New Dell Desktops with OEM licenses

there are many tools that you can use to extract windows 7 product key :
some of them are commercial like
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/
and some are free:
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/ProduKey.html

thanks Dr-Hussain, how does one extract it from the BIOS?

oh sorry, these tools don't extract the product key from the BIOS, the product keys are stored sometimes in the windows registry or somewhere else ..so with most of these tools you will need to install them on windows. I don't think they are stored in the BIOS.

There is no product key stored in the bios(product key will be located on a sticker on the system) and the imaging you want to do is a violation of the OEM EULA. Only VL and retail versions support deployment of images. The way an OEM Dell OS cd works is it looks at the bios to verify its the correct bios(there is no actual individual key programmed into the bios) If it sees the correct bios it continues the install it doesn't ask for the key and automatically activates. Only VL and retail versions support deployment of images.

The product key information is not installed in the bios, when you use the dell operating system disks to do the install, the operating system will look in the bios to see if there is a service tag, it will then proceed to install the operating system and will activate it at the same time. If you attempt to use the dell os disks to install the operating system on a non dell computer, or a computer without a service tag number, then the auto activation feature is turned off and you will have to activate the windows operating system online. For windows 7, if you use the dell os disks, if it does not see the service tag then it will not even permit you to install the operating system on the computer. Sorry we are not allowed to provide information that will violate copy write laws in this site.

I think you may have mis-understood me. This is the way it works from what I’ve read online.

•      Each machine model purchased from Toshiba, Dell and HP will come with a valid COA sticker and a Pre-pidded license string embedded in the machines BIOS. It get’s shipped that way from the manufacturer.
•      The OS install media for that exact model also has a pre-pidded key that works with the embedded BIOS key.  It’s my understanding that these two key’s makes up the complete OEM key which allows successful auto-activation.
•      You have to use the OEM media that comes with the specific model in order for the machine to activate correctly post install config. You cannot use the OEM media that came with one model on another model of machine.  This violates the Microsoft licensing.
•      You cannot use an image from one model and apply that onto another model.  This violates the Microsoft licensing.
•      If you update the BIOS on any model this may wipe the pre-pidded license key in BIOS.  If this happens you may not be able to activate it and you’ll need to contact the manufacturer or try re-applying the latest BIOS update from their site and pray.

So basically you need to create one image, using the OEM media specifically shipped with the model, for every model of machine you have.   Anything else I believe violates the M$ licensing.

So with that said, it's possible if my understanding is correct, that is a company for example purchases 30 identical Toshiba's R830 laptops which ships with an OEM version of the OS installed but not yet activated, I am able to install all my custom bits, sysprep the image, make a snapshot using what ever imaging method to capture the image and then apply that image to the remaining 29 laptops, why would this then be breaching microsoft licensing? It still has a valid OEM license?

No, Microsoft prohibits customizing an OEM created install of Windows in the EULA.  The ONLY version you can customize is a volume license.  Read the document I posted.

okay thanks leew, so just to confirm, we purchased 20 Dell desktops, they arrived onsite, all them still need to go through the OOBE and then be activated, if I go through the OOBE on one machine, install all custom apps and various utils, still don't activate windows, then perform sys-prep and then take a snapshot using whatever imaging util, then apply that image to the remainder of the desktops,  would this still be a violation of EULA?

> we purchased 20 Dell desktops, they arrived onsite,
Ok...

> all them still need to go through the OOBE and then be activated,
NO.  Provided the machines came with Win7 Pro, you EITHER have a pre-built image using Volume License Media OR you can use Volume License Media on one of the new machines to wipe it and reload it and customize it.  If your intent - as the question seems to state - is to create an image for deployment, then you MUST - repeat, MUST - use a Volume License media based install.  You do not need to run through the OOBE on the machines.

> if I go through the OOBE on one machine, install all custom apps and various
> utils, still don't activate windows, then perform sys-prep and then take a
> snapshot using whatever imaging util, then apply that image to the remainder
> of the desktops,  would this still be a violation of EULA?
Absolutely, because you're not using Volume License Media or keys.  If you are not understanding the document I posted, please copy and paste the specific sections that are confusing you along with a comment on why you feel confused by it so we can try to help you understand.

thanks Leew, it makes perfect sense, a collegue of mine seems to think that one can image the OEM build provided the same make/model; we've already proven it works, but of course it's violation of the EULA which is fair,

100% correct