Windows updates, activation & Imaging

[joe3k]

Now with wga requiring windows activation before being able to download windows updates, what way is best for updating windows in imaging situations?

For example: Say I want to create an XP image that contains all the windows updates, which will save me a stack of time, but that also allows me to activate windows whilst on a customers site with their valid license key, to keep everyone right. However without being able to download the updates before activation, this kinda rules out being able to create an image with the updates already applied.

Would I have to activate with my own valid windows key, pull down all the windows updates, create my image and then use a keychanger program on the customers site, to correct windows to the customers legal windows key? Would this work and keep things legitimate?

Is there any other methods?

 

[Jory]

You should be able to use any working key and then tell windows you want to activate later. Once your in Windows use Offline Updater to install all the updates. It blacklists the WGA update so they should all install without activating. Once installed on the customers system you can change their key, and replace the wpa files. The problem is you'll have to reinstall when the grace period ends.

 

[angry_geek]

There is an option in the windows activation that allows you to change the key.

 

[joe3k]

@angrygeek, yes I know that. I have installed windows with my key and planned on simply imaging, then using the option in the windows activation to change the key whilst on the customers site.

The problem comes in when I try to install windows updates before making the image (obviously I want these included rather than waiting hours whilst onsite)... however you can't install the windows updates without first activating windows. Unfortunately once you activate windows, the option to change the key through activation is then gone. See what I mean... catch 22.

@Jory, Offline updater sounds like a potential option, if I could get it to work. I tried it a good while back but it didn't work for me, maybe I should try again. Why would you have to reinstall when the grace period ends? Surely if you get the updates on via offline updater you can then activate windows with the customers key and all should be legit....no?

 

[angry_geek]

Gotcha. I don't run into this too much. I usually just let the updater do it's work over night on the bench.

 

[Jory]

@Jory, Offline updater sounds like a potential option, if I could get it to work. I tried it a good while back but it didn't work for me, maybe I should try again. Why would you have to reinstall when the grace period ends? Surely if you get the updates on via offline updater you can then activate windows with the customers key and all should be legit....no?

I assumed you'd be doing it in a VM and updating it every month after patch Tuesday. If it's not already activated the grace period will run out within one patch cycle unless you have an extra copy that will activate.

 

[joe3k]

Ahh I get you now. Yes good point Jory and that is indeed going to be an inconvenience. I guess a workout (allbeit not a great one) would be to carry the most recent offline updates around on a pen drive and install onsite... not quite what I wanted.

It's the best/only option I see thus far though.
If I activate with my own key, pull updates down and then take image. Then whilst onsite use a keychanger program... will this work or will the pc be using my activation key with the customers product key and detect a conflict or whatever? This will allow me to continue pulling updates down with my image and simply use keychanger onsite once imaged to customers hdd.

Can anyone else contribute any other idea as to how to do it?

 

[Jory]

If you swap the key and replace their wpa files it should already show up as activated, or at least let you activate again without problems.

 

[noah]

Unless I am missing something, why not slipstream SP3 and recent patches into the windows install using nLite?

 

[Jory]

That's what I do, but people say it's faster to restore an image of a clean install using something like Acronis True Image.

 

[joe3k]

Actually Noah, you make a good point. This would probably work. However it would mean creating a new cd and re-installing windows, every time you wanted to create an updated image... not ideal.

@Jory, I will look into the swap key and replace wpa files method you suggest. You could be onto something.

 

[acs]

Jory said
"Once installed on the customers system you can change their key, and replace the wpa files. The problem is you'll have to reinstall when the grace period ends."


I have installed a fresh version of (say) XPH with a working key. The PC has not been on the internet and I have used CT offline update to bring it up date with patches. The original PC was showing 30 days left to activate.
I have made an acronis image of this and used "universal restore" to install on another PC. I have then used key changer to change to the customers key.

This second PC is still showing 28 days to activate. If I go ahead and reactivate using the customers key this are you saying it will fail after the grace period?

 

[noah]

Actually Noah, you make a good point. This would probably work. However it would mean creating a new cd and re-installing windows, every time you wanted to create an updated image... not ideal.

@Jory, I will look into the swap key and replace wpa files method you suggest. You could be onto something.

Do you have applications in addition to windows on this image? What method are you using now? Sorry, Im just trying to get my head around what you are doing.

 

[joe3k]

I've found the solution guys:
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=35655

Is anyone on here registered as a system builder? If so could they kindly download and private message the tool to me?

i.e. can you sign in here:
http://login.live.com/login.srf?wa=...m.microsoft.com/Default.aspx&lc=1033&id=25126

 

[Jory]

Jory said
"Once installed on the customers system you can change their key, and replace the wpa files. The problem is you'll have to reinstall when the grace period ends."


I have installed a fresh version of (say) XPH with a working key. The PC has not been on the internet and I have used CT offline update to bring it up date with patches. The original PC was showing 30 days left to activate.
I have made an acronis image of this and used "universal restore" to install on another PC. I have then used key changer to change to the customers key.

This second PC is still showing 28 days to activate. If I go ahead and reactivate using the customers key this are you saying it will fail after the grace period?

I didn't word that very well, but what I was saying is you'll only have 30 days of being able to do updates in the VM unless you activate it with your own key. Having to format/reinstall so you can update the VM every 30 days kind of ruins the whole point of doing it in the first place. It might be worth figuring out how it keeps track time, and manipulating it. It shouldn't be that hard since it's in a VM that is only ran once a month.

You won't have any problems once you swap keys and wpa files on the customers machine. It's going to be the exact same information it was pre-activated with, or activated via phone last time. Basically there is no way that's going to fail assuming the original activation was legit.

I've found the solution guys:
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=35655

Is anyone on here registered as a system builder? If so could they kindly download and private message the tool to me?

i.e. can you sign in here:
http://login.live.com/login.srf?wa=...m.microsoft.com/Default.aspx&lc=1033&id=25126

That link is over 2 years old. I doubt that information is still good.

 

[ChrisQC]

Hi, Have downloaded the System Bypass tool for you but can't find a way to send attachments over the PM system.

 

[acs]

Thanks Jory,
I have a test PC which i can load the universal images onto in about 10 mins so will just offline update every few months when I use them to re-image a customers pc and then renew my acronis image. All images are before activation so should have no problem changing customers key and then activating. Take that Image with me for on site re-images.

 

[joe3k]

@acs... does offline update download all the windows updates? I'll have to give it another whirl. I thought I read a while back it puts on a good few, but not them all? Also can it apply them via usb, instead of cd? Time for some experimentation with offline updates methinks. If it does work, I can live with a reimage and updates via offline updates.

Although if the System Bypass tool works, it'd be much handier... although then again, i'd have to sysprep in factory mode with it (extra steps to figure out), which Acronis doesn't need. Then again the sysprep would remove the sid issue and be convienient for renaming etc. I have the server version of Acronis UR and it doesn't appear to have the option to create a new sid afterall. Newsid with a computername rename, should be fine though and handier than sysprep (although once a sysprep image is created it would be handier... arrrggg, decision, decisions lol).

 

[acs]

I have only used the update from a dvd. I download the updates and save all as ISos on a single DVD. Then use power iso to open and run the updates.
The update has a few options. I have checked online after the offline update and do not notmally need any more updates.

 

[Jory]

I'm pretty sure you could run it from the HD in some way. I use KB files it downloads to slipstream disks so they're all there. I typically just load the iso in VirtualCD and run it that way though.