Avoiding MS activation countdown on PC image?

[mlink]

Hi guys,

I work at a small PC store where we build our own systems for resale. I am trying to cut down on build times by imaging a new build for rollout on subsequent PC's with Identical hardware. I have managed to successfully make an image with all the preinstalled software required without inputting a product key for XP home. The problem is that the activation countdown (30 day period) continues to count down on subsequent builds. Therefore I have to make a fresh image every 30 days. Is there a way of stopping this timer for future images? Our builds currently use XP home / Pro, and vista.

Hope you can help.

Steve

[g-force]

An identical image - "without Key for XP Home" - isn´t the right way

to deliver preinstalled PCs for resale, I think.

Look at this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sysprep

[PC_LOAD_LETTER]

AFAIK, you can just sysprep the image

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302577

sorry i cant recall the detail on sysprep but its been ages since ive done anything in XP