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Trying to understand license limitation of sysprep.exe

Answered Trying to understand license limitation of sysprep.exe

  • Wednesday, June 01, 2011 5:17 PM
     
     
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    I have a laptop that was purchased from Dell with a pre-installed Windows 7 pro 64bit operating system. The laptop comes with a Reinstallation DVD and other additional driver CDs. I made a clean installation using the supplied DVD. The installation did not ask for a product key. We have many  laptops of the exact model and hardware. I am looking to create an image of one of the custom images and applying it to the rest of the laptops. I want to use SysPrep.exe only to remove the SID to prevent conflicts.

    I a little bit confused about the explanation on the TechNet page regarding the how many times I can use sysprep.exe. See link - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc721940(WS.10).aspx

    If I was to create an image, does this mean that I can only apply the image with sysprep.exe to only 3 other laptops?

    Or can I apply to as many laptops that have the exact same hardware and model type as I want?

     

    I am afraid that when I start applying the images and running sysprep.exe that the product key of one of the laptops will no longer be valid. Meaning that if I have to reimage the original machine I grabbed the image from will not allow me to re-install on this machine.

    Thanks in advance

     

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  • Friday, June 03, 2011 9:43 AM
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    Hi,

    I would like to advise that the product key will be removed after using the sysprep.exe. Then you must specify a product key again in the unattended file or specify it after installation.

    Regarding the applied number of computers, you can apply the image to many computer after sysprep. The three times is the clock of Windows Product Activation.

    I would like to share the following document with you.

    Running Sysprep will cause Windows Welcome to prompt you for a product key. You can use an answer file with Sysprep to prevent Windows Welcome from prompting you for a product key. If you specify a valid product key in the ProductKey setting of the Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup component during the specialize configuration pass, then Windows Welcome will not prompt you for a product key.

    Please remember to click “Mark as Answer” on the post that helps you, and to click “Unmark as Answer” if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread. ”
     
  • Friday, June 03, 2011 11:24 AM
     
     
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    Nice! I have 4 more follow-up questions to totally clarify my concern. Your patience is really appreciated.

    When running Sysprep it wipes the product key. Assuming no answer file is used the Windows Welcome screen will ask for a product key. From what you previously wrote I assume that this to be correct. The follow-up questions are as follows:

    Question: 1

    a.       If I was to apply the same image four times or more on the same laptop

    b.       Not changing any hardware on the laptop

    c.       Activating Windows 7 after each install

    d.       Using the same product key for each install

    e.   Use Sysprep for each install

    On the fourth time WILL it say that the activation limit has been reached for the specific product key? If this is true then if I have a really bad user that keeps damaging the OS due to viruses and spyware, that user will end up bricking many laptops.

    Question:2

    If the answer is "yes, I can not install a 4th time", is there a time limit when this "activation limit" clock expires and you can re-install on the same machine?

    Question: 3

    The second question is if I was to place the product key in the answer file it would not make a difference in regards to the activation limits?

    Question: 4

    Is the answer file mentioned in the answer you gave above solely because it is an automated procedure making the install easier?




    • Edited by yum8yuk Friday, June 03, 2011 11:31 AM forgot to add one question
    • Edited by yum8yuk Friday, June 03, 2011 11:33 AM changed the bullet points for clarity
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  • Monday, June 06, 2011 5:21 AM
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    Hi,

    First, I would like to advise that you can not use the same product key on the multiple computers unless the key is a volume key.

    If you have the further question regarding license, Please make a call to the Microsoft Support.

    Also, After running sysprep, the key is removed and Windows 7 will not ask for it in OOBE. You should specify it manually.

    Regarding the question 2, you may reinstall the Windows via installation disk.

    Regarding the question 4, Yes, the unattended installation is used for making the installation unattended and more easily. 

    Please remember to click “Mark as Answer” on the post that helps you, and to click “Unmark as Answer” if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread. ”