Re: Cloning with XP?

From: Mike Brannigan [MSFT] (mikebran_at_online.microsoft.com)
Date: 05/19/04 

Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 08:07:07 +0100

"Steve" <sphillips@statusone.com> wrote in message
news:ee9301c43d25$66eaba80$a001280a@phx.gbl...
> Yes but I want to make sure I get this right.
>
> Here is what I'm going to do. We have 50 laptops in a
> classroom that I want to reimage say once a month. So I'm
> going to Build a model computer, run sysprep & then image
> that. So when I clone the computer to the 50 laptops &
> then boot them up they come to the registration part where
> I put in product key for Windows & username/computer name,
> etc. Then you ahve to do online activiation I take it.
> Does this mean I can only reimage them 3 times & then I
> can't anymore?
>
> Can you tell yet that I'm just getting into this stuff &
> trying to learn ;) Thanks for all the help.
>

Steve,

You will have an issue with your reactivation - UNLESS you are using volume
licensed media
Since you will be deploying to each machine once a month when you then
attempt to activate it using its unique product activation key - you will
receive the message that it has already been used and you will then have to
activate via telephone.
I assume you ARE using VL media and keys (you did not mention this in your
original post) 

-- 
Regards,
Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights
Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these 
newsgroups
"Steve" <sphillips@statusone.com> wrote in message 
news:ee9301c43d25$66eaba80$a001280a@phx.gbl...
> Yes but I want to make sure I get this right.
>
> Here is what I'm going to do. We have 50 laptops in a
> classroom that I want to reimage say once a month. So I'm
> going to Build a model computer, run sysprep & then image
> that. So when I clone the computer to the 50 laptops &
> then boot them up they come to the registration part where
> I put in product key for Windows & username/computer name,
> etc. Then you ahve to do online activiation I take it.
> Does this mean I can only reimage them 3 times & then I
> can't anymore?
>
> Can you tell yet that I'm just getting into this stuff &
> trying to learn ;) Thanks for all the help.
>
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>Hi Steve,
>>
>>No, I believe that means that you can run Sysprep with
> the directive to
>>reset activation up to three times on the same
> installation of the operating
>>system.  So, if you install XP, and run Sysprep with
> instructions to reset
>>the activation, you can run Sysprep again (and tell it to
> reset the
>>activation) two more time.
>>
>>Does that make more sense?
>>
>>-- 
>>Mike Kolitz MCSE 2000
>>MS-MVP - Windows Setup and Deployment
>>
>>
>>"Steve" <sphillips@statusone.com> wrote in message
>>news:ed9101c43d0f$b0800440$a001280a@phx.gbl...
>>> Question on this article:
>>>
>>> How to Use Sysprep with Windows Product Activation or
>>> Volume License Media to Deploy Windows XP
>>> (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
>>> us;299840)
>>>
>>> "Product Activation with Retail Media Windows Product
>>> Activation is designed to work with drive imaging
> products
>>> that are available from third-party manufacturers. You
> can
>>> use the Sysprep utility that is included with Windows XP
>>> to reset activation up to three times.
>>>
>>> After Windows XP is imaged and then deployed, Windows
>>> Product Activation initiates the activation timer, which
>>> resets the installation ID (and enables the full grace
>>> period) at first start after the installation of Windows
>>> XP is complete on the target computer. Unlike Volume
>>> Licensing, unique product keys are required for each of
>>> the target computers. However, a manual telephone call
> is
>>> not necessary as long as the target computers have
>>> Internet connectivity and the product keys are valid; in
>>> that case, the computer activates online automatically."
>>>
>>> -----
>>>
>>> I've been working on this for hours & getting kinda
> fuzzy.
>>> I have a classroom with 50 laptops with XP Pro. Does
> this
>>> mean that I can only reimage them 3 times & then I can't
>>> anymore? I want to be able to reimage when we are done
>>> with a training to be fresh for next wave of people.
>>
>>
>>.
>>