[mdt] MDT with retail keys?

[BBrian]

I want to set up MDT for disaster recovery in a small school. There are about ten computers here and the previous admin bought retail Windows 7. I saw a post elsewhere suggesting the retail version files won't work with MDT and I figure the retail keys won't work with the volume licence files.

 

What's the best way to proceed?

[SYNACK]

You can use MDT with Window 7 Pro, retail or not all you do is just not provide a key in the task sequence and handle that bit later by having the user enter it or some other method. Not sure if the home versions will work though, however it is work a shot.

[Arthur]

There are a set of default product keys you can use to automate the installation of Windows. As Synack suggested, your retail product keys could then be entered manually once Windows has been installed.

 

Ultimate        D4F6K-QK3RD-TMVMJ-BBMRX-3MBMV
Professional    HYF8J-CVRMY-CM74G-RPHKF-PW487
Home Premium    RHPQ2-RMFJH-74XYM-BH4JX-XM76F
Home Basic      YGFVB-QTFXQ-3H233-PTWTJ-YRYRV
Starter         7Q28W-FT9PC-CMMYT-WHMY2-89M6G

 

Although the default product key cannot be used to activate Windows, the serial numbers can be used as a mean to create a Windows 7 or Vista unattended setup which automates the deployment of Windows without user input or intervention. The default product key can also used when user decides to deactivate Windows and go back to trial period, where a product key is required, and the default product key will make it runs for 30 days without activation. (Source)

[tarquel]

Good find for those that need it.... im gonna stick that in a txt for some other automation plans. thankies.

[jugglerjoe]

you could have a powershell script at the end of the build to run that goes something like this

 

$ProKey = Read-Host "Please Enter the product key for this version of windows"

slmgr /ipk $ProKey

slmgr /ato