XP SP3 SlipStream Issue

[iutbf]

Hello all, I hope someone can help or has tried this before because I am stumped.

I have created a T60 XP SP3 Slipstreamed image that installs Windows and all the T60 drivers, it doesn't ask for any user input beyond select the partition.

My problem is my Slipstreamed CD Key is coming up "Unauthorized product key" when I try to activate Windows. I used the same product key IBM/Lenovo uses on their Product Recovery Disk.

I have several T60's and so I felt using the 'generic' for lack of a better work product key that IBM/Lenovo uses on most their T60's was the best option.

As a sidenote, if during activation I change the product key to the one listed on the bottom of the machine, it activates fine, but I would rather use IBM/Lenovo's as then the end user isn't forced to make that change.

I have several T60's so slipstreaming the key listed on the base of the machine is not really an option. Does anyone know why the product key used in the Product Recovery Disks is not working and how to fix this?

[RealBlackStuff]

Something must have gone wrong during your slipstreaming.
All that does is replace/add a bunch of files in the i386 folder/subfolders.
AFAIK the key should not be affected.
I have a corporate XP-Pro, which I slipstreamed first with SP1, then added SP2 and finally added SP3.
There were gaps of a year or more between the slipstream dates.
Never had any key-issues.

[iutbf]

Something must have gone wrong during your slipstreaming.
All that does is replace/add a bunch of files in the i386 folder/subfolders.
AFAIK the key should not be affected.
I have a corporate XP-Pro, which I slipstreamed first with SP1, then added SP2 and finally added SP3.
There were gaps of a year or more between the slipstream dates.
Never had any key-issues.

Perhaps I need to use a Corporate version of XP vs a OEM CD as the base then? I'm fairly sure the slipstream works fine, its just something odd with the base version of windows. I would have assumed IBM used a OEM CD as the base of their image, perhaps not.

[RealBlackStuff]

IBM/Lenovo uses Windows with a VLK (Volume License Key), which is the same for all laptops of a certain Type/Model.
It's comparable (bot not quite identical) to an OEM version.
If you want to use a non-IBM Windows version, e.g. an OEM from Dell or HP, you should be able to use the key on the COA on the bottom of your laptop.
You will not get specifics such as CD burning and DVD watching programs, but you can install System Update and get all the IBM drivers.

[iutbf]

Resolved: Had to throw in the OEMBIOS files to get authentication to pass.

See: http://forums.mydigitallife.info/thread ... OEM-SLP-CD

[jdrou]

IBM/Lenovo uses Windows with a VLK (Volume License Key), which is the same for all laptops of a certain Type/Model.

I don't think it's a VLK but an OEM pre-activated Windows (SLP - system-locked preinstall). A Volume License is something different.

[A31]

Unauthorized product key <snip> I used the same product key IBM/Lenovo uses on their Product Recovery Disk.

The problem is these keys that were used by OEM SLPs were commonly posted on the Internet and black-listed by Microsoft. The key will only work with the IBM Restore Disc, the key is a pre-activated OEM SLP, and not a VLK. In some cases, the OEM SLP keys didn't even work when if on a standard XP disc you typed the OEM SLP key as the your product key, they wouldn't always accept. In some cases they would be accepted during the XP installation, but activation would fail.

Resolved: Had to throw in the OEMBIOS files to get authentication to pass.

Yeah, the OEMBIOS is what gives the key pre-activation, so that was what was needed.

Glad you got your disc to work in the end