Windows Home Server Activation Question

Discussion in 'Windows Server' started by hijak, Feb 22, 2010.

  1. hijak

    hijak MDL Novice

    Feb 22, 2010
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    Hi,
    Hopefully someone can help on this, I am trying to activate windows home server, I've seen several loaders but cannot seem to get them to work, can anyone offer any advice on this. I dont want to do a bios mod and would rather a software loader.

    Thanks in advance
     
  2. hijak

    hijak MDL Novice

    Feb 22, 2010
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    I've read a few of the other threads on here about activating WHS, however these seem to go way in depth.
    Ideally I'm after some basic newbie advice :)

    The pc is a custom built machine with an asus motherboard, if thats any help.

    Thanks
     
  3. hijak

    hijak MDL Novice

    Feb 22, 2010
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    Is there no way to activate windows home server?

    Thanks
     
  4. alextheg

    alextheg MDL Expert

    Jan 7, 2009
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    You are new here i see. Be patient and await your replies. Alternatively do some more reading. MDL is not just here to activate os's but rather to educate and share knowledge.
     
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  5. FreeStyler

    FreeStyler MDL Guru

    Jun 23, 2007
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  6. hijak

    hijak MDL Novice

    Feb 22, 2010
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    Thanks for the replies,

    I was reading about the tattoo disc but I read that it does not work with asus motherboards, and the information looks quiet difficult to follow :) Am I right in saying that the tattoo disc involves modifying the bios?

    Thanks
     
  7. FreeStyler

    FreeStyler MDL Guru

    Jun 23, 2007
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    No it modifies/adds a DMI string to a specially for that purpose designed part of a systems bios... no need to worry about bricking your bios

    About the DMI tattoo not beoing able on Asus board, i do not know, new to me....have you tried?
     
  8. hijak

    hijak MDL Novice

    Feb 22, 2010
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    I read about it the other day in that link, the only way to do it on an asus mb is to flash something in the bios.
     
  9. FreeStyler

    FreeStyler MDL Guru

    Jun 23, 2007
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    No,no... not true

    This is only when using the ASUS oembios set on XP, SLP = _ASUS_FLASH the _ASUS_FLASH string need to be in a specific area outside the DMI area
    First of all there is no ASUS set for Windows Server 2003 so you need to pick another.... in this case i suggested to use the HP set as these can be activated easily by adding "hewlett" to the DMI area of the bios
     
  10. hijak

    hijak MDL Novice

    Feb 22, 2010
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    Ahhh so that means that you cant use the tattoo to make it look like its asus and instead need to make it look like something else.

    That makes a bit more sense, I was upto page 80 in the premodded bioses to see if the was one for my motherboard :) guess that search can stop now, didnt really want to flash the bios.

    Is there some sort of straight forward guide for creating the tattoo disc, from the link I can see I need to run the tattoo iso by cd, then option 2 to add the hp oem. Then im confused :)

    However Before I do all this do I need to first install Windows Home Server, or do I install after doing this.

    Thanks for all the help
     
  11. FreeStyler

    FreeStyler MDL Guru

    Jun 23, 2007
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    The order should not care very much... you can install and later add the DMI string

    The tattoo disc works pretty straightforward, just burn it to a CDRW and boot from it, press 2 to add the pre-configured 'hewlett' string
    Reboot, boot from the CDRW again, press 1 to verify the 'hewlett' string exists

    Don't let the DMI thingy fool you, this is not bios modding... this is just adding/changing DMI entries like PC builders do it
     
  12. hijak

    hijak MDL Novice

    Feb 22, 2010
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    The installation disc I use I need to change the 4 files from the Windows Server 2003 R2 oembios files? And once the DMI entries are changed its preactivated using the ZWT key? Is it really that straight forward?

    I'm going to give this a try later this evening, so if the bios battery goes, will the dmi information become corrupt and need to be redone, (not that my bios battery is going, but just wondering :) )
     
  13. hijak

    hijak MDL Novice

    Feb 22, 2010
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    The version I have is with PP1, and PP3 downloads after windows update. Will I still need to replace files?
    Thanks for all the help.
     
  14. FreeStyler

    FreeStyler MDL Guru

    Jun 23, 2007
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    No, guess you are good with PP1 (actually the replacement files are taken from PP1)
     
  15. hijak

    hijak MDL Novice

    Feb 22, 2010
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    I ran that tattoo disc, it installed the HP information, installed WHS with PP1, installation went fine, however its asking for windows to be activated. If I check under resources it shows its HP.

    I used the ZWT key but its still asking for activation.

    Any ideas

    Thanks
     
  16. FreeStyler

    FreeStyler MDL Guru

    Jun 23, 2007
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    Do you have the 4 HP oembios files in place? (eg; oembios.bin, oembios.cat, oembios.dat & oembios.sig)
     
  17. hijak

    hijak MDL Novice

    Feb 22, 2010
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    Got it sorted, used the WHS_HP changer program, worked perfectly. :)
     
  18. hijak

    hijak MDL Novice

    Feb 22, 2010
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    which files are they, are they the ones from the WHS PP1 disc, I installed with that disc. Thanks