Windows 7 MAK Issues

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/usr/home

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I know this is more of an OS question, but to be honest, the OS sub-section seems... lacking sometimes.

So we are deploying Windows 7 and are using WDS to do it. I created an image, sysprepped it, and set it up to activate the licenses upon first logon. That all works great, no issues. Everything activates and everything. Problem is in the last couple of days, we've had a few machines come up with a "hardware has changed, this computer has been deactivated" but when we go in and check, it shows up as activated, even with the command line. Any ideas?

From what I understood, you can use KMS keys or MAK keys so we chose to do MAK. Are MAK keys allowed to be on multiple machine configurations? IE: Dell laptops, Dell Desktop, HP Laptops.

Thanks.
 
/usr/home said:
I know this is more of an OS question, but to be honest, the OS sub-section seems... lacking sometimes.

So we are deploying Windows 7 and are using WDS to do it. I created an image, sysprepped it, and set it up to activate the licenses upon first logon. That all works great, no issues. Everything activates and everything. Problem is in the last couple of days, we've had a few machines come up with a "hardware has changed, this computer has been deactivated" but when we go in and check, it shows up as activated, even with the command line. Any ideas?

From what I understood, you can use KMS keys or MAK keys so we chose to do MAK. Are MAK keys allowed to be on multiple machine configurations? IE: Dell laptops, Dell Desktop, HP Laptops.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

i've had the same problem, i just ignore it...

MAKs are for anything < 50 as i understand it... although i've even had mine expanded to 75, so i don't know if there is a hard number... KMS requires some infrastructure.... what's irritating to me is that i can't sysprep OEM activated images.....
 
/usr/home said:
I know this is more of an OS question, but to be honest, the OS sub-section seems... lacking sometimes.

So we are deploying Windows 7 and are using WDS to do it. I created an image, sysprepped it, and set it up to activate the licenses upon first logon. That all works great, no issues. Everything activates and everything. Problem is in the last couple of days, we've had a few machines come up with a "hardware has changed, this computer has been deactivated" but when we go in and check, it shows up as activated, even with the command line. Any ideas?

From what I understood, you can use KMS keys or MAK keys so we chose to do MAK. Are MAK keys allowed to be on multiple machine configurations? IE: Dell laptops, Dell Desktop, HP Laptops.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Are you doing this on dell machines ?
 
We have about 800 computers to reimage to Windows 7. Our MAK key says it allows 5000 activations and if we need more we can call in and get more. From what I've researched, people have been saying it's sometimes easier to just use the MAK keys. Why we aren't using KMS keys? That's not my decision :rolleyes: even though I'm the hardware/imaging guy among other things.

Yes, I'm doing it with all Dell laptops and Desktops. Mainly Optiplex 745,755 and Latitube D530,E6400,E6420 models.

Also, these images were made on a 755 with a Windows 7 Enterprise disk and our MAK key. I sysprepped /oobe /generalized them and captured them and deploy them. Part of the imaging process I have setup is one first post-image logon, it enters in and activates Windows and Office 2010 with MAK keys. Office hasn't been bitching about activation though.
 
/usr/home said:
We have about 800 computers to reimage to Windows 7. Our MAK key says it allows 5000 activations and if we need more we can call in and get more. From what I've researched, people have been saying it's sometimes easier to just use the MAK keys. Why we aren't using KMS keys? That's not my decision :rolleyes: even though I'm the hardware/imaging guy among other things.

Yes, I'm doing it with all Dell laptops and Desktops. Mainly Optiplex 745,755 and Latitube D530,E6400,E6420 models.

Also, these images were made on a 755 with a Windows 7 Enterprise disk and our MAK key. I sysprepped /oobe /generalized them and captured them and deploy them. Part of the imaging process I have setup is one first post-image logon, it enters in and activates Windows and Office 2010 with MAK keys. Office hasn't been bitching about activation though.
Click to expand...

when you created the image did you use a dell windows installation cd ?

Weird, my work gave me a E6400 :) it's sitting beside me on my dock with my secure card in it :)
 
/usr/home said:
No, I used one off the Microsoft Licensing site.
Click to expand...

Ahh ok. But still, windows 7 should see the auth in the bios and not ask about activation at all.

when you buy a new dell computer they come with key's on them to keep ms happy about licensing.

I have NEVER put in a key code at all.

In fact just last week, customer bought a pile of optiplex's ( like yours ) and phoned dell and asked for the os cd's they sent the windows xp one ( no keys on the units at all ) they install the os and don't ask for key.
 
dashpuppy said:
Ahh ok. But still, windows 7 should see the auth in the bios and not ask about activation at all.

when you buy a new dell computer they come with key's on them to keep ms happy about licensing.

I have NEVER put in a key code at all.

In fact just last week, customer bought a pile of optiplex's ( like yours ) and phoned dell and asked for the os cd's they sent the windows xp one ( no keys on the units at all ) they install the os and don't ask for key.
Click to expand...

I believe what you may be referencing here is OEM SLP Activation, which from my experience with HP business machines (w/ OEM licensing) only works 100% of the time if you use the original HP OEM Windows 7 installation disc. I tried many times to use the Microsoft VLSC digital downloads of various copies of Windows 7 and continuously ran into issue after issue with activations, sysprep, etc. I believe you only maintain legal 'reimage rights' when you use their OEM disc, which is hard coded with 1 generic Win7 Pro key for all HP business machines. The game changed with imaging/deployment/oem keys from Windows XP to 7. I learned a lot of information I wish I had never read about in those TOC and EULAs. Deployment/imaging life was much easier when we were blissfully/ignorantly, ignoring the rules and redeploying our systems from the OEMs with our custom image.
 
dashpuppy said:
Ahh ok. But still, windows 7 should see the auth in the bios and not ask about activation at all.

when you buy a new dell computer they come with key's on them to keep ms happy about licensing.

I have NEVER put in a key code at all.

In fact just last week, customer bought a pile of optiplex's ( like yours ) and phoned dell and asked for the os cd's they sent the windows xp one ( no keys on the units at all ) they install the os and don't ask for key.
Click to expand...

yea this isn't right....

you can't create your own images from dell OEM images that come on the CDs... it's against microsoft's TOS....
 
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