Clone fresh activated Win11 to many other already pre-licensed devices ?

Discussion in 'Windows 11' started by itsmemario1, May 17, 2022.

  1. itsmemario1

    itsmemario1 MDL Expert

    Sep 10, 2012
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    Ok, let me explain a bit 1st.

    I "upgraded" a laptop from Win10 to Win11 by formating C: and doing a fresh install.
    (incl. Secure Boot and TPM 2.0.)

    The Win10 Laptop got activated via a digital license back in the days and re-activated itself automatically as Win11 when going online for the 1st time, showing the standard Win11 key, instead of the original Win10 key.

    So far so good. Seems all fine.

    As it is 50+ Laptops I have here (all with an activated Win10) I planned to clone Laptop 1 and re-image all other laptops with this, to save some time/work.

    Google results defenitley say it is safe to do so and that the 1st activation will not mess with all the clones.
    Yet this "status" somehow travels to the clone as well...

    Each of the cloned laptops will automatically detect their original Win10 activation status as well then, after going online for the 1st time.

    Would that be correct ?
     
  2. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

    Oct 30, 2009
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    That (sh)(c)ould work, but just keep MAS at hand to be sure.

    Or use their MSDM keys (if present) to activate.
     
  3. itsmemario1

    itsmemario1 MDL Expert

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    I could get all the official COA labels for sure, but as they never got glued to the laptops, it will be hard to tell which sticker belongs to which laptop...without reading the installed keys 1st.

    At least after 10-20 devices it might be more clear if my plan might get interrupted.
     
  4. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

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    Don't they have MSDM bios keys?
     
  5. itsmemario1

    itsmemario1 MDL Expert

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    wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey

    Handed out

    OA3xOriginalProductKey

    without the actual key.

    According to google this means there is no key inside of the BIOS.

    The BIOS has such "PK-Key" sections if I remmber correctly, but the company has purchased COA labels back in the days together with these laptops.
     
  6. kaljukass

    kaljukass MDL Guru

    Nov 26, 2012
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    But why don't you make a clone before activating, that is, before connecting to the network?
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  7. itsmemario1

    itsmemario1 MDL Expert

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    I know I know, but all the (missing) drivers, needed tech software with online logins to be tested etc. etc. etc. ...I really wanted to have a device 100% complete, not having to mess with a OOBE Windows nightmare in the 1st place.
     
  8. Carlos Detweiller

    Carlos Detweiller Emperor of Ice-Cream

    Dec 21, 2012
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    The original HwID activation will not persist anyway, for the clones, as it is hardware-dependent and the clones will have different hardware (as in serial numbers and MAC addresses) even if build-identical.
    Unfortunately, without MSDM keys in the firmware, you'll most probably end up with non-activated clones. The COA labels could be "Refurbished PC" or "System Builder" licenses and the keys would need to be entered manually on the clones.
    The good thing is, that such Refurb or SB licenses are not dependent on specific devices*, as long as you have enough of them. Just use them like Retail licenses (although they are OEM:COA or OEM:NSLP).


    *) Note that this is only true until they are used. Once applied to a machine, they are bound to that machine.
     
  9. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

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    If they all already have established and working win 10 HWIDs, it should be possible that after the clone is put on them, the hwid kicks in, but maybe it needs some extra steps to get them back.
     
  10. Carlos Detweiller

    Carlos Detweiller Emperor of Ice-Cream

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    If they were all activated via HwID before, and the SKU is the same, then they should indeed pick up the previous activation. However, different drivers could make a recovery of the license (via MS account) necessary.
     
  11. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

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    How to do that when it maybe never was linked to a MSA (just speculating)?
     
  12. Carlos Detweiller

    Carlos Detweiller Emperor of Ice-Cream

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    Seeing the generic key means it got a Store license. Individual product keys are now mainly used to kickstart activation and will be converted into a Store license, which uses the generic key as placeholder.
    There are only few exceptions to that rule.