Installing Slip Streamed XP on muliple PCs Options

[MeOnline]

Hi folks,
New here and just got my UBCD4Win running! Awesome tool!

I created an XP sp2 slipstreamed CD with boot up and am currently installing it on one of my PCs now...

I'd like to install it in another PC, for which I DO have another XP cd for.

The question is, can I just use the current slipstreamed cd to do the install and enter the activation code from the other CD? Or will I need to create another slipstreamed CD with the second xp cd I have?

Thanks!

[SteelTrepid]

Maybe.

It can depend on several factors. The only one I personally know about are "upgrade" and "full" CD's for home.

Here is what happened to me: I purchased an "upgrade" for my system. Several months later, had to purchase a "full" version for my wife's computer. Well months after that I wanted to do a "clean" install on my system. WELL, I accidentally used my wife's "full" version XP CD. It would not accept my "upgrade" license number. So basically I had to do it again.

So it depends on your key.

I have purchased several OEM licenses for the computers for my boys over the last couple of years. They all work just fine with a "full" CD. So I always just save the original CD's I get when I purchase a new license and use one of my backups/copies to install with.

Finally, I don't know how this works with "big company" (Dell, Gateway, etc.) licenses...it probably depends on how they purchased their keys to send off to us. I haven't had the chance to really test this.

[MeOnline]

SteelTrepid,

Thanks for the response. Trying to setup a new Dell 9100 with XP is turning out to be quite a chore... I'm learning a lot! But the time input is just way more than I thought it would be!

[MeOnline]

Just following up here...

I found this article: http://pcsupport.about.com/cs/pctutorials/a/lostkey_2.htm

The Magical Jelly bean app gets for you the product key of your installation. The cool thing is that is ALSO lets you change it!

So I am hopeing to install xp pro on my second machine with the same slipstreamed cd I have and before activating it, change the product key to the other license I have.

Hopefully it works.

Thanks.

[rdsok]

Here is the low down on Windows versions and the keys they will allow....

Basically there are many versions...

XP Home OEM, Retail and Upgrade
XP Pro OEM, Retail, NFR (not for resale), Enterprise and Upgrade

You can't not use a key from any one version with the install CD of another version.. it will simply not be accepted.

Now you can use say the XP Pro SP1 OEM key with a XP Pro SP2 OEM version... its only when you are using the different types that it is prohibited.

[baronvonfoxbat7734]

Another fly in the opintment is when using XP Home. Only one key is allowed on a XP Home network. If you have one CD and one key for XP Home, you can't install it onto more than one machine with the one key you have. It locks down windows and it won't work. To by-pass this, always try to use XP Pro versions. As far as I know, there is no limitations on Key's for XP Pro. I use a VLK so I know that there is no issue if it is on 1 or 90,000 PC's.

Just another thiung to keep an eye out for.

[MeOnline]

Thanks all for the feedback. I'm going to try the key change thing today and will report back if it works or if I end up having to make a seperate XP slipstreamed disk.

[webmedic]

I want to add to this as an oem and I sell systems. Just to let you all know it is illegal to run xp home or pro on more than 1 machine without having more than 1 license. You need a license for every machine you are running it on.

The VLK mentioned above are purchased by large comapnies who do thier own rollouts for systems used within the company. They are not legal for use by individuals unless they purchase a VLK (volume license key). If you purchased one of these you would know it as I would imagine they are quite expensive. One of the cheepest things I have heard of was the korean government which picked up windows I think for $10 per license. Still though at a couple thousand license's it would still have cost them 20,000 dollars. So way beyond a home users budget.

Basicly if you dont own a key for every computer you have windows installed on even windows 3.1, 95, 98, and me then you are breaking the terms or your license.


If you dont agree with the windows license why steal it. Use something else.Linux is free and linux mandrake is even easier to use in allot of situations than is windows xp. For instance installing onto a motherboard using sata raid. With linux mandrake it is trivial and they have a built in partition tool that is every bit as good as partition magic.