In the "Overview of Windows XP Service Pack 3.pdf"

it states

As in Windows Server 2003 SP2 and Windows Vista,

users can now complete operating system installation

without providing a product key during a full,

integrated installation of Windows XP SP3.

I tried making an unattended cd without a key in

the winnt.sif. But it wouldn't let me continue

without entering a key.

also tried a normal install. This was all in vmware.

Was SP3 slipstreamed into the install?

Was SP3 slipstreamed into the install?

Yes

Ya know what? SP3 isn't done yet they might not have implemented that yet.

Edit = Not trying to be rude.

Edited January 24, 200818 yr by Kelsenellenelvian

Ya know what? SP3 isn't done yet they might not have implemented that yet.

Edit = Not trying to be rude.

Didn't take your answer as being rude.

Was thinking that myself. But just thought

maybe I missed something.

Could also be that they removed that feature.

In the TechNet forum someone asked about it and someone with an [MSFT] tag responded that only retail (full or OEM) don't have to enter keys but volume licenses still do. Is it a volume license?

In the TechNet forum someone asked about it and someone with an [MSFT] tag responded that only retail (full or OEM) don't have to enter keys but volume licenses still do. Is it a volume license?

I made a disk for my dell laptop using instructions found else where on this site

that would activate automatically. Thats what I've meen using in vmware whicj

of course doen't activate in vmware.

I'll have to try it with my original OEM disk that I bought from Newegg.

That didn't work, I guess I'll just wait til the final SP3 is released.

Edited January 25, 200818 yr by jbm

Maybe they don't/won't support that with unattended installs, because they figured that if someone is making an unattended install that they're going to put their key in it.

Use one located in i386\pid.inf, which is where setup gets a temporary key when the user decides not to enter one.

You can use the OEM key that Dell uses for automatic BIOS activation, it simply won't be activated in vmware, and shouldn't be a problem if you're just testing the answer file. It won't say "You don't have a Dell BIOS, Setup must cancel!" or anything like that.

Edited January 25, 200818 yr by redxii

where would I put my key in the pid.inf?

Here's the one from my source integrated with SP3

[Version]
signature="$Windows NT$"

[SKU]
Professional


[000]
Media01
Media02
Media03

[OEM]
Media10
Media11


[Media01]
ExtraData = 76487, 76497, 76494, 76413, 76460, 76483, 76481, 76486, 76489, 76435, 76503, 76382, 76428, 76392, 76409, 76440, 76464, 76396, 76456, 76447, 76389, 76431, 76452, 76407, 76422
PID	   = CBY8F-CHBGQ-C6388-DTB2R-FFPRM

[Media02]
ExtraData = 76488, 76420, 76495, 76415, 76462, 76484, 76482, 76485, 76490, 76437, 76504, 76388, 76686, 76394, 76411, 76444, 76466, 76403, 76458, 76450, 76391, 76433, 76454, 76405, 76424
PID	   = KWG9K-T4HVC-78GFT-KM49H-4TC4V

[Media03]
ExtraData = 76500
PID	   = K6XGQ-2MHKW-9RHCF-Y3KQJ-3HXJY

[Media10]
ExtraData = 76487, 76497, 76494, 76413, 76460, 76483, 76481, 76486, 76489, 76435, 76503, 76382, 76428, 76392, 76409, 76440, 76464, 76396, 76456, 76447, 76389, 76431, 76452, 76407, 76422
PID	   = TK9P4-DPHDB-RDT36-M9M28-VPVHM

[Media11]
ExtraData = 
PID	   =

No, you can use a key from pid.inf, you don't modify pid.inf. If you don't want to use your real cd key, use "TK9P4-DPHDB-RDT36-M9M28-VPVHM" for example which is what Setup would enter in a normal install for OEM media when the user doesn't put in a cd key.

Edited January 27, 200818 yr by redxii

the last 3264 build requires you to enter the key. previous build didn't require entering the key.

the last 3264 build requires you to enter the key. previous build didn't require entering the key.

Since when? I have no problem with it.