ask for key first or skip key entry

[Jadestar]

So for my unattended vista setup, it goes like this. Enter your license key (which if entered, autoselects the correct version of vista). If you dont enter a key then you are asked which version of windows you are installing and then are required to enter the key later on when you activate.

This is how I would like my windows 7 autounattend to work aswell but it doesnt. It works like this.

A screen comes up and asks me which version i want to install...home premium, basic, pro or ultimate. Goes through the entire setup and then at the end, stops and asks for the key.

This presents me with 2 different problems. One: It stops the unattended setup half way through since it sits there waiting for a key entered to continue to first boot where i would do runonce and program installs and Two: i may not know what version of windows im installing but i know the key...this happens on alot of laptops where the part that says what version is installed on the OEM key is rubbed off but aslong as the key is visible, we're ok. I put in the right key and the proper version is installed.

If i cant have the install ask me for the key first then i can deal with that key screen before first boot just skipped and enter it when i activate. This wont solve my problem 2 but hopfully i can work around it...would still be better than having my install stop half way through.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

oh here is my code

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
    <settings pass="windowsPE">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="NonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <SetupUILanguage>
                <UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
            </SetupUILanguage>
            <InputLocale>0409:00000409</InputLocale>
            <UserLocale>en-US</UserLocale>
            <UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
            <SystemLocale>en-US</SystemLocale>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="NonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<UseConfigurationSet>true</UseConfigurationSet>
            <UserData>
                <ProductKey>
                    <Key></Key>
                    <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
                </ProductKey>
                <Organization>Owner-Corp</Organization>
                <FullName>OwnerPC</FullName>
                <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
            </UserData>
            <ImageInstall>
                <OSImage>
                    <InstallFrom>
                        <MetaData wcm:action="add">
                            <Key>/IMAGE/NAME</Key>
                            <Value></Value>
                        </MetaData>
                    </InstallFrom>
                    <InstallToAvailablePartition>false</InstallToAvailablePartition>
                    <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
                </OSImage>
            </ImageInstall>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="oobeSystem">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="NonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <OOBE>
                <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>
                <NetworkLocation>Home</NetworkLocation>
                <ProtectYourPC>3</ProtectYourPC>
                <SkipUserOOBE>true</SkipUserOOBE>
            </OOBE>
<UserAccounts>
                <LocalAccounts>
                    <LocalAccount wcm:action="add">
                        <Description>user account</Description>
                        <DisplayName>User</DisplayName>
                        <Group>Administrators</Group>
                        <Name>User</Name>
                        <Password>
                            <Value>cABhAHMAcwB3AG8AcgBkAFAAYQBzAHMAdwBvAHIAZAA=</Value>
                            <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                        </Password>
                    </LocalAccount>
                </LocalAccounts>
            </UserAccounts>

          </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="specialize">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="NonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <TimeZone>Mountain Standard Time</TimeZone>
<ComputerName>*</ComputerName>
            <AutoLogon>
                <Enabled>true</Enabled>
                <LogonCount>2</LogonCount>
                <Username>Administrator</Username>
            </AutoLogon>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-Licensing-SLC-UX" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="NonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <SkipAutoActivation>true</SkipAutoActivation>
        </component>

<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Deployment" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <RunSynchronous>

<RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">

                    <Description>Run first reg start</Description>
                    <Path>cmd D:\programs\copyappsvista.cmd</Path>
                    <Order>1</Order>
                    <WillReboot>Never</WillReboot>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>



 </RunSynchronous>
        </component>

    </settings>
<cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim:d:/sources/install.wim#Windows 7 ULTIMATE" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

[myselfidem]

You need to add your valid Key inside your Autounattend.xml and the value for the version!

You can use

Run: winver

to know the version you have installed.

And for the key installed you can use Keyfinder:

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

More help here:

Edited June 7, 2010 by myselfidem

[Jadestar]

You need to add your valid Key inside your Autounattend.xml and the value for the version!

More help here:

I think you misunderstood. The key AND version is different on every install from computer to computer. Today I may want to install windows 7 home premium on a laptop and tommorow may be windows 7 ultimate on a desktop...two different versions with 2 different keys. I want to automate everything BUT version selection and key entry...which works so far, just not in the order that it did for vista or how i want.

*Edit* I wanted to add that I just tried one suggestion, using a variable for the <key> part of the file like this <Key>%Please Enter Product Key%</Key>

and it reports it as invalid and stops the install. Heard that on another site but it obviously doesnt work.

Edited June 7, 2010 by Jadestar

[myselfidem]

Oh sorry I've misunderstood!

Edited June 7, 2010 by myselfidem

[Jadestar]

Oh sorry I've misunderstood!

If the system boots then finding the version is not a problem. If the customer does not have a genuine key then we simply refuse to do the install unless they want to buy another key to avoid legal issues. The issue is when we're doing a reinstall of windows on a system that doesnt boot at all and we have no idea what version they have and the version on the key is rubbed off (it happens on laptops all the time after a year or so of use from heat..the version name is gone but the key is still readable).

[myselfidem]

Thank you for your reply!

For an reinstallation you can save "Tokens.dat" and use Setupcomplete.cmd to keep the activation for Windows 7 x86, for an unattended install. Put Tokens.dat inside the folder $OEM$\$$\Setup\Scripts".

Keep the activation: active.bat

net stop sppsvc

DEL /F /Q "%SystemDrive%\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetWorkService\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwareProtectionPlatform\Tokens.dat"

COPY /Y "%~dp0tokens.dat" "%SystemDrive%\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetWorkService\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwareProtectionPlatform\"

net start sppsvc

cscript %systemroot%\System32\slmgr.vbs -ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

cscript %systemroot%\System32\slmgr.vbs -dli

cscript %systemroot%\System32\slmgr.vbs -ato

EXIT

slmgr - ipk (use the valid key)

However it's only for one computer!

You need to use for each computer or laptop.

Maybe you can also use the CD reparation tool for Windows 7?

Edited June 7, 2010 by myselfidem

[Jadestar]

Thank you for your reply!

For an reinstallation you can save "Tokens.dat" and use Setupcomplete.cmd to keep the activation for Windows 7 x86. Put Tokens.dat inside the folder $OEM$\$$\Setup\Scripts".

Keep the activation

net stop sppsvc

DEL /F /Q "%SystemDrive%\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetWorkService\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwareProtectionPlatform\Tokens.dat"

COPY /Y "%~dp0tokens.dat" "%SystemDrive%\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetWorkService\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwareProtectionPlatform\"

net start sppsvc

cscript %systemroot%\System32\slmgr.vbs -ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

cscript %systemroot%\System32\slmgr.vbs -dli

cscript %systemroot%\System32\slmgr.vbs -ato

EXIT

slmgr - ipk (use the valid key)

However it's only for one computer!

You need to use for each computer or laptop.

Could you explain to me what that does exactly? where is this tokens.dat file and what does it do? We get anywhere from 2-5 computers in everyday, mon-fri for repair and we probably do a few windows installs a week. Not a whole lot of windows 7 reinstalls now but as time passes on and computers break more and more, it will increase and thus i need it to do it the way vista worked how i explained it above. im not sure how that tokens thing works but if i have to edit a file everytime i do an install, i could just as easily edit to autounattended file with the correct key aswell but thats not what i want to do. thanks for your input.

[myselfidem]

Excuse my bad English!

The file "Tokens.dat" keeps the activation of a computer after the validation is made for a fresh install and the valid key!

After the activation it's a new one and it's needed to change after an reinstallation or to keep, because the original at first time isn't activated!

For computers and laptops sold there are preactivated! Just keep the file Tokens.dat and the origianal key!

You can find Tokens.dat at this place:

%SystemDrive%\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetWorkService\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwareProtectionPlatform\tokens.dat

More help here:

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/09/24/how-to-backup-and-restore-windows-7-and-server-2008-r2-activation-status-activate-offline-on-reinstall/

http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/11130-Paymyrent-Token-restore-for-mak-keys-and-retail/page9

I hope that will help you!

Edited June 7, 2010 by myselfidem

[Jadestar]

Thats really interresting and it might help me out for different scenarios. it doesnt solve my initial problem but presents some other options for activation. Thanks again for all the help.

Hopefully someone can still give me some advise on my issue on how to skip this key thing or add it at the beginning

[myselfidem]

Maybe the order isn't important?

To skip the window asking the key for the installation, each version has his key. You can use the keys for an unattended install for the version you want inside the folder "sources\product.ini".

You can see inside the file product.ini all the keys used for an unattended install and skip the window during the unattended install. If you have the originals Windows 7 versions or ISO file.

And the valid key is used later!

I hope that will help you!

[Jadestar]

That would work fine if i wanted to make 3 different discs for home premium, pro or ultimate, but the idea is one disc to install all which means i cant pre-key the disc, the key entry has to be manual.

[myselfidem]

The issue is when we're doing a reinstall of windows on a system that doesnt boot at all and we have no idea what version they have and the version on the key is rubbed off (it happens on laptops all the time after a year or so of use from heat..the version name is gone but the key is still readable).

In these cases you can use ERD Commander:

http://blogs.technet.com/b/shanecothran/archive/2009/11/09/how-to-create-a-erd-commander-2009-boot-disk.aspx

It's include inside Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP):

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/downloads/default.aspx?PV=42:178

[urie]

That would work fine if i wanted to make 3 different discs for home premium, pro or ultimate, but the idea is one disc to install all which means i cant pre-key the disc, the key entry has to be manual.

If the OS is still on the machine but you cant boot into windows, You just need to boot from a PE cd and use Jellybean keyfinder it can load in registry hive and get key or you could use Simple Keyfinder which can run from dos i,e bootable floppy or usb thumbdrive.

But to be honest it it owners responsibility they should know the key and also have Install dvd or recovery partiton. also even if you do find the key version means nothing you still won't know if it is OEM SLP, OEM , or Retail key without a pid checker also for OEM SLP machines you need SLP key and also .xrm-ms certificates

Edited June 8, 2010 by urie

[Jadestar]

You guys are totally missing the point. The situation lies where there is no way to tell what version of the operating system they have. NO WAY AT ALL.

And even if there was a way to PE the system or do all these other tricks, what I want to do and should be able to do (vista worked this way), would be a million times easier anyway.

It doesnt matter what their responsibility is...if you told a customer "sorry i cant fix your computer because you dont have backup discs" that would be completely retarded and we might as well close our doors because they would never come back

[myselfidem]

I've made some search about your question.

Could you give the link where you found this example, please and I can try on my computer?

However I've read it's not really working good for many people, except someone but I don't why: no explaination.

Thanks