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Activate Windows 10 with a Digital License during deployment?

rhoutz 116 Reputation points
2022-03-17T14:34:00.57+00:00

Our IT Quality Control form has a section of required things to check before the system is provided to the end user.
I'm attempting to include as many of those items as I can in the deployment of the OS.

Activate OS, is one that seems like it should be easy especially when using a digital license but everything I'm finding online requires the user to activate the OS by running the troubleshooter.

Can anyone tell me how this can be done in the deployment of the OS?

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit
A collection of Microsoft tools and documentation for automating desktop and server deployment. Previously known as Microsoft Solution Accelerator for Business Desktop Deployment (BDD).
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  1. Simon Ren-MSFT 32,221 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2022-03-21T09:00:41.103+00:00

    Hi,

    Thanks for your information.

    Per my experience, MDT may not be the suitalbe tool if your organization relied on out-of-the-box digital licensing. I haven't found a way to start the troubleshooter in the MDT deployment task sequence yet.

    Similar thread for your reference:
    https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/windows-itpro-docs/issues/10205

    Best regards,
    Simon

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  1. Simon Ren-MSFT 32,221 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2022-03-18T08:13:57.603+00:00

    Hi,

    Thanks for posting in Microsoft MECM Q&A forum.

    When deploying an Windows image in MDT you can add rules in CustomSettings.ini to offer a product key during deployment. We can add the following rules for skipping the product key:
    SkipProductKey=YES
    ProductKey=AAAAA-BBBBB-CCCCC-DDDDD-EEEEE

    You could also take a look at this blog post - while aimed at MDT 2010 the core principles should still apply: https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/deploymentguys/2009/03/30/deploying-windows-7-vl-with-mak-multiple-access-keys-using-mdt-2010/

    Best regards,
    Simon

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  2. rhoutz 116 Reputation points
    2022-03-18T16:09:01.443+00:00

    Hi SimonRen

    We are using the digital license activation method.
    activate-windows-c39005d4-95ee-b91e-b399-2820fda32227

    So it's installing the OS without asking for the product key but then it starts asking to activate Windows after a reboot or two. The only method I found to actually get that message to go away is to run the activation troubleshooter then it will activate. I'd prefer to start the troubleshooter in the deployment task sequence so we don't have to do it after the fact.
    Do you know if that is possible?

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