Hi, ive almsot finished my unattended cd but am having one minor problem. The installation program is not asking for the cd key. I have entered it correctly in my WINNT.SIF and windows installs fine.

However, i want it to show the entered cd key and to allow me to modify it if i want.

This is becase i intend to use this cd to help fix other people's computers and need to be able to enter their cd key. But, i want mine one to be in there as default so i can use the cd to reinstall my OS.

Is this possible? As i thought i have seen this before? if so why isn't it working?

Many Thanks

;SetupMgrTag
[Data]
	Autopartition=1
	MsDosInitiated="0"
	UnattendedInstall="Yes"

[Unattended]
	UnattendMode=ProvideDefault
	UnattendSwitch=No
	OemPreinstall=Yes
	OemSkipEula=Yes
	FileSystem=*
	WaitForReboot=No
	NoWaitAfterTextMode=1
	NoWaitAfterGUIMode=1
	DriverSigningPolicy=Ignore
	NonDriverSigningPolicy=Ignore
	TargetPath=\WINDOWS
	KeyboardLayout="United Kingdom"

[GuiUnattended]
	TimeZone=85
	OEMSkipRegional=1
	OemSkipWelcome=1
	EncryptedAdminPassword=NO

[GuiRunOnce]
	Command0=%CDROM%\WPI\WPI.cmd

[UserData]
	ProductKey=xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxx-xxxx
	FullName=""
	OrgName=""

[RegionalSettings]
	LanguageGroup=1
	Language=00000809

[Networking]
	InstallDefaultComponents=Yes

[Components]
	msnexplr=off

[Identification]
	JoinWorkgroup=WORKGROUP

[TapiLocation]
	CountryCode=44

The easiest way to do that would be to leave off the product key entirely, but that wouldn't solve the problem of showing yours by default...maybe you could enter it wrong in the last character.

Here's a stretch: Try making a setup billboard with your cd key on it so you won't forget it. Making a billboard is pretty trivial, so maybe that could help.

i see so tehre is no default optino to show the cd key and allow it to be modified?

No, this is a wierd answer file option, and doesn't work if it's added the way you think it would. If you provide the ProductKey vairable, it gets used but never shown. If you don't provide the ProductKey variable, install will always ask you to add it no matter what install level you choose.

I've got a hunch this was added so that product keys were never shown during setup in case the admin made a mistake in the answer file setup, but it would be nice to have this value work like the rest.

So to answer your question, there's no way to show the key in a modifyable form. You either have it blank, or provide a value in your unattend file and it doesn't get shown at all .

cheers for the info. Looks like handwriting them on the back of the cd case will be best then

cheers for the info. Looks like handwriting them on the back of the cd case will be best then

try with these settings

[Data]MsDosInitiated="0"

UnattendedInstall="Yes"

AutoPartition=1

[unattended]

UnattendMode=ProvideDefault

OemSkipEula=Yes

TargetPath=\WINDOWS

WaitForReboot=No

UnattendSwitch=Yes

[GuiUnattended]

AdminPassword="123456"

EncryptedAdminPassword=No

OEMSkipRegional=1

TimeZone=85

OemSkipWelcome=1

AutoLogon=Yes

AutoLogonCount=1

[userData]

FullName="Some name"

OrgName="Some organisation"

[Display]

BitsPerPel=32

Xresolution=1024

Yresolution=768

Vrefresh=72

[TapiLocation]

CountryCode=44

[identification]

JoinWorkgroup=WORKGROUP

[Networking]

InstallDefaultComponents=Yes

Just leave the serial number out of UserData section of your answer file.

vv

you can get youre serial to winnt.sif and if you want to know how to change it inder the setup......

Download Nlite and that will help

cheers for the info. Looks like handwriting them on the back of the cd case will be best then

Just leave the serial number out of UserData section of your answer file.

vv

Hmmz, that would leave you with the same answer that cluberti gave, then it pops up with a blank serial-field whcih you have to fill in, it won't show any, that's what the poster wanted....................

It's not possible I think, it's either blank, or when filled in winnt.sif, it passes without showing anything.........just like cluberti said before actually.........

Edited November 15, 200520 yr by EagleForce

You can use a generic CD-Key from http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechn...oy/wpadepl.mspx but will have to change it to activate.