ConfigMgr, OSD, and MAK keys

Today’s post falls into the category of things I feel a little guilty about posting, but I will anyway.  I’m not saying anything new here, just trying to spread the knowledge because I keep seeing customers hit the same problem, which has a simple solution.  If you want to skip reading my blog you can go to https://blogs.technet.com/b/configurationmgr/archive/2008/11/12/configmgr-2007-osd-task-sequence-fails-with-unspecified-error-80004005-and-setupact-log-indicates-invalid-product-key.aspx and get the details.

What I see with customers is that they are building a new OSD task sequence and they enter their company product key into the task sequence only to have it fail, usually with a 80004005 error code.  This is occurring because the product key they entered was a a MAK (Multiple Activation Key) and not a standard product key, which ConfigMgr just doesn’t know how to handle.  The solution is easy for newer (vista and higher) OS.  Leave the key blank and add a step to your task sequence, after OS install, to run the following command line and set the product key:

SLMGR.VBS -ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

I had one customer encounter this with older OS, WinXp.  We didn’t actually get into the issue so if that is your situation I can only offer you the advice I offered them (and if it works or not, please let us all know in the comments below) but I have not yet had validated.  Add the key to a custom unattend.txt file and then add that text file to your task sequence, in the “Apply Operating system”.  This might pass it along correctly.