Windows XP Mode - VHD Deployment
I am currently creating a Windows 7 image that contains Windows XP Mode.
I plan to distribute the VHD files to multiple computers on my domain.
I successfully install Windows XP Mode, install multiple applications and when I run sysprep to strip the SID's, upon reboot of the system for initial launch I'm asked for a Serial Number and told that my copy of Windows XP isn't valid.
Isn't Windows XP mode supposed to be completely free and licensed in the first place?!
I've read the Deploying Windows XP Mode.doc from Microsoft's web site and they do not recommend deploying Windows XP Mode without running Sysprep to strip the SIDs. Unfortunately I have no way of authenticating Microsofts Windows XP Mode serial number!?
Does anyone know any way around this? Am I doing this correctly?
I plan to distribute the VHD files to multiple computers on my domain.
I successfully install Windows XP Mode, install multiple applications and when I run sysprep to strip the SID's, upon reboot of the system for initial launch I'm asked for a Serial Number and told that my copy of Windows XP isn't valid.
Isn't Windows XP mode supposed to be completely free and licensed in the first place?!
I've read the Deploying Windows XP Mode.doc from Microsoft's web site and they do not recommend deploying Windows XP Mode without running Sysprep to strip the SIDs. Unfortunately I have no way of authenticating Microsofts Windows XP Mode serial number!?
Does anyone know any way around this? Am I doing this correctly?
ASKER
Tribus: I don't think you quite understand.
My Windows 7 - Ultimate computers will be local installations which I will be creating images for. Inside of those images will have Windows XP Mode installed locally.
The Windows XP Mode VHD files need to have SYSPREP run on them (according to Microsoft documentation) in order to strip the SID's and prepare them for deployment.
The Windows 7 - Ultimate computers ALSO need to have SysPrep run on them for image deployment (but this is not an issue and doesn't need to be focused on).
What I need to know, is if there is any way to run SYSPREP properly WITHOUT causing Windows XP to ask for a new Serial Number OR if there is a general serial number that can be implemented easily into the Sysprep.inf file.
My Windows 7 - Ultimate computers will be local installations which I will be creating images for. Inside of those images will have Windows XP Mode installed locally.
The Windows XP Mode VHD files need to have SYSPREP run on them (according to Microsoft documentation) in order to strip the SID's and prepare them for deployment.
The Windows 7 - Ultimate computers ALSO need to have SysPrep run on them for image deployment (but this is not an issue and doesn't need to be focused on).
What I need to know, is if there is any way to run SYSPREP properly WITHOUT causing Windows XP to ask for a new Serial Number OR if there is a general serial number that can be implemented easily into the Sysprep.inf file.
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ASKER
I have a volume activation key for Windows XP and will try that. I actually tried that key the last time I did this but am uncertain if I typed it in correctly or not. I will come back to you and let you know if this works.
You could create a script to install XP mode on each of the machines you want it to be installed on and place the files on the server to install instead of stripping SID's and such.
Hope this helps...
-Tribus