Laptop Hell

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Laptop Hell

Welp, I finished all the laptops. It didn't take long. I learned something and I wasn't expecting to learn anything when I posted this thread. I almost didn't make this post. I'm glad I did.

On another note, all the operating systems were activated by a digital license. I was relieved to see that.


Again, thanks for suggesting that I clone the image.

[techsxge]

Re: Laptop Hell

Welp, I finished all the laptops. It didn't take long. I learned something and I wasn't expecting to learn anything when I posted this thread. I almost didn't make this post. I'm glad I did.

On another note, all the operating systems were activated by a digital license. I was relieved to see that.


Again, thanks for suggesting that I clone the image.

Gret work!

I am thinking about posting some stuff i do here too. Its always suprising how you can not think of the most obvious things or sometimes you just dont know of any other way but there are people who have enough experience in the field.


By the way, did you use my commands i shared? I have not copied them from my documents but got it straight out of my head so i want to know if it worked

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Laptop Hell

Gret work!

I am thinking about posting some stuff i do here too. Its always suprising how you can not think of the most obvious things or sometimes you just dont know of any other way but there are people who have enough experience in the field.


By the way, did you use my commands i shared? I have not copied them from my documents but got it straight out of my head so i want to know if it worked

No, I didn't use your commands because I really didn't understand most of it. However, I am interested in learning how and why I need to do this. As we're speaking, I'm watching a video on "generalizing the image". There's no hurry to get the laptops back so today I'm gonna use your process on one of them that I've already done. It's very interesting.

[techsxge]

Re: Laptop Hell

No, I didn't use your commands because I really didn't understand most of it. However, I am interested in learning how and why I need to do this. As we're speaking, I'm watching a video on "generalizing the image". There's no hurry to get the laptops back so today I'm gonna use your process on one of them that I've already done. It's very interesting.

ah well then i can test that out myself too soon. Let me know if you run in any sort of problems while doing it

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Laptop Hell

ah well then i can test that out myself too soon. Let me know if you run in any sort of problems while doing it

That's for turning me on to generalizing the image. I now understand why I need to do this. The way I did it, I was getting an error but everything still worked. It's my understanding that the error is most likely due to the fact that I didn't generalize the image.

If you don't mind, watch this video and tell me what you think. He does it different in that he doesn't use any command. Video below:

[rthonpm]

Re: Laptop Hell

That's why you make a premade image without a license and use sysprep for generalizing the image. You can then license each invidual station

You still need volume license media to be compliant for reimage rights. You can sysprep or OoB any Windows install , however it doesn't mean you're properly licensed to do it just like you can use SQL Server or a Windows Server OS without a CAL.

The only real exception is if you're using OEM provided install media, but your image rights are then only for that OEM equipment.

https://download.microsoft.com/download/3/D/4/3D42BDC2-6725-4B29-B75A-A5B04179958B/Licensing_brief_PLT_Microsoft_Reimaging_Rights.pdf

Reimaging rights for Windows 10 – licensing how-to - Windows Forum - Spiceworks



Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Laptop Hell

This is all new to me but from what I gather, we do need to run Sysprep because Windows 10 and other versions include security identifiers (SIDs) that must be unique from one PC to another. SysPrep generalizes Windows by removing the SIDs and other computer-specific information? Failing to do this would be problematic.

Sound about right? I'm just trying to understand why we're doing this.

[techsxge]

Re: Laptop Hell

That's for turning me on to generalizing the image. I now understand why I need to do this. The way I did it, I was getting an error but everything still worked. It's my understanding that the error is most likely due to the fact that I didn't generalize the image.

If you don't mind, watch this video and tell me what you think. He does it different in that he doesn't use any command. Video below:

well the commands i provided are for getting the image to run without having to plug in a usb thumb drive every time. That way you can connect all your stations to a switch, turn them on, load the image and let the install process go through.
So basically you can install all 30 Laptops at the same time.


What he showed is how you generalize the image with sysprep

[techsxge]

Re: Laptop Hell

You still need volume license media to be compliant for reimage rights. You can sysprep or OoB any Windows install , however it doesn't mean you're properly licensed to do it just like you can use SQL Server or a Windows Server OS without a CAL.

The only real exception is if you're using OEM provided install media, but your image rights are then only for that OEM equipment.

https://download.microsoft.com/download/3/D/4/3D42BDC2-6725-4B29-B75A-A5B04179958B/Licensing_brief_PLT_Microsoft_Reimaging_Rights.pdf

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

lol that is interesting. We get all our licenses from a distributor and not microsoft directly. According to them, there is no license trouble. I am not 100% sure what license we do purchase as all information i get is the activation code however i believe its the "standard" 1 device windows 10 pro.
Is it possibly different in EU?

[techsxge]

Re: Laptop Hell

This is all new to me but from what I gather, we do need to run Sysprep because Windows 10 and other versions include security identifiers (SIDs) that must be unique from one PC to another. SysPrep generalizes Windows by removing the SIDs and other computer-specific information? Failing to do this would be problematic.

Sound about right? I'm just trying to understand why we're doing this.

Yes, this is about right. There are a couple more things that have to happen but you've got the basic idea behind it.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Laptop Hell

well the commands i provided are for getting the image to run without having to plug in a usb thumb drive every time. That way you can connect all your stations to a switch, turn them on, load the image and let the install process go through.
So basically you can install all 30 Laptops at the same time.


What he showed is how you generalize the image with sysprep

Understood. I wanted to learn how and why to generalize an image. That was the purpose of that video.

I have all the laptops at my shop and it really isn't feasible to do all 30 at the same time as I don't have that many unused ports. But I will save your information for future use. I appreciate your help.

[rthonpm]

Re: Laptop Hell

lol that is interesting. We get all our licenses from a distributor and not microsoft directly. According to them, there is no license trouble. I am not 100% sure what license we do purchase as all information i get is the activation code however i believe its the "standard" 1 device windows 10 pro.
Is it possibly different in EU?

Same restrictions, but even licenses sold by a third-party (as mine are) fall under MAK (Pro) or KMS (Enterprise) licensing so you're compliant as long as you have a license amount for every device you're using it on. All you need for volume license rights are five products, one of which has to be Windows so it's not hard to get.

If you're working with a good vendor they will also make sure you're compliant.

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

[tonerhead]

Re: Laptop Hell

Interesting thread. I've cloned and reloaded windows on several machines. After loading, I activate, and just about every time I get "activated through digital license" particularly with Dells. If you didn't get an activation, you can still use a clone, then change product key. But of course you need to pay for the key. Back in the good old days you could buy a windows key online from Microsoft resellers then download the OS. Not sure if they do that anymore. Don't care. Linux is better anyway.

[techsxge]

Re: Laptop Hell

Same restrictions, but even licenses sold by a third-party (as mine are) fall under MAK (Pro) or KMS (Enterprise) licensing so you're compliant as long as you have a license amount for every device you're using it on. All you need for volume license rights are five products, one of which has to be Windows so it's not hard to get.

If you're working with a good vendor they will also make sure you're compliant.

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

Thanks for the information, that is actually realy interesting. I never had to care about this stuff realy because we send our distributor what we want to do and they send use a price for the license we needed. I'll take some time for me to read more into this stuff

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Laptop Hell

I buy my Windows 10 Pro Key from KINGUIN for $20.

Just a moment...