What exactly makes a cd-key become required? Glad you asked...it's actually quite stupid if you think about it. The cdkey switch is stored in a file called setupp.ini in PLAINTEXT which is either stupid, or arrogant, you come to your own conclusion. Here's what your file *SHOULD* contain to remove the CDkey requirement during installation.

[Pid]

ExtraData=786F687170637175716954806365EF

Pid=69713270

Voila! BUT PLEASE, put your key in AFTER you install!

Thanks Dave, this will come in handy!

cool.. its a keeper.. placing it on meh desktop

i dont understand .

what you change in the file?

All that does is change the type of key it will accept to a VLK. It doesn't defeat the prompt for a key during installation.

simple

1-create a iso image from the cd

2-creat a unattented installation with the deploy tools (inside the cd)

3-after was created a file unattend.txt an rename to winnt .sif

4-then open your iso cd with a iso tool and add the file (winnt.sif ) to the folder i386

5- make save the iso and burn in the cdrw to test.

tip -use vmware or virtual pc to test

and there you go you have a clean install without any clik

well in 2000 all ya had to do was open the setupp.ini and change the last 00 to 70 and you didnt even need a cd key at all, im not sure with 2003 but with XP that no longer applied at all, instead ya needed the winnt.sif file with the key included is all. so now in 2003 you need to do both?

well i try with windows xp /windows 2000 and windows server 2003

but in windows 2003 a use the ouw deploy cab (because the licesing)