"Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:OgaqXM93IHA.2336@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> paul814 wrote:
>> I have just setup a brand new DELL PC. It came with Windows XP.
>> Usually when I get a new Dell it never asks me to activate, this one
>> did not either.
>>
>> Anyway, I have configured it with all of my programs, joined it to
>> my domain, etc.
>>
>> I have 15 more brand new DELL PC's same exact PC's they were all
>> bought at the same time. I need to ghost the one I configured onto
>> these other 15. My question is Do I need to use sysprep or can I
>> just create a ghost and load onto these other PC's?
>
> Do you have a Volume licensed copy of Windows XP you are installing
> upon each of these Dell PCs?
>
> If not - then at the very least - for each one you apply the image to-
> you should change the product key to whatever is on the sticker for
> that particular Dell system. Joining to the domain pretty much gets
> around the 'same SID' issue - but I's suggest changing that too - to
> stay consistent.
>

Why not preserve the OEM pre-activation per
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l...chNet.10).aspx
instead? Actually, since all Dell PCs are pre-activated with the same
key anyway, I don't understand why you think the OP should change the
key to the one on the sticker, especially since per that article "In
order to reduce a significant source of piracy, Microsoft has disabled
online activation for COA Keys that are attached to PCs that have been
pre-activated by OEMs."

Regards,

Dave