Preserving OEM Pre-Activation when Re-installing Windows XP Updated: April 20, 2005 By Stephanie Ybarra Large PC Manufacturers known

as Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have the ability to pre-activate Microsoft Windows XP software installed on new PCs. As a result, end users are typically not required to activate the software during th e set up process by typing in the product key found on the Certificate of Authen ticity attached to the PC (COA Key). 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 b y OEMs. This change should have a minimal impact on licensed users who generally do not use their COA Key to activate the software because it has been pre-activ ated by the OEM. However, if a licensed end user needs to activate because the O EM pre-activation does not work as expected (e.g., after the replacement of a de fective motherboard) they can do so via phone-based activation. To help minimize the potential impact on licensed users, this whitepaper provide s steps licensed end users can take to preserve OEM pre-activation when reinstal ling the operating system using any of the four scenarios outlined below (syspre p, OOBEinfo, manual and unattended). The following product keys should be substituted for XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXX XX in the solutions discussed below. Windows XP Professional 32 bit MVF4D-W774K-MC4VM-QY6XY-R38TB Windows XP Tablet PC Edition XT67V-GY7FW-GR6FR-WDK2C-8T97J Windows XP Professional x64 bit FM634-HJ3QK-6QVTY-RJY4R-XCR9J For any of the solutions outlined below, you can verify that the OEM pre-activat ion has been preserved by clicking Start -> Run and typing %SYSTEMROOT%\system32 \oobe\msoobe.exe /A and then click OK. If the procedure was successful, a messag e indicating that Windows has already been activated will be displayed. Note: Instead of implementing any of the solutions outlined below, Volume Licens e customers can use Volume License media to install the same operating system th at was licensed from an OEM without acquiring a volume license for a PC being re -imaged. More information about this option is available here under Re-Imaging Ri ghts : http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/volbrief.mspx1. Because Volume License agreements do not provide a full operating system license, Windows lice nses should be acquired as part of the PC purchase from the PC manufacturer. I. Using sysprep reseal mini Command OEM pre-activation can be preserved when Sysprep.exe is run to reseal the system using the reseal mini switches by following these steps. Ensure the following three files are present in the C:\Sysprep folder: sysprep.e xe, setupcl.exe, and factory.exe. These files can be found in the deploy.cab whi ch can be downloaded from the Microsoft download center available at this locatio n:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=7A83123D-507B-4095-9D9D -0A195F7B5F69&displaylang=en2 Create a file named sysprep.inf using a text editor such as Notepad that contain s the information shown below substituting the appropriate product key. [UserData] ProductKey = XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX Save the sysprep.inf file in the c:\sysprep\ folder. Run c:\sysprep reseal mini

For more information on the sysprep process, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/introductoin.mspx3 http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/minisetup.mspx4 Top of page II. Making changes to the OOBEinfo.ini file OEM pre-activation can be preserved if changes are made to the OOBEinfo.ini file by ensuring that the %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\oobe\oobeinfo.ini file contains the information shown below but substituting the appropriate product key. [Version] ProductKey = XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX Top of page III. Manual Install OEM pre-activation can be preserved when doing a manual installation by insertin g the appropriate product key listed above when prompted for a product key by Wi ndows setup. If you run sysprep reseal mini following the manual install, you will need to follow the steps outlined in Section I. Top of page IV. Unattended Install OEM pre-activation can be preserved if you use an unattended answer file (Unatte nd.txt or Winnt.sif) to automate installation by including the information shown below in the answer file substituting the appropriate product key listed above. If you run sysprep reseal mini following an unattended install, you will need to follow the steps outlined in Section I. [UserData] ProductKey = XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX