Don't ask product key

[rferrariwd]

Hi!

-I instaled the Windows Vista using the AutoUnattend.xml File. see above!

-Than I runned the sysprep /generalize /oobe /shutdown.

-Captured the generalized image for d:\generalized.wim

-Apply back the generalized image.

-When it start for the first time, at the oobe the Product Key isn't been asked for the user. It ask for Local Settigns, EULA, User Name, Computer Name, Protection Type, Time and Date and Finish, skipping the Product Key Page.

-------- AutoUnattend.xml --------

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">

<settings pass="specialize">

<component name="Microsoft-Windows-IE-InternetExplorer" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<FavoritesList>

<FavoriteItem wcm:action="add">

<FavTitle>Google</FavTitle>

<FavURL>http://www.google.com</FavURL>

<FavID>Favorite1</FavID>

</FavoriteItem>

</FavoritesList>

</component>

<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<OEMInformation>

<Manufacturer>Manufacturer</Manufacturer>

<SupportURL>http://www.Manufacturer.com.br</SupportURL>

<Logo>c:\Windows\oemlogo\oemlogo.bmp</Logo>

<SupportPhone>5555-5555</SupportPhone>

<SupportHours>08:00h ~ 18:00h</SupportHours>

</OEMInformation>

<TimeZone>E. South America Standard Time</TimeZone>

<Display>

<ColorDepth>32</ColorDepth>

<DPI>120</DPI>

<HorizontalResolution>1024</HorizontalResolution>

<RefreshRate>60</RefreshRate>

<VerticalResolution>768</VerticalResolution>

</Display>

</component>

</settings>

<settings pass="windowsPE">

<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<DiskConfiguration>

<Disk wcm:action="add">

<CreatePartitions>

<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">

<Extend>false</Extend>

<Order>1</Order>

<Type>Primary</Type>

<Size>5500</Size>

</CreatePartition>

<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">

<Extend>true</Extend>

<Order>2</Order>

<Type>Primary</Type>

</CreatePartition>

</CreatePartitions>

<ModifyPartitions>

<ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">

<Active>false</Active>

<Extend>false</Extend>

<Format>NTFS</Format>

<Label>Recovery</Label>

<Letter>D</Letter>

<Order>1</Order>

<PartitionID>1</PartitionID>

</ModifyPartition>

<ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">

<Active>true</Active>

<Extend>false</Extend>

<Format>NTFS</Format>

<Label>Sistema</Label>

<Letter>C</Letter>

<Order>2</Order>

<PartitionID>2</PartitionID>

</ModifyPartition>

</ModifyPartitions>

<DiskID>0</DiskID>

<WillWipeDisk>true</WillWipeDisk>

</Disk>

<WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>

</DiskConfiguration>

<ImageInstall>

<OSImage>

<InstallTo>

<DiskID>0</DiskID>

<PartitionID>2</PartitionID>

</InstallTo>

<WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>

<InstallToAvailablePartition>false</InstallToAvailablePartition>

</OSImage>

</ImageInstall>

<Display>

<ColorDepth>32</ColorDepth>

<HorizontalResolution>1024</HorizontalResolution>

<RefreshRate>60</RefreshRate>

<VerticalResolution>768</VerticalResolution>

</Display>

<UseConfigurationSet>true</UseConfigurationSet>

</component>

<component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE" processorArchitecture="x86" 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>pt-br</UILanguage>

</SetupUILanguage>

<InputLocale>0416:00010416</InputLocale>

<SystemLocale>pt-BR</SystemLocale>

<UserLocale>pt-Br</UserLocale>

<UILanguage>pt-Br</UILanguage>

<UILanguageFallback>en-US</UILanguageFallback>

</component>

<component name="Microsoft-Windows-PnpCustomizationsWinPE" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<DriverPaths>

<PathAndCredentials wcm:keyValue="4b2103c7" wcm:action="add">

<Path>%configsetroot%\AutoUnattend_Files\Microsoft\Vista\STARTER\Out-of-Box Drivers\Modem</Path>

</PathAndCredentials>

<PathAndCredentials wcm:keyValue="cc3b7d73" wcm:action="add">

<Path>%configsetroot%\AutoUnattend_Files\Microsoft\Vista\STARTER\Out-of-Box Drivers\SVGA</Path>

</PathAndCredentials>

</DriverPaths>

</component>

</settings>

<settings pass="oobeSystem">

<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<AutoLogon>

<LogonCount>9999</LogonCount>

<Username>Administrator</Username>

<Enabled>true</Enabled>

</AutoLogon>

<OOBE>

<HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>

<ProtectYourPC>1</ProtectYourPC>

<SkipMachineOOBE>true</SkipMachineOOBE>

<SkipUserOOBE>true</SkipUserOOBE>

</OOBE>

<Themes>

<CustomDefaultThemeFile>c:\Windows\theme.Theme</CustomDefaultThemeFile>

</Themes>

<Display>

<ColorDepth>32</ColorDepth>

<DPI>96</DPI>

<HorizontalResolution>1024</HorizontalResolution>

<RefreshRate>60</RefreshRate>

<VerticalResolution>768</VerticalResolution>

</Display>

</component>

</settings>

<settings pass="generalize">

<component name="Microsoft-Windows-PnpSysprep" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<PersistAllDeviceInstalls>true</PersistAllDeviceInstalls>

</component>

</settings>

<cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim:c:/microsoft/vista/opk/home.wim/install.wim#Windows Vista STARTER" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />

</unattend>

[Gwido]

I too had this problem and it is grossly frustrating. It wasnt until I had an email recieved yesterday that outlined this found issue.

Extract from Official MS E-mail

Issue Summary

OOBE is not prompting for the product key on systems without OEM Activation 2.0. This is caused by using an OEM NONSLP key during image creation. That key is shipped with the OPK and several customers have filed this as ship blocking for them. This document provides several methods of working around this. I’m also filing a KB article and will post that when it’s ready. These solutions have been tested and approved to disperse.

Product Applicability

Vista (all skus)

I recommend you get in contact with your Account Manager - The VISTA RTM version Product Keys that has shipped to Royalty OEM's will not force the OOBE to prompt for Product Key due to this issue

Solutions

First Time Setup

1. Use a different Key issued from your Account Technical Contact

Audit Mode

3. Run the following commands from a cmd prompt:

1. Cscript %windir%\system32\slmgr.vbs –ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXX

Note: Replace the ‘X’s with an actual 5x5 Key from MS

Hope this helps

[TimPhillips]

I've got the same (or similar) problem.

I do an unattended install (a random product key included in the autounattended.xml file), then make an image for deploying.

Then after deploying I reseal/generalize the pc ready to give to the customer. But when I test this part it prompts for everything but the user key. It kinda worked with vista RC2 (would prompt but you could hit next even if it was empty) but not at all with the full release.

Is there a way of fixing this so the user must enter the key on first boot?

Or is there a special sysprep/PE key that can be obtained?

[TimPhillips]

Turned out to be a more simple fix than I thought. It turns out with vista you don't HAVE to enter a cd key until activation time. Quite surprising coming from Microsoft though.

[rferrariwd]

This worked for me:

enter at audit mode, remove folowing registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\DigitalProductId

generalize, exit windows, enter with winpe and capture the image

next time you enter at oobe the product key will be request

[Gwido]

From a personal perspective, entering in no product key is acceptable but from a OEM perspective there are specific guidelines you have to follow. Outlined in the OPK Reference guide section OEM Licensing Requirements .

I have also tested the install using no product key, and I agree its strange that MS have done the switch to only required activation, but also a welcome relief from some of the backward ways things have been done in the past.

I have not tried generalising an image with no product key entered to see if it forces the system to prompt during the OOBE phase. If anyone has I'd be interested to know if it worked.

Or is there a special sysprep/PE key that can be obtained?

Yes you can use one obtained form your MS account manager, certain Vista RTM keys as stated in my previous post to Royalty OEMS do not allow the OOBE phase to reset the product key. The communique I recieved from our Account Managers @ MS had useable keys that allowed the OOBE to perform as expected.

The only other way would be to use a key from a OEM Purchased product when Vista Launches at the end of the month.

[EmRoD]

This is a bug

check info here

(I've the same error on my unattended installs)