JSI Tip 8067. You are prompted for the product key while the Windows XP Setup program is running, even if your answer file contains a product key?

During mini-setup of a Windows XP SP1 sysprep image or of a Windows XP riprep image, you are prompted for the product key, even though you included an encrypted product key in the Sysprep.inf file.

The problem will occur if:

1. You encrypt the product key in the Sysprep.inf file by using the winnt32.exe /encrypt command with a Windows XP sysprep image or with a Windows XP riprep image.

2. You install the sysprep image or the riprep image.

3. You upgrade the image to SP1, using update.exe.

4. You run the sysprep -reseal command or the Riprep command on the image again.

Before you run the sysprep -reseal command or the riprep command:

1. Run the following setPID.bat file:

@echo offsetlocalset query=reg QUERY "HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersion" /v ProductIDfor /f "Tokens=3" %%a in ('%query%^|findstr /i /c:"ProductID"') do ( set ProductID=%%a)reg ADD "HKLMSYSTEMSetupPID" /v PID /D %ProductID:~0,5%270 /Fendlocal

2. Run the sysprep -reseal command or the Riprep command.

NOTE: If the original image was installed from a slipstream of SP1 this behavior does NOT occur.

NOTE: See the following Microsoft Knowledge Base articles:

Windows XP Service Pack 1 volume license product key encryption.

How to use Sysprep.exe tool to automate successful deployment of Windows XP.

How to use Sysprep with Windows product activation or with volume license media to deploy Windows XP.