Hello,

on TechNet (https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc749016%28v=ws.10%29.aspx) the two different Locations in an answer file where to enter a product key are described as follows:

• Use the ProductKey setting in the Microsoft-Windows-Setup component to specify the Windows image to install during Windows Setup. The product key that is specified by this setting is stored on the computer after installation. If you choose to activate Windows, this product key will be used.
• Use the ProductKey setting in Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup to specify a different product key to activate Windows. For example, you can specify one product key to install Windows with the ProductKey in the Microsoft-Windows-Setup component, and then specify a different product key to activate Windows with ProductKey in the Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup component.

From that and from what I've googled (http://blogs.technet.com/b/migreene/archive/2007/02/06/how-to-provide-a-vista-image-to-departments-without-storing-your-mak-in-clear-text.aspx) I gather that the Key I enter into the 'Specialize' pass will be:

1. Stored in the resulting image encrypted (e.g. for use with MAK-Keys)
2. Remaining in the image even after SysPrep'ing the image

What is not entirely clear to me is what the key in the 'Windows PE' pass is for. It says on TechNet that is for "specify[ing] the Windows image to install during Setup" (and apart from that will be used for activation if no other key is entered in the 'Specialize' pass). But what does that mean, exactly? What kind of key should be used there? Is this to choose one of multiple possible versions/images of Windows in a single WIM file? If so, where would this key come from? Do I have to use some kind of generic key here? Additionally, what will happen if I'd specify a key only in pass 4 but not in pass 1?

Sorry, if I'm mixing some things up here, but I haven't been able to find a clear explanation for this anywhere, yet.

Thanks for reading and greetings,

Frank

• Edited by WurstCase 17 hours 21 minutes ago Small correction

The ProductKey in WindowsPE pass is for determining which image index to use. There are 3 methods for determining the appropriate index:
1. Specify the Product key
2. Specify the image number
3. Specify the image name

I personally specify the product key.

For each Windows OS, there are 2 product keys. One is the Install or Default Product Key (WinPE) and the other in Specialize is the Activation Key.

• Marked as answer by WurstCase 11 hours 24 minutes ago

Hi, thanks very much for your reply!

Is it true that the default product key that has to be entered in pass 1 is one of the keys which can be found in the file \sources\product.ini on a Windows Setup disk? If so, why doesn't the TechNet article say so in the first place to avoid confusion? Or is there a list somewhere on Microsoft's Website where those keys can be looked up?

Anyway, thank you for pointing me into the right direction!