Symantec Ghost and Windows Activation for multiple machines.

JamesKeenan

Really simple question for someone who knows.

I'm about to capture a master image off of a laptop with some training software. I'm trying to figure out what I'm doing with Symantec Ghost and Sysprep.

So I set Ghost to run Sysprep. There is a configuration file for Sysprep. Is this the file that tells the image what things to reinstate on the destination machine after the image is created? In that case I assume things like License Key and Computer Name should be left blank if I'm planning on multicasting this model image to multiple laptops at once.


Second, I have 14 laptops, and 14 windows license keys. Is there a way to automate the installation of those 14 keys to the 14 machines? Or should we have had a volume license key to do this sort of job? If I have to image the machines then type 14 license keys into the laptop afterward, I won't die. I'd just rather not do it.

That's about it. Thank you for the help.

Djeet

For non-hand-holding installs I would've used VLK's or KMS server depending upon the Windows client version. There may be a way to script the changing o the key and then activation on retail SKU's but I got no idea.

X-post to the sysadmin thread in Moe's.

SunDragon

What you need to do is buy one single Volume license for Windows that you put in the sysprep file. All machines will activate with that key(either KMS or MAK your choice), and you dont have to change the key. This is how Microsoft recommends you do it and is 100% legal as long as the machines have the OEM license sticker on them. If you MAK authorize them and need more activations, a quick call to Microsoft will get your more activations without hassle.

JamesKeenan

That would be a lot easier, I know. I was hoping there was another way. There might be some sort of scripting solution.

if %computername% = xxx01
give license 01
fi

Something like that. Oh well.

SunDragon

Well, I have found that if you put in an invalid key in the sysprep it will tell you its wrong and give you a chance to type it in after the first boot. You might also look at MySysPrep which can give you some options for scripting the computer name(mine are based on the asset tags assigned in bios).

JamesKeenan

That's actually rather clever.

I might get similar results by just not have a license installed on the model computer at all. I think I'm going with that one, and I'll just do them by hand.