Ctrl + Shift + F3 not entering Audit mode.

[shawn1024]

Wondering if anyone else is running into this situation. I created a set of Vista Business images about 30 days ago that are placed on computers we sell. I imaged up one of my computers a couple days ago and noticed that the activation grace period was only showing 2 days left until the OS would need to be activated. It use to show 30 days. We are an OEM, and use the OPK tool set for Vista unattended installs. I imaged up another computer today and pressed Ctrl + Shift + F3 when the first OOBE screen appeared attempting to launch sysprep and reboot back into audit mode so I could attempt to generalize the image. Unfortunatley, the image will not reboot back into audit mode.....and I can not get past the PID entry screen. The activation grace period has apparently expired.

Here's the basics on how the images were created:

-OS is an unattended network installation.

-After install completes I run --> sysprep /generalize /audit /unattend:d:\autounattend.xml /shutdown.

-Boot back into audit mode & installl apps, then run --> sysprep /oobe /unattend:d:\oobeunattend.xml /shutdown.

-Capture image to network share for deployment on other machines.

Questions and/or items I am testing to fix this:

-Maybe my last sysprep step should have been --> sysprep /generalize /oobe /unattend:d:\oobeunattend.xml /shutdown ??

-Our MS rep suggested using the "Microsoft-Windows-Security-Licensing-SLC | skiprearm=1" setting in my xml files. The only option is to run this tag during the generalize pass. I have not tested this setting out yet and am not that familiar with it to date. This gets us past the running sysprep 3 times rule? or is it the running sysprep /generalized 3 times rule? or is it breaking into a sealed image with the Ctrl + Shift + F3 3 times rule? I am a little confused on this one.

Any thoughts, experience or advice on this topic is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Shawn

[shawn1024]

After some additional testing I have one question answered.

1. When I seal the image (run sysprep last time) The correct command should be:

--sysprep /generalize /oobe /unattend:d:\oobeunattend.xml /shutdown

--save image off to network share for distribution to other machines.

My previous images expired because the /generalize command was not used when I sealed my first images.

I am still testing "Microsoft-Windows-Security-Licensing-SLC | skiprearm=1" setting. Currently I have this set in my autounattend.xml, but I do not have it set in my oobeunattend.xml file.

Shawn