I am trying to configure a template image for Windows 2008 R2 that is pre-activated. I have read through numerous sources that say to use the Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP\SkipRearm option, however even when using this, it does not seem to work: I will configure my template image, activate windows, then run sysprep (c:\windows\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe /generalize /oobe /shutdown /unattend:c:\Sysprep\sysprep.xml
) however when I deploy this image to a new machine I see the "you have three days to activate windows" message in the system control panel. Note: Keep in mind the license being used is from a SPLA, not a retail license.
As far as I have been lead to believe from numerous sources, the SkipRearm setting should allow us to deploy new machines that are pre-activated. Am I missing something here? Below is my sysprep.xml.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
<servicing></servicing>
<settings pass="windowsPE">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup">
<UserData>
<ProductKey>
<Key>XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX</Key>
</ProductKey>
<AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
<FullName>Company</FullName>
<Organization>Company</Organization>
</UserData>
<EnableFirewall>false</EnableFirewall>
<Restart>Restart</Restart>
<EnableNetwork>true</EnableNetwork>
</component>
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE">
<SetupUILanguage>
<UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
</SetupUILanguage>
<InputLocale>en-US</InputLocale>
<SystemLocale>en-US</SystemLocale>
<UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
<UILanguageFallback>en-US</UILanguageFallback>
<UserLocale>en-US</UserLocale>
</component>
</settings>
<settings pass="specialize">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup">
<ComputerName>*</ComputerName>
<ProductKey>XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX</ProductKey>
<TimeZone>Eastern Standard Time</TimeZone>
<ShowWindowsLive>false</ShowWindowsLive>
<CopyProfile>true</CopyProfile>
<RegisteredOrganization>Company</RegisteredOrganization>
<RegisteredOwner>Company</RegisteredOwner>
</component>
</settings>
<settings pass="generalize">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-OutOfBoxExperience">
<DoNotOpenInitialConfigurationTasksAtLogon>true</DoNotOpenInitialConfigurationTasksAtLogon>
</component>
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-ServerManager-SvrMgrNc">
<DoNotOpenServerManagerAtLogon>true</DoNotOpenServerManagerAtLogon>
</component>
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP">
<SkipRearm>1</SkipRearm>
</component>
</settings>
<settings pass="oobeSystem">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup">
<UserAccounts>
<AdministratorPassword>
<Value>Password123!</Value>
<PlainText>true</PlainText>
</AdministratorPassword>
</UserAccounts>
<Themes>
<DefaultThemesOff>true</DefaultThemesOff>
</Themes>
<TimeZone>Eastern Standard Time</TimeZone>
<FirstLogonCommands>
<SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
<CommandLine>cmd /c rd /S /Q c:\Sysprep</CommandLine>
<Description>Remove Sysprep Dir</Description>
<Order>1</Order>
</SynchronousCommand>
</FirstLogonCommands>
<OOBE>
<HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>
</OOBE>
</component>
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core">
<InputLocale>en-US</InputLocale>
<SystemLocale>en-US</SystemLocale>
<UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
<UILanguageFallback>en-US</UILanguageFallback>
<UserLocale>en-US</UserLocale>
</component>
</settings>
<cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim:e:/tools/waik/windows2008r2/install.wim#Windows Server 2008 R2 SERVERSTANDARD" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>