Hi

I'm preparing a customized Windows Image.

I installed Windows 8.1 Pro (using the KMS Client Setup Key since I had to enter a key) and entered Audit Mode.

Which steps do I need to take to ensure that the Windows Image - after deployment - will activate using the key saved in the computers BIOS?

Thank you

The product key in the BIOS is intended to only be used by the OS the OEM puts on the PC. And as such, you do not have the Right to Reimage an OEM pre-installed OS.

The product key in the BIOS is intended to only be used by the OS the OEM puts on the PC. And as such, you do not have the Right to Reimage an OEM pre-installed OS.

Where do you get this from?

AFAIK The device comes with a license bound to the device - I've never heard that you aren't allowed to do a clean install - what I'd like to do.

So to clarify: I've a device with Win8.1 Pro OEM-preinstalled and I want to continue to use Win8.1 Pro (so no other OS type than OEM-preinstalled) - just not with the bloatware installed.

You can do a clean install using the recovery media provided by the OEM. It should use the Product Key in the BIOS. No other edition of Windows (OEM System Builder, VLSC or Retail) will use the key in the BIOS and you will need to purchase/use a separate license for it.

Re-imaging rights are outlined here:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/3/D/4/3D42BDC2-6725-4B29-B75A-A5B04179958B/Reimaging.pdf

• Edited by Tripredacus 14 hours 44 minutes ago fixed link

You can do a clean install using the recovery media provided by the OEM. It should use the Product Key in the BIOS. No other edition of Windows (OEM System Builder, VLSC or Retail) will use the key in the BIOS and you will need to purchase/use a separate license for it.

Re-imaging rights are outlined here:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/3/D/4/3D42BDC2-6725-4B29-B75A-A5B04179958B/Reimaging.pdf

• Edited by Tripredacus Wednesday, August 19, 2015 4:40 PM fixed link
• Proposed as answer by Simon_WuMicrosoft contingent staff 23 hours 6 minutes ago

You can do a clean install using the recovery media provided by the OEM. It should use the Product Key in the BIOS. No other edition of Windows (OEM System Builder, VLSC or Retail) will use the key in the BIOS and you will need to purchase/use a separate license for it.

Re-imaging rights are outlined here:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/3/D/4/3D42BDC2-6725-4B29-B75A-A5B04179958B/Reimaging.pdf

• Edited by Tripredacus Wednesday, August 19, 2015 4:40 PM fixed link
• Proposed as answer by Simon_WuMicrosoft contingent staff Thursday, August 20, 2015 8:20 AM
• Marked as answer by Bruce WoodingModerator 17 hours 7 minutes ago

You can do a clean install using the recovery media provided by the OEM. It should use the Product Key in the BIOS. No other edition of Windows (OEM System Builder, VLSC or Retail) will use the key in the BIOS and you will need to purchase/use a separate license for it.

Re-imaging rights are outlined here:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/3/D/4/3D42BDC2-6725-4B29-B75A-A5B04179958B/Reimaging.pdf

• Edited by Tripredacus Wednesday, August 19, 2015 4:40 PM fixed link
• Proposed as answer by Simon_WuMicrosoft contingent staff Thursday, August 20, 2015 8:20 AM
• Marked as answer by Bruce WoodingModerator Wednesday, August 26, 2015 2:13 PM

You can do a clean install using the recovery media provided by the OEM. It should use the Product Key in the BIOS. No other edition of Windows (OEM System Builder, VLSC or Retail) will use the key in the BIOS and you will need to purchase/use a separate license for it.

Re-imaging rights are outlined here:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/3/D/4/3D42BDC2-6725-4B29-B75A-A5B04179958B/Reimaging.pdf

• Edited by Tripredacus Wednesday, August 19, 2015 4:40 PM fixed link
• Proposed as answer by Simon_WuMicrosoft contingent staff Thursday, August 20, 2015 8:20 AM
• Marked as answer by Bruce WoodingModerator Wednesday, August 26, 2015 2:13 PM

Well the Russian and Chinese editions of this forum even offer the generic key you need to make Windows activate. And it's also in the unattend.xml file of the OEM image. Furthermore the BIOS OEM 3 activation key can be easily read using WMI and then set...

I've wouldn't have posted my findings if the keys weren't posted in TechNet forums. So the policy on this seems rather inconsistent... 

Personally I'll probably go for Volume Licensing now.