Windows Embedded Standard 7 Serial Key and Activation Question

Discussion in 'Windows Embedded' started by jedinight2002, Aug 9, 2011.

  1. jedinight2002

    jedinight2002 MDL Novice

    Jun 8, 2008
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    #1 jedinight2002, Aug 9, 2011
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2011
    We have bought a bunch of HP Thin Clients that come with WES7 installed - but NOT with WES7 SP1 which we want. We also need to cusomise the OS including altering the sysprep unattended file. So ultimately, i want to use the toolkit or image builder wizard (IBW) to create a new image.

    However, even after pulling the serial key from one of the thin clients, when entering that into the image builder wizard or toolkit, it says that its not valid? Can anyone explain why this is?

    That would imply that a general license key is issued by MS for creating the images using one of the 2 tools, but that the final image has a DIFFERENT serial key once the OS is installed onto the device - is that correct?

    1: Can anyone suggest another way to get a serial key from our purchase/licensed devices, to create a new image?
    2: If we were to use a serial key that worked, sourced from the internet, would we be breaking any rules? Could said serial keys be black listed at a later date?

    Background: We are having issues getting MS to give us serial keys for the OS, even though we have bought the through HP and HP are refusing to give us any keys sayind speak to MS - VERY ANNOYING!!! We pay both these companies 5 or 6 figure sums annually...........

    Many thanks.
     
  2. 100

    100 MDL Expert

    May 17, 2011
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  3. 100

    100 MDL Expert

    May 17, 2011
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    That key you pulled from your HP thin client, is it ...-VKJD2 by any chance?
    Just to check if it might be a single key they're using on all of these devices.
     
  4. jedinight2002

    jedinight2002 MDL Novice

    Jun 8, 2008
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    Who is they? HP?

    Are they allowed to do that?

    Are WE allowed to do that?