Hey guys I help or at least confirmation that it can't be done... If anyone knows... Anyway, we have Dell PC's and currently when our PC builders build a PC they use one CD with Windows XP sp3 (Soon to be Win 7) on it. At no point do they have to enter an auth code because the code is picked up from the BIOS which Dell has entered onto the system. Is it possible to have the SCCM imaging process read that code or do I have to enter an auth code for every PC I image if I don't have Volume Licensing? So far everything I've tried will not read a code and I have to enter one manually. Thanks R

If you don't have volume licensing, then you aren't allowed to do imaging. This goes for XP as well as 7. This is covered in the Reimaging Rights document at http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/about-licensing/volume-licensing-briefs.aspx.Jason | http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/jsandys | Twitter @JasonSandys

So even though I own the OS via Dell OEM I cannot image that PC... OR deploy an OS to that PC via SCCM? I do own 45 VL OS's so I can use those but I can't image anything beyond the 45... Is that correct? Even though I own the OEM license...

The document spells it out pretty well. You aren't allowed to use OEM copies of the OS for imaging. However, if you have a single VL, then you can use the VL copy to deploy Windows to systems that have an OEM license - remember OEM OS licenses are assigned to a specific system and are non-transferable. Thus, your OEM licensing isn't wasted and you won't have to worry about the problem you initally described because you'll be using your VL. Make sure you set up a KMS also to make activating Win 7 a snap. For XP, VL didn't require activation so nothing to do there.Jason | http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/jsandys | Twitter @JasonSandys

hi Jason, I recently bought 15 PC's from eBay - Dells with Windows XP COA and the 15 PC's came with ONE installation disk. I have the ebay and paypal receipts. Am i covered? Is it legal for me to install Windows XP from that one disk on all 15 PCs? (not imaging, just installing one by one) thank you

Don't know what the legalities of transfering licenses is. I've always *thought* that OEM licenses go with the hardware no matter what. You should call the Microsoft licensing help desk though as it really doesn't matter what I say or think on this one.Jason | http://blog.configmgrftw.com

So Jason, By "if you have a single VL" do you mean, a single user volume license as opposed to 1000 user license? Pardon my lack of knowlege in licensing but I don't handle that here at my company... Thanks R

Read the whitepaper linked above, it contains all of the "official" details.Jason | http://blog.configmgrftw.com