Sysprep and Office

[MrGuy]

Hi,

Not sure if this is the correct topic area but it's the closest I can find.

I've been using MS Sysprep in Windows XP to prepare PC's going out to our various sites. It's a wonderful time saver. I can install all our applications on a reference drive, get updates, and tweak the OS and then duplicate this drive. My build time is reduced from 2-3 hours down to 20 minutes.

The PC's are from IBM/Lenovo and have XP and Office 2003 pre-installed. When you first execute any office application it prompts you for the cd-key and activation (it's already installed--it just wants the activation information). Sysprep does this process for XP when you first boot but I'm wondering how they configured Office to prompt you for cd-key and activation?

Thanks,

Guy

[MrGuy]

Seems I've found an answer to my question: Sysprep does not configure a pre-installation of Office. You need a MS Office (version) OEM Pre-installation Kit (OPK) to have office activated after you run Sysprep.

[MrGuy]

Aha I've found the solution thanks to Vernalex.com, they replied to my email inquiry the same day.

If you want to install Office 2003 and have it prompt you for cd-key and activation after using Sysprep here's what you have to do:

Use regedit and remove the product code at this location: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Registration\{90110409-6000-11D3-8CFE-0150048383C9}

(This example is for Office 2003, other versions will be slightly different but you should still easily be able to find the code)

Once this is removed the next time you execute any office application it will prompt you for name, cd-key and activation. This works great, my reference drive for duplication is now complete.

Guy