Andycabs

Thanks for your suggestions...I was finally able to get it to work. I started from scratch with the original CD with no Service packs....Integrated SP2 and all the hotfixes and then I maunually made my WINNT.SIF file. It adds all my drivers and so on and it preactivates. I was able to do the Windows updates with no probs so Im hoping thats all there is to it and no bugs later down the road. Now that I got it figured out i'll probably never use it considering I generally restore with a Snapshot Image and it takes about 10 minutes but atleast im happy Take care folks

Sorry folks..no need to jump down my throat here... 1. I thought I was in the correct place for posting about Windows XP 2. I X'd out the key but since it wont activate Windows from an OEM Disk on the computer that it came with I figured it was just a bogus key with random numbers that they used for an example. As I said..the only time I have problems is when I direct the WINNT.SIF to thr $OEM$ Folder. Otherwise it preactivates fine. And somehow it does read the $OEM$ Folder because it will install the Dell stuff from the Cmdlines.txt Here is the Original WINNT.SIF file Now I am trying to get it to install my drivers and such so I am adding a couple if lines so I added the unattended section I have also added the Folders $1 and $$ to the $OEM$ Folder with my Dirvers and such Now using my modified WINNT.SIF Windows will install my drivers and such but will no longer preactivate Both WINNT.SIF files have the same key. All I did was add the Unattended section. I have also tried using this Method http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=63258 on an already activated setup but it wont work either. Just something I'll have to live with I guess

This is all that is in the original WINNT.SIF I assume that the key that is is shown is fake. I have tried using it as well and it says key invalid. When I use the COA key I get the message that the key has been activated too many times. (yes im one of those people who like to reformat and re-install about once a month). I know I can call M$ and get them to activate Windows for me but I dont want to have to do that. Im hoping there is a way to preserve the Activation info and still use a winnt.sif file. All im am really trying to do is get my install CD to install some drivers for My VIDEO,Sound and capture cards along with a couple of screen savers and backgrounds. If I can ever get this to work properly I may try moving up to adding some programs. Something I forgot to add..There is an $OEM$ folder on the disk as well...It contains info for adding the Dell support links and icons to Windows along with MS Virtual Machine and Java. It does not hav $1 or $$ Folder in it. When I try adding the folders with the drivers and screen savers they wont install unless I modify the WINNT.SIF file. Which in turns leads me back to the activation problem

Hi folks....Im new to posting on here but I have been reading alot of posts on here lately and thought I'd ask a question myself. ..I cant seem to find a straight answer to the problem Im having and I know alot of others are having it too...Heres the problem.. I am trying to create an unattended Installation CD From a Dell OEM Windows XP Home Disk. I have a Dell Dimension 8200 Home computer. It came with a set of Setup CD's. The one CD is Red and says "Operating System Windows XP Home Edition"... Now im going to assume this is what is called an OEM Windows XP CD... I have slipstreamed it with SP2 and integrated all the hotfixes and burned a new CD. It works fine..installs correctly and needs No activation. But as soon as I start editing the WINNT.SIF file things go wrong. It installs fine....Installs my drivers, Wallpapers,Screen Savers..ect but it wont activate. I have tried averything I could find to make it work but it still wants me to call M$. I have tried the WINNT.SIF Method, The Backup Method and the OEMBIOS Method. It seems that the OEM Disk doesnt Use the WINNT.SIF file. There is one on the disk but it says that it is just a sample and when I replace it with a working file then Windows wont activate unless I call. Now this isnt something that I really NEED or anything. But Im one of those people who like to try to get things to work and this is driving me nuts. I went to this site as someone sugguested but it doesnt give a key for XP Home http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechn...y/oempreac.mspx I appreciate any help Thanks, Andy