Posts

Showing posts from October, 2010

Sysprep - Windows Server reactivation

For those of you who create Windows server templates (for me, in VMware ESXi 3.5), ever spin up a new VM only to be greeted by the Windows activation process or the 30-day grace period out of time?  It's maddening because one of the options apparently allows online registration, but you can't get to the TCP/IP settings to enable the network to be able to do it!  And I hate trying to call up the activation line, to the point where it's easier to fish out an older or different server image and try again. What worked for me:   c:\sysprep\sysprep -activated –reseal –mini Here are some links and notes for more information: Sysprep Tools and Settings   (description of parameters including command-line and sysprep.inf answer file) How to use the Sysprep tool to automate successful deployment of Windows XP  (more command-line params) How Sysprep Works   (check out the section Resetting Windows Activation; for Vista, 7, Server 2008 read up on  SkipRearm setting which appar