HP OEM

[rukkus]

Hi,

I work in a relatively small company consisting of 250 people. The IT dept consists of 3 people. I am new here and I previously came from a company that had images for their windows. Now this company doesn't have images for their PC's/Laptops. Its always 1 certain model for PC and 1 certain model for Laptop. So when we configure a desktop that comes right of the box it takes like 2-3 hrs to setup with the "For Distribution only with a new HP PC" cd's. Uninstall certain stuff and install company apps. I tried using the win7 key on the side of the desktop but it doesn't auth. How can I create a image for this desktop when I can't even use the cd key provided by HP which is located on the side of the PC? This company will also not buy a Microsoft volume license.

Thanks,

 

[Darician]

In regard to the individual key, I would contact HP to get that issue sorted out. As far as the image, you'd probably have to create it based off of one then change the product key on each one individually as there's no volume key to deal with. Alternatively, you could setup an image with Windows Deployment Services and that should let you enter the key at install each time from what I understand and have tested.

 

[pparks1]

If you are installing with the HP OS cd's that came with the computer, you should be able to use the COA stickers on the side of the computer. My suggestion would have been to install and get it ready. Then sysprep it, get the image and then deploy it either with the backup application or with something like MDT2010. (Microsoft Development Toolkit...which is free.)

With regards to the Microsoft volume license....that can be a very expensive proposal as you have to sign a 3 year contract, you have to agree to pay for software assurance, and you have to have a minimum of 250 desktops. Honestly, it's a quarter of a million dollars annually...at the minimum to get something like this going. Because at the minimum of 250 desktops, you are in the minimum discount tier.

 

[rukkus]

So tried to change the product key on the win 7 after doing the OEM CD installation.

"Error - 0xc004f050 The software licensing service reported that the product key is invalid"

The key that I am trying to use is the COA sticker... Should I contact HP?

Also, on the COA sticker it says "Windows 7 Pro OA" what is the OA?

tried searching for the meaning of OA no exact answers.

 

[pparks1]

Well, COA stands for Certificate Of Authenticity. But Windows 7 Pro Of Authenticity doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.

Edit: I did find a couple of web posts talking about similar errors using OEM keys
http://social.answers.microsoft.com...a2fa6d2c#7ab06a11-3e85-4baf-a910-87b91273f3b2

This second thread is the most interesting in my opinion. It states that this is expected and when you reinstall your OEM software, you have to go through the process of activating by phone. Only when you use the "restore DVD" or restore from the hard drive partition does the system automatically install and activate itself using an appropriate key to do so.
http://social.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/genuinevista/thread/1e59eb06-f889-4006-b8c4-114dd773203c/

 

[rukkus]

Well, COA stands for Certificate Of Authenticity. But Windows 7 Pro Of Authenticity doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.

Edit: I did find a couple of web posts talking about similar errors using OEM keys
Product Key Invalid for Activation, Failure Code: 0xC004F050

This second thread is the most interesting in my opinion. It states that this is expected and when you reinstall your OEM software, you have to go through the process of activating by phone. Only when you use the "restore DVD" or restore from the hard drive partition does the system automatically install and activate itself using an appropriate key to do so.
Dell pre-installed vista invalid?

So I should call HP and tell them I want to use the product key on the sticker and they would have to "activate" the key on their system so I can use it? That's what I understood from the 2nd thread. Cause they said enter the COA then call for activation, I tried to enter the COA and got an error.

Also, I believe the OA stands for "Only Academic"

 

[pparks1]

No, you aren't calling HP in this case, your call would be to Microsoft to explain to them that you are starting over with the OEM software and reinstalled it clean and they are going to have to authorize you to do so per key. This is a real pain for what you are trying to accomplish.

 

[rukkus]

No, you aren't calling HP in this case, your call would be to Microsoft to explain to them that you are starting over with the OEM software and reinstalled it clean and they are going to have to authorize you to do so per key. This is a real pain for what you are trying to accomplish.

If that's what I have to do, that's what I gotta do. It's better than 3-4hr setup per PC. One phone call 20 mins just to activate a key > 3-4hr setup.

Thanks for the help pparks1 much appreciated.

 

[pparks1]

If that's what I have to do, that's what I gotta do. It's better than 3-4hr setup per PC. One phone call 20 mins just to activate a key > 3-4hr setup.

Thanks for the help pparks1 much appreciated.

Right, but each computer has a different key. Therefore, you have to go through this phone call each time you activate a new computer. It's likely faster than cleaning everything up, but certainly still a pain.

 

[gregrocker]

Using a factory OEM key to clean reinstall with Win7 installer should require only a robocall during activation to exchange numbers which parse the exact key number from the batch key on sticker.

Have done this dozens of times and never had to talk with a person. If any hardware changes they may ask you how many machines it is on and if you tell the computer "one" it activates.

However why you are even having to deal with this when using an HP OEM disk is the issue. It should auto-activate.

 

[alphanumeric]

Google SLP, System Locked Profile, and you may be able to make some sense out of whats happening. I've seen this sort of problem on Dells, Acers, etc. The SLP install media has a different product code from the one on the sticker. It also auto activates if the BIOS has the correct ID string in it. If you try to use a regular OEM or Retail DVD and use the code on the sticker, 9 times out of 10 it rejects it. It was never activated with that code in the first place. It can be a real pain in the but if you are doing a lot of them.

 

[Bill2]

I am somewhat mystified. If your machines are win7 ready HP ones, then installing/reinstalling from the HP "For distribution with a new PC only" disks that come with those machines should autoactivate. No intervention is required from the user.

And why exactly are you "changing" keys?

 

[pparks1]

I am somewhat mystified. If your machines are win7 ready HP ones, then installing/reinstalling from the HP "For distribution with a new PC only" disks that come with those machines should autoactivate. No intervention is required from the user.

That has been my experience with my Dell's and the reinstallation cd.

 

[gregrocker]

Agree with Bill: install should auto-activate with HP OEM installation disk. You may be changing out a key that's already activated?

If not, then this issue is with HP as to why their OEM disk won't' auto-activate as you need it to do with this assembly-line process.