Ghosting a replica machine, change Product Key?

cormie

Hi,
Just wondering, my friend is interested in buying a laptop which might be the exact same as one I recently set up with all the things like AVG, Firefox and all that. So is it possible, instead of setting hers up the exact same way, to just ghost the first machine and restore the ghost file on her machine and then change the product key to the one supplied with her new laptop?

I take it if this can be done, it definitely can't be done if for example, the original machine had XP Pro, but her new laptop only came with XP Home (so an XP home product key)?

Any feedback appreciated

Sherifu

Yes it should be possible to ghost and then change the product key if her hard drive is the same size or bigger than yours.[afaik this is a requirement when ghosting]
You're right about the pro/home - different keys, then it won't work.

cormie

Cool thanks, any idea how to go about changing the product key once the ghosting is done?

vbboardie

my buddy tried this and it worked fine once XP was on it. XP will find and extra hardware and install it

Sherifu

cormie wrote: »

Cool thanks, any idea how to go about changing the product key once the ghosting is done?

The procedure is like this:

1/ Click the Start button
2/ From the Start Menu click Run
3/ In the Run dialogue box type: regedit
4/ The Windows Registry window will now open
5/ Navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Current Version\WPAEvents
6/ In the Right Hand Pane of the registry window Right Click on the OOBETimer value and select Modify
7/ Change at least one of the characters in the Modify dialogue box to either a number between 0 and 9 or a letter between A and F and close the registry
8/ This operation now Deactivates the current product key rendering it invalid
To Re-Activate Windows
1/ Click the Start button
2/ From the Start menu click Run
3/ In the Run dialogue box type: C:\windows\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a and press OK (If your copy of XP is an upgrade from Windows NT/2000 then substitute the above command for the following: [URL="file:///C:/winnt/system32/oobe/msoobe.exe"]C:\winnt\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe[/URL] /a
4/ The Windows Activation Screen will now launch
5/ Select Yes i want to Telephone a Microsoft customer service representative and then click the Next button
6/ Select Change product key option and type in your new Product key number
7/ Click Update and then close the window
8/ On pressing Update the window may return to the previous screen. If it does so, then simply select the Remind Me later option
9/ Now Reboot your system 10/ When your PC has rebooted you will be asked to Re-Activate your copy of xp through the normal activation channel, i.e via the internet.

cormie

Brilliant, thanks very much

yoyo

MGB will allow you to do it from a menu, change product key...
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

Nick

quaidox

but if the os is already activated on the machine you are ghosting from, then surely the os will already be activated when it is ghosted onto the second machine??

Sqaull20

quaidox wrote: »

but if the os is already activated on the machine you are ghosting from, then surely the os will already be activated when it is ghosted onto the second machine??

Correct...

Would like to see a guide on this, very handy tool

yoyo

Sqaull20 wrote: »

Correct...

Would like to see a guide on this, very handy tool

Activation stores a hardware ID key in the system and checks that the hardware is the same, so ghosting from same pc to same pc windows will remain activated, ghosting to another different spec pc however will require re activation as windows can see from the activation that the hardware differs greatly (even if there simular specced machines serial codes on hardware etc will be different, especially the motherboards...), more than likely windows will lock you out requiring activation immediately, or give you a grace period of 30 days to activate again , changing the product key would be your best bet m8

Nick

SouperComputer

Ghost it as is, then run "ghostwalker". It will reset the SID (SecurityID). Theres more to this than just changing the windows Key, if you want to do it right that is.

On reboot, enter key key and activate as normal, beit online or phone.