Registering OEM Win 7 Pro with our MAK key

[gtg93]

Hi all,

 

One of my schools that I have recently taken on, have bought 30 new HP PCs.

 

To set these up, I have built an image on one of them, using the HP install that was already on there, and imaged the rest using WDS.

 

 

I want to use the same image on some non-HP older machines we have - obviously what I've not thought about is the fact that it's the OEM license etc on the HP ones so they've registered fine, but the old unbranded machines we have won't register.

 

Is there some legit way I can make the older machines with the HP image on them register with our MAK key? Or is this totally no possible? They're both Windows 7 Pro, so there's no real legal issue that I'm aware of.

 

I know it's a bit of a boo boo from my side, but the school had no records of their licenses when I first took over, and the last company had left me no details anywhere, so as the school wanted the new PCs ASAP, I just set them up using the included licenses.

 

Thanks in advance for any info.

Edited May 5, 2015 by gtg93

[tmcd35]

Don't know if it will work on an OEM copy but the following article discusses applying MAK/KMS keys to Windows 7 Pro: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/ff793406.aspx

 

My gut instinct says you need to build the image with the Volume Licence media from the Volume License Service Centre website. You will need an active Academic Select/Open/EES agreement and at least 1 copy of the Windows Professional/Enterprise Upgrade Licence brought through that agreement to access the media, then the downgrade rights should cover so long as you only install Windows 7 Pro VL.

[LeMarchand]

You can change the MAKs to KMS using a startup script:

 

IF EXIST C:\MAK2KMS.txt GOTO END

ECHO>>C:\MAK2KMS.txt

cd c:\Windows\System32
cscript.exe slmgr.vbs /ipk MHF9N-XY6XB-WVXMC-BTDCT-MKKG7
cscript.exe slmgr.vbs /ato

:END
exit

 

You may need to replace the serial with the generic W7 one (as linked by @tmcd35 - the above was for W8) but I think it should activate older OS versions. Not sure if the check part is necessary. I ran this as a targeted script via GPO and it converted all our MAK installs to KMS.

 

Or use your image to set up a VM which you could then sysprep appropriately to create a new "KMS" image.

 

If I've understood the problem! Worth a try on one of the offending machines anyway.

Edited May 5, 2015 by LeMarchand

[gtg93]

Sorry - I mean MAK key - got a million and one other things going on this morning.

 

What I meant was, the image is built using the OEM Media and the OEM Key, that came pre-installed on the HP Devices.

 

Now, I have sys-prepped the HP image, and put it onto non-HP hardware. Am I able to register it with our MAK Key?

 

Cheers

[LeMarchand]

I've done this (this does not mean that it is the "official" way!) by sysprepping using an unattend.xml and inserting the MAK at the appropriate points.

 

Though if you have the time(!) you may be better off starting a new image in a VM.

[gtg93]

Thanks Guys,

 

Seems I was being a dope earlier, and entering the wrong key.

 

Registers with no issues by just typing the MAK into the box.

 

A new image would be the best option, but only being here a day a week, with the amount of software they "do definitely use" would take ages, and its only on 10 computers. Long term, I think that would be the best option however.

 

Thanks for the info help an info!

Edited May 5, 2015 by gtg93