he tried to access the web page itself...

Anyway, i made another image of an Un-Activated XP Pro install, and just change the keys one by one when i activate them...

Just as a side note, the new machines came with SAMSUNG hard drives instead of the usual Western Digital ones (40Gb IDE).
These new machines have been switched on yesterday and today only, and i have 22 Machines on the tables side by side.
EIGHT hard drives failed today. Two of them make some nice 'Clunking' noises.. I also discovered 4 pairs of RAM that had more than 200 faults in MEMTEST. Alright, i may be able to reuse one of each pair, but its still a bitch for brand new machines...

Jez

[Gurm]

That is the method that won't work
It has to be from a volume licencing thing, where i am not. They are each an OEM Licence, but all with the same hardware, albeit different MAC's and stuff like that...
I think the Licence recognises the hardware somehow (intel mobo and cpu 845GVSR and Celeron 2.4GHz 533 FSB and 256K L2) and the MAC range or something...(clutching at straws here)
I haven't tried the script method, cos frankly it takes longer to understand that than make a new image.

I've checked on the Windows Update thing, and just by activating Automatic updates, on an unactivated system, i got all of the critical updates.
The only updates that were not downloaded, were some "Update for Windows XP" and updates for Media Player in the "Optional Software" heading of the Update site.
It seems to have even gotten all of the up to date drivers too...
I also remember a friend of mine mentioning that even with a hacked key, he could get most of the updates by using Automatic Updates, and kept getting booted everytime he tried to access the web page itself...

Anyway, i made another image of an Un-Activated XP Pro install, and just change the keys one by one when i activate them...

Just as a side note, the new machines came with SAMSUNG hard drives instead of the usual Western Digital ones (40Gb IDE).
These new machines have been switched on yesterday and today only, and i have 22 Machines on the tables side by side.
EIGHT hard drives failed today. Two of them make some nice 'Clunking' noises.. I also discovered 4 pairs of RAM that had more than 200 faults in MEMTEST. Alright, i may be able to reuse one of each pair, but its still a bitch for brand new machines...

Jez

I'm still failing to understand. Running the little utility that f***s up your key, then running MSOOBE, doesn't bring up the licensing wizard?

[Evildead666]

The strangest thing, is that i'm heavily inclined to the thought it was the SAMSUNG hard disk check utility that killed some of the drives HUTIL.EXE version 1.25 AND version 2.00. I tried both, on a different selection of the machines, and some of the drives failed, some didnt. But 6 failed straight after the test. One clunking and all...

[Evildead666]

I'm still failing to understand. Running the little utility that f***s up your key, then running MSOOBE, doesn't bring up the licensing wizard?

Yes, but it still says "Your licence is already activated" I cant get rid of it, and i cant change the licence key.
Even deleting the registry keys, changing them, running msoobe, and all that, same stuff, already activated...I fart at home, and Windows asks me to reactivate cos i've changed my hardware configuration!

anyhoo, I am not imaging 100 machines with the same single user OEM Licence key...well, being responsible for it anyway.
Redone the image in unactivated form, problem sorted for now...