WINNT.SIFNlite creates Winnt.SIf but it still keeps asking for the product key. I use the Hide pages setting so only the answers i do not give come but even though I have answered for the product key that keeps coming up. Please Help me

By the way the key is valid. Just so you know this windows XP SP2 is a corporate cd it does not require activation.

[Unattended]
UnattendMode=DefaultHide

change this one into Ur Winnt.sif

I'm guessing that if you type in your key when prompted everything works, right? If that's the case, something got hosed when nLite generated the SIF file. Have you manually typed in the key into the SIF?

If it's prompting for the key, the install binaries do not like the key that is being fed in from the SIF. If you manually enter it and the install works, then there is some typo in the SIF. If you manually type the key at the prompt and it does not work, then the binaries don't match the key that you're using (i.e. you using a VLK disk but not a VLK key).

[Unattended]
UnattendMode=DefaultHide

change this one into Ur Winnt.sif

I am using a volume license key it was given to me from microsoft. Im installing windows by botting from the cd, I checked the Winnt.sif and compared the VLK for accurracy. I attatched the a copy of the winnt.sif file so you guys can tell me If

I need to fix something.

dodio,

If you compare this portion of my sif file vs what you have you might see why the install is asking for the key.

My winnt.sif

[unattended]

UnattendMode = FullUnattended

UnattendSwitch = Yes

OemPreinstall = Yes

OemSkipEula = Yes

FileSystem = *

WaitForReboot = No

NoWaitAfterTextMode = 1

NoWaitAfterGUIMode = 1

DriverSigningPolicy = Ignore

NonDriverSigningPolicy = Ignore

Hibernation = No

Your winnt.sif

[unattended]

UnattendMode=ReadOnly

UnattendSwitch="No"

OemPreinstall="Yes"

OemSkipEula="Yes"

FileSystem=*

WaitForReboot="No"

NoWaitAfterTextMode=1

NoWaitAfterGUIMode=1

DriverSigningPolicy=Ignore

NonDriverSigningPolicy=Ignore

Hibernation="No"

I have had a few problems with this when I was in a rush and forgot to change it. Try resetting your UnattendSwitch= to yes as in my example above and try it.

Good luck

jd

[Data]

AutoPartition=1

AutomaticUpdates=no

MsDosInitiated=0

UnattendedInstall=Yes

UnattendSwitch=yes

[unattended]

Repartition=yes

UnattendMode=FullUnattended

OemSkipEula=Yes

OemPreinstall=No

DriverSigningPolicy=Ignore

[GuiUnattended]

AdminPassword=??????

AutoLogon=Yes

OEMSkipRegional=1

TimeZone=35

OemSkipWelcome=1

[userData]

ProductID=xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

FullName="xxxxxxxx"

OrgName="xxxxxxx"

ComputerName=xxxxxx

I think your problem is with this line:

[unattended]

UnattendMode=ReadOnly

But in any case you can take the above winnt.sif to the bank.

Dido,

You have a basic problem that I think you're over-complicating.

Does the key work if you manually type it in when prompted?

Does your key work with the source CD when you do a manual install?

Have you tried a simplified WinNT.sif file? Strip it down to the basics (build one using Setup Manager from the deployment tools).

Have you tried to create a simple unattended CD, with no tweaks from nLite?

Are you using a VLK CD as your source?

If you are being prompted by the install to enter your key, the install does not find your key to be valid. The majority of the time problems have simple solutions.

Edited March 28, 200719 yr by mmarable

I would open up your winnt.sif file and SLOWLY go over the key you typed into it. The ONLY reason I can see Windows asking for your key is that it's wrong/invalid in your winnt.sif file.

Thus, if you're positive you have a legitimate key then it must be typed incorrectly in the winnt.sif file.