Unattended install of XP SP3 with no key

[aboyd710]

The situation is that I have an (almost) unattended installation installing XP and a host of applications. When this is complete I run sysprep and then create an image of the system that is deployed to multiple systems. When the image is deployed Windows Mini-Setup runs and asks for the Windows Key from the COA on each of the final targets. This is how I want things to happen.

If I do not place a Windows Key in unattend.txt then I am asked to enter a key when Windows is installaling. I do not want to do this as then my installation is not unattended.

Is there some default key I can enter in unattend.txt or another option so that a key is not requested?

Any help is much appreciated.

Note: XP SP3 (slimstreamed) and its not a VLK.

[jaclaz]

SP3 should have a "feature" that allows to install without a key:

http://www.tipandtrick.net/2008/install-wi...with-retail-cd/

but is it "skippable" from unattended?

Unfortunately, some bad news :

http://www.msfn.org/board/thought-xp-sp3-a...ll-t117204.html

And a few further questions (hints for a workaround).

Why don't you give it a "real", "good" key, and later change it?

The MS method:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328874/en-us

seemingly only works with multilicense versions, but there are other key-changers, what I don't know is if there is any scriptable one.

Here it is said that the MS script works for any version:

http://www.intrepid.com.au/how-to-change-y...t-reinstalling/

Or is it obsolete?

jaclaz

[aboyd710]

Thanks for your input.

What I have ended up doing is using the key from I386\pid.inf in my unattend.txt file; the installation now completes succesfully without requesting a key.

When I do my deploy windows mini-setup lauches and asks for the COA label product key as I have not entered this in sysprep.inf file.

Following this I checked my Windows key using MagicJellyBean keyfinder and the key is the one entered at Mini-setup which is what I would expect.

This process meets my requiements although I thought there would have been a more well known way to do it

[jaclaz]

Good to know it works.

I would have thought that the minisetup would have found a trace of the given key (I am not at all familiar with sysprep).

jaclaz