Image Gateway XP OEM, Restore to new Dell Hardware - Activation Issues?
Replacing some Gateway systems loaded with XP OEM that came pre-activated, with new Dell Hardware.
I know this is going to turn into an issue because of the OEM activation, even using Universal Restore. Each of the new Dell units will have their own OEM key.
Is it as simple as using a key changer on the Acronis load after it's restored, then going through activation. Or am I going to need to do a Repair Load?
Anyone have any ideas on the best way to do this?
Are the new Dells running XP also? Are they running the same version (Home, Pro, etc.)?
I don't know if the brand-name OEM keys function differently than the standard Microsoft ones so I can't say if you can activate a Gateway OEM XP installation using a Dell OEM XP key (on the Dell). It may work, if Windows accepts the key.
As far as I know (and from what I've been told by Microsoft), you can't use an OEM key to activate a retail version or a retail key to activate an OEM version.
Old systems are Gateway Windows XP Pro OEM - Pre-Loaded
New systems are Dell Windows XP Pro OEM - Pre-Loaded (key included on system is for this ver)
I don't think it will accept the Dell Key, on the Gateway load, but there has to be a way to change it so it will.
I have KeyUpdateTool_enu.exe from here http://www.paulsxp.com/downloads.html , and it may work as well -
Hi Xendrome,
the issue you are referring to is called SLP - System Locked Preinstallation.
There are 3 things that are needed to make an OEM XP preactivated:
A proper BIOS (that has some special text in it)
A product key that matches the vendor and the XP-version (Home or Pro)
Note: This is NOT the key on the funny - otherwise useless - CoA sticker at the back of your computer. (CoA - Certificate of Authenticity). (Btw, Microsoft usually decide to NOT activate Windows with your perfectly legal key on the CoA.)
4 OEMBIOS Files that match the vendor
Your Dell has a Dell-enabled (or what you may call it) BIOS, of course.
On one of your Dell PCs still with the Dell-system on it, you'll have to extract the OEMBIOS files and the Dell Key.
The OEMBIOS Files are found here:
c:\windows\system32\oembios.bin
c:\windows\system32\oembios.dat
c:\windows\system32\oembios.sig
c:\windows\system32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}\OEMBIOS.CAT
Note: Some items are hidden, so turn on everything in the Explorer settings to display them.
In case I have a typo in the {...}, forgive me... you can't go that much wrong, you'll guess the correct directory.
In order to extract the Dell KEY, you'll have to use a proper tool - e. g. "cd-keyreader.exe" from here http://www.skaro.net/cd-keyreader/index.html
In case you don't like the tool - the proper key is not that a secret. Maybe Google is your friend.
Remember: You'll need the key for Dell, for XP PROFESSIONAL.
Note: This is not some key you steal from anyone else. EVERY Dell with XP Pro on it uses the same one key. So if you google it, you'll find actually the key you have on your own Dells' hard disks.
Now you have all you need, and you can put your Gateway system partition on your Dell. (I'd make an image of the Dell system before. Who ever knows...)
Plug off your network cable, so you can't make a mistake in the next step.
Next time you boot your Dell, Windows is complaining that it's not activated. I guess your Gateway system is over the grace period, and so it will lock you out. However, you should have a button to get into the dialog box for activating. There is a button (or a link) that leads you to dialox box where you can change the product key. Enter the Dell key there, answer everything OK, but do not activate. Shut down.
Remark: You'll never ever need one of those key changers.
Turn it on again and try to get into safe mode (hit F8 like a maniac).
In safe mode copy the Dell-OEMBIOS Files over the Gateway ones. If this doesn't work it's because file attributes prevent you from doing so. Reset r, s, h attributes on the existing ones. I recommend to view the attributes before you delete them, so you can restore them to the Dell files.
This is done best on the command line in the command window. There change to the appropriate directory. Then:
attrib oembios.bin shows the attributes (write them down)
attrib -r -s -h oembios.bin deletes them (don't care about the "a")
attrib +r oembios.bin sets the r (read-only) attribute
Set the attributes as they have been before.
After you have done this shut down and reboot. Done, and we are happy.
If you don't believe this, you can try to force activation ;) on the command line:
c:\windows\system32\oobe\msoobe /a
and it will complain that it is already activated.
Remark 1:
I remember that I have succeded to get into safe mode after grace period. If you don't for one reason or another, you'll have to find a different way to access the hard drive. I use BartPE for situations like those.
Remark 2:
Keep in mind that your Gateway and your Dell have different hardware. The old system can crash on the new hardware. This will happen almost for sure when you switch from an IDE (Parallel ATA) to SATA hard disk. When that happens the activation mechanism locking you out will not make your situation easier.
Good luck!
Robert
I'm having the exact same problem (although i'm restoring a Dell image to an HP). Has anyone tried bob's fix with success?