A Dozen Product Key Problems

[davathar]

I've spent way too much time trying to make this work and I've created about a dozen coasters in the process. The problem seems to be that sp3 integration makes the install very specific to which product keys it will accept. But I can't narrow that down since I don't have any original disks left.

I work on computers for customers in a small shop that I didn't start and over the years all the originals for XP have been "lost", probably left in cdrom drives and given to customers. I have ISO's, but all of them seem to have been altered in some ways. I know this because they usually have a "Crack" folder in them. :-)

I don't want to use any OS install that could have been compromised. So I recently got some ISOs with the identical MD5 hash as listed on the msdn site. I got XP Pro SP3 retail, and VL, and XP Home SP3 Retail. But almost all of my computers that I repair are OEM from large makers like HP and Dell. And none of the CD's I burn get past the Product Key section. It's always an invalid key.

I've spend probably 20 hours reading everything I can find to make something work. I've tried changing the setupp.ini to OEM and that didn't work. I've used nLite on a fresh install of XP home edtion and that didn't work. I've burned the new ISO's directly with no changes and that didn't work. So I'm at a loss. Do I really have to burn a different disk for every volume label I might need? I thought the Retail CD would work on the OEM setups with the OEM product keys.

Is there a straight forward guide anywhere that details how to make a working install disk that can be used on OEM computers? I really want an unattended setup with IE8 and WMP11 and Hotfixes. But at this point I'd be happy just to have a working untouched SP3 install.

The "not so untouched" SP2 versions I have seem to work just fine. But when I took those same disks and slipstreamed sp3, the product key problems occurred. This was with a new version of nLite. But I can't remember if I've tried this on Windows 7 only, or with my XP machine. Even still, I don't trust these sources and would much prefer a clean source to start from.

If the MSDN SP3 ISOs aren't a good starting point, where can you recommend I get clean sources from?

Sorry if that's too much detail. My brain is a little scattered by the frustration of working on something that should "just work".

-dav

[jaclaz]

So I recently got some ISOs with the identical MD5 hash as listed on the msdn site. I got XP Pro SP3 retail, and VL, and XP Home SP3 Retail.

I am pretty sure that the Microsoft representative that supplied you those .iso's will be happy to help you in solving the problem with the OEM PC's.

I doubt that you would get support for the use of nlite in a commercial environment, though.

Should you have missed the new revolutions in technology, a media called CDRW has been developed, and found to be useful to avoid coasters.

jaclaz

[davathar]

I never install XP without a valid license and COA sticker. I also make sure every installation is activated with Microsoft and passes the Genuine Advantage Validation. So, while the install media I'm using isn't the Original, I'm quite confident that Microsoft would have no issue with my use of these "backup" copies of the installation software. It's the licensing that pays their bills, not the media I get the code on.

I don't have more CDRWs at the moment. And in the past I've had too many machines that wouldn't boot from them when CDRs would still work. I'm not sure if that would still be an issue with these machines that are only 3 to 6 years old now. Haven't tried it.

Are there issues with SP3 integrated installs not validating on OEM Keys where SP2 installs will? Or is it something else causing me problems?

The big OEMs don't provide disks to reinstall anymore. And expecting customers to do a system backup, and actually keep track of that CD and know how to use it is too much in most cases. So they bring the box to a computer shop for help. How can I help them if the hard drive is trash and they have no recovery disk and the Product key on their case won't work with my install disks?

Surely some of you have dealt with this need in the past. How did you obtain working install CDs?

[Ponch]

You seem to have missed Jaclaz's second statement here. nLite is simply not for commercial use (if only you know what EULA means). I won't comment about all other edgy points in your posts.

[submix8c]

Have you tried pulling a given customer's HDD, attaching it to another PC, and seraching for the I386 folder? It's usually there somewhere. There's information all over the web for differences between OEM and other variations so you SHOULD be able to reconstruct the appropriate install media. There's also a thread floating around here with instructions on recreating an OEM pre-activated install. You just need the associated information/files off of the PC's HDD in question. Just obsever the fates of the files to determine which SP-level was initially installed and match accordingly. Then you'll have your "collection".

Been there, done that (once/twice).

And... rather than nLite, you can use the built-in slipstream function, then WUD or AutoPatcher. Between these items, you should (eventually) be able to reinstall any customer's PC in a matter of hours. OR simply do a "repair over-the-top" reinstall (retaining the HDD contents, etc.). Done that before also. All against OEM installs.

Edited December 5, 2009 by submix8c

[Kelsenellenelvian]

Besides using nLite against its EULA you have missed ONE MAJOR POINT!

OEM is a different version!

Retail and VLK will NOT work with OEM keys.

Besides I am pretty sure MS would be pretty peeved knowing you are using VLK media on non corporate pc's!

[davathar]

My only goal here is to have a working install cd of XP that doesn't require me to install sp3 every time and works on the computers I service.

I need to reinstall XP Home and Pro occasionally. I need to reinstall it on computers with big name OEM COA stickers on them. I almost never get a customer who has the CD to reinstall. And often even the (bloated) recovery partition install is missing.

I don't need VL and won't use it. I only got that ISO when I couldn't find generic OEM on the MSDN site and thought they might be the same.

Nothing I'm asking to do violates the intention of Microsoft's licensing. Even if it may violate the finer details like using the original media. I doubt that anyone expects a user to pay for a new retail license of XP to reinstall it. And even ordering the OEM disks from the manufacture isn't all that practical when you have to pay for them and then wait while your computer is useless.

Does no one in this forum do this kind of support? I don't think my request is so outlandish that the only responses I get are nit picking about licensing. How about some practical answers?

So, ok. I'm not supposed to use nLite to make an unattended install that I will use on a computer that I'm repairing for a customer. I should instead go through the prompts about time zone, language, and all the other crap that never changes every single time I do a reinstall?

I really don't care that nLite isn't "supported" by MS. It's not like my customers are going to call MS for service anyway. They would have to pay for it since most are out of any service agreement time frame.

Now, remove the complication of using nLite, is it possible to have ONE install disk (or one for home and one for pro) with SP3 included that will install XP on a fresh hard drive and accept any OEM key?

If that's not possible, then I'll just keep using SP2 and letting microsoft update consume hours on my bench for each one I do.

I'm sorry if my tone is frustrated. I love forums like this and I have learned a ton just by reading other postings. But I'm looking for a practical solution. And so far I'm not finding one.

[MrJinje]

Are you sure you work for a White Box OEM - Most of those companies can afford a $350 TechNet subscription and have no such problems finding the proper iso's. If your manager cannot splurge for TechNet, simply create a Windows Live account and Join oem.microsoft.com for free and download the Windows XP OPK (OEM Pre-installation Kit). It contains everything you need.

Use the tools in the OPK to create a WINNT.SIF and use it to automate the 99% of the install (time zone, language, whatever), just remember to leave out the Product Key, because as you say, each machine will have a legit COA that will need to be entered manually.

Also no one is talking about M$ not supporting nLite (even though that is probably true), they are referring to your violation of nLite's license by using it for commercial purposes. nLite if for personal/private use and your first post clearly states you are using it at work. That is why no one will be able to help you with nLite, you will have to use the OPK to create your unattended installation just like every other White Box builder.

LICENSE AGREEMENT:

Your use of nLite is governed by the following conditions. Please read this information carefully before using nLite. By using it you are agreeing to the following conditions:

5. nLite is free for personal use only, you cannot use it for any company or business purposes at this time.

By the by, once you get the TechNet subscription, just use W2K3 RIS server and make your life a little easier. Installing over the network is much faster than CD, and you can also use WSUS server to speed up your update integration.

[submix8c]

By-the-by - you can get an evaluation version of Server 2008 R2 here good for 180-days. Just be prepared to reinstall every so often to keep using it for RIS installs (info/how-to available on MS Technet - Google it). Server 2000/2003/2008 is a requirement for RIS installs.

edit - and you really should re-read the suggestions and act accordingly. It will simplify the installs/reinstalls. And don't forget to MSFN-Search/Browse and Google. BTW, did I not mention "been there done that"? Where do you think the suggestions came from (re- "Does no one in this forum do ")? No need to get frustrated, as we are trying to help.

edit2 - and here's some more assistance on "rebuilding" OEM CD's (and re-read my previous posts) here and basically applies to Home as well...

Edited December 6, 2009 by submix8c

[davathar]

Thank you for the additional suggestions. I didn't read the nLite EULA carefully it seems. Wrongly assumed it was was a common GNU or other open license. Sorry if I infringed upon anyone's intellectual property rights in my attempts to use the software. It's already uninstalled. :-)

MrJinje: Thanks for the info on the OEM kit. I was not aware that existed. I've done corporate application support for most of my computer work and my only work with windows was usually my personal machines until recently. The business I work with is still new, and not particularly interested in even doing computer repair. The guy just got into it from his work as a web designer in a small town. He got asked to fix and build computers so much that he just decided to let it be a business. Spending money on a service like technet would be a waste in his eyes. Hell, having a large enough hard drive to avoid having to make room to do a customer hard drive backup is a waste to him. And just mention "power supply tester" and you'll get "what's wrong with a multimeter?" Spending on the business has never been of interest to him.

So, I'll check out the the OEM kit with the live account. And the RIS server sounds interesting too. Thank you

dav

[joeschultz]

davathar - i don't know if this will help you or not but i live in the 6th largest city in the USA and through casual "trash picking" have become the proud owner of just about every version of an MS operating system over the past 10 years.

this has also given me a supply of 40 and 80 gig hard drives which i keep for archiving completed ISO's. i keep the best "boxes" for test chassis environments. some days driving back and forth to work i'll pass a PC or two in the trash.

i throw them in the trunk and when i get home i usually plug them in just to see if they spin up. i hit eject on all of the CD/DVD trays and have been rewarded more than once. you would be surprised at the condition some people toss away their old PC's. take your time and listen to the forum advice. MSFN opened up new worlds for me once i slowed down and absorbed what the group recommended. our favorite software vendor gives plenty of information and tools away too.

good luck & keep reading.

[MrJinje]

Isn't that how Apple got started ? Steve Jobs poking around Xerox's trash.

Edited December 7, 2009 by MrJinje

[nowotny]

@davathar: If you try to slipstream sp3 on a Vista or 7 machine it'll sometimes make the keys invalid... you have to slipstream it on an XP machine and it'll work... it happened to me lately... I have an original XP Home OEM CD with sp1 and I slipstreamed sp3 on it using my win7 os... when I went to enter the key from the sticker it said the key was wrong... I googled the problem and found this thread: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums...f-8df8050cff12/ which suggest slipstreaming on XP which I did and now the key works...