SysPrep deactivates Windows?

[windows7geek]

Hi,

I am using Windows 7 OPK and I'm deploying images to the computers that I sell.

I would like to activate windows before shipping to my customers however, after windows has been activated in Audit mode, sysprep runs to reboot the PC in OOBE mode, but windows is no longer activated and the customer has to activate the machine themelves. (I do not want them to do this!, I just want them to be able to use their PC without faffing about with activation)

My question: How to stop sysprep from deactivating Windows when it runs?



Thanks in advance

 

[Corazon]

I would be really surprised if that was even possible...the whole point of activation is tying the Windows installation to its host computer after all. I don't see how you can (legally) do that ahead of time before the image even ends up on its target system.
Sorry I don't have an answer...but I think sysprep undoing the activation is by design.

 

[windows7geek]

I think you've mis-understood

For instance; The image has been deployed from my server to the target computer (the one that I'm going to sell), boots into audit mode, I activate windows here, then the sysprep reboots the machine into OOBE mode, this is where sysprep deletes the activation key!!!