I think that reinserting a generic key with slmgr /ipk xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx should do the job Anyway. why clone the system after the activation? Just configure it, then clone, then activate.
That will be next try (configure, capture but WITHOUT activate) Does GenuineTicket.xml work at ANY time or only during the initial setup? Default key, as in VK7JG.... ?
By cloning an activated install you have tied it to a HWID. Identical hardware does not yield the same HWID. I don't think that you can use the same genuine ticket again either.
Thanks for stating OBVIOUS! Of course I am NOT using the same ticket, I am using ticket PER hardware! (Steps 1 & 2 are run on BOTH PC1 & PC2) sebus
What he is attempting is the same as trying to move a system drive from one machine to another. It knows that it does not belong there.