Windows 8.1 master image troubles.

[Spork Schivago]

Hello,

I have a Windows 8.1 DVD installation disc. It successfully installs Windows 8.1 and automatically pulls the OEM key from the BIOS.

I use the disc, I sysprep the machine, I fully update it, I capture the image. I make a bootable thumb drive and copy the contents of the DVD over to the thumb drive. I delete the install.esd file and I replace it with my install.swm and install2.swm file. Because this is a UEFI BIOS with Secure Boot enabled, I make the thumb drive FAT32. NTFS doesn't work. Because the install.swm file is over 4GB, I split it. I boot up the PC, I successfully boot off the thumb drive, I click Install Windows....Bam! It asks for a freaking product key.

I manually extract the product key from the BIOS and type it in. I get an error message, "We couldn't verify the product key. Please check your installation media."

So, basically, when I replace the install.esd file with my install.swm and install2.swm files, the installation program will no longer accept an OEM product key. Any idea what the heck I'm doing wrong and how to fix this? It's a real pain doing all those updates manually on an 8 machine.

[diif]

Re: Windows 8.1 master image troubles.

I'd guess it's how you're syspreping maybe. Or secure boot doing something. Can't you disable it, then turn it back on after ?

[Spork Schivago]

Re: Windows 8.1 master image troubles.

Yes, but it doesn't seem to change anything. I tested that. If it was a secure boot issue, I'd imagine I wouldn't even be getting to the 8.1 installation screen. From my experience, problems with secure boot generally prevent you from booting completely, but don't actually affect the programs that are running.

I agree with the sysprep stuff. In order to update, I had to use some PowerShell module that I had to install, because there was no Administrator account. An Administrator account is needed for running updates in 8 I guess. I'm going to watch a video on creating these images for 8.1:

https://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Tec...WIN-B346#fbid=

I already know I've made some mistakes. I started the video and it explains why I should be using a virtual machine to create the images. Also, I'd like to purchase a little newer of a PC (probably used) and make it a dedicated technician PC. I'm hoping someone here on BadCaps might have something nice they'd be willing to sell. Even if it's just a nice motherboard and I buy the case. I'll probably ask in the buy / sell / trade subforum. Thanks.

[Spork Schivago]

Re: Windows 8.1 master image troubles.

Diif, how do you sysprep these 8.1 machines? During install, when it asked for a username, I entered Audit Mode. Maybe it'd be best to do it some other way. Create the account, login, update, run sysprep, remove the account, etc.

[Spork Schivago]

Re: Windows 8.1 master image troubles.

I have a big problem now. I went to the Microsoft technet support forums and told them about my problems. They said I'm breaking the law doing it the way I'm trying to do it and the only thing I'm legally allowed to do is contact the manufacturer and request a recovery disc for the Windows 8 / 8.1 machines and reinstall using their disks.

First off, that would put me out of business. It'd take forever to get the discs. I'm used to fixing 2 - 3 PCs a day, not no freaking PC every 4 weeks or so. I'd have soooo many discs and I'd have to pay for each copy. Is it even legal for companies to send me discs for PCs I don't own? I'd think if anything, that'd be against the law.

Also, the ISO for the Windows 8.1 media, I got the download link from the partner.support.services.microsoft.com text chat support. If I was breaking the law by creating a master image and reference images for deployment, wouldn't they refuse to give me the download link for an OEM ISO?

Does anyone know if I'm really breaking the law by trying to create master / reference images for Windows 8 / 8.1 machines and deploying them on customers PCs? With Windows 7, this was the way I was told to do it. I used the Microsoft forums to learn about it and at my college, this is how they now teach people to install 7. The last thing I want to do is break the law, but if I really have to order recovery media for every PC I fix that comes with 8 / 8.1, I'm going to be in big trouble.

[kaboom]

Re: Windows 8.1 master image troubles.

I have a big problem now. I went to the Microsoft technet support forums and told them about my problems. They said I'm breaking the law doing it the way I'm trying to do it and the only thing I'm legally allowed to do is contact the manufacturer and request a recovery disc for the Windows 8 / 8.1 machines and reinstall using their disks.

Didn't I allude to something about mindlessly going back to the beast that continues to bite your hand? And is it surprising at all, the response you got from those braindead M$ zombies over there? Did you really expect anything different?!


M$ can fuck off. You're providing a service to get someone back up and running, with the equivalent of what they originally had. It's not microslime's goddamn business as to how you do this; did it occur to you that if someone grovels before M$, they will get ripped off?

And fearmongered, besides, with that pseudo-legal shit?


But just be a good boy, right, and keep trying to "negotiate" with those terrorists. No, not by bombing people, but thru organized extortion, via lies, fearmongering, and GROOMED emotional responses. May as well let 'em charge that credit card, since you're already on the fone and it's "convenient," right? How they only wish it were illegal for anyone to run anything what they dictated.

Try to be a real American, and do right by who it is you're working for, with that system.

Now if I believe their dirty little lie, the OEM of that system "pre-negotiated" the deal with M$ as to what discs/images were made available. If someone decides, after the fact, to use them to restore said system, fuck-you-$oft can't do anything but pound sand.

Especially when they continue, for the last 9 years, to leverage this against people to further their criminal ways.

M$ really needs to be broken up under the RICO act. They're RICO poster children- 1000 times worse than the mafia was. "La Costra Nostra" only broke your knees and "used power tools" after you didn't pay up after "asking a favor." M$, OTOH, wants to force their way into peoples' business, who'd otherwise have been of no interest. Like some drug gang bothering the local grocery store, despite the two never having "done business" together. And I don't mean "front" grocery stores, like the KC one in Casino.


But that doesn't matter: keep tru$ting M$, and see where it gets you. Not like it was a big secret- you had advance warning since March 2007, but were blinded by ego, indecisiveness and excuses (ohh, they're exaggerating, those terrible people).

Enjoy the financial impetus- you gave M$ your answer (please, rip me off more) by "playing along." And you did this without even saying a single word.


I'll continue my harsh criticism against this demonstrable lack of critical thinking as long as these sob stories continue. After the many examples of others sharing their own M$ stories (ex- on other forums), you remain so ignorant as to think you're special in M$'s eyes. Shoulda stayed off the drugs back when; they made your mind into mush.

Don't wanna get bit by the M$ alligator? Then stay outta the river!

Hope you enjoy the ride- remember, you asked for it. That is, unless you use "golden screwdriver" treatment to "peak n tune" windows into "being more cooperative." Many such "utes" exist- in the form of software of course, not actual screwdrivers.

[Spork Schivago]

Re: Windows 8.1 master image troubles.

Kaboom,

I, personally, like Microsoft. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have any money. Because of their OS, people bring me their PCs when they're not working and pay me money to fix it. Again, I don't actually have any Microsoft OSes installed on my physical machines as the main OS. I do have it running in Virtual Machines in order to learn it.

The people on the technet forums are NOT Microsoft. They're users, like you and me, who try to help other users.

The faster I can reinstall a Microsoft operating system, the more money I can make. If it takes me 3 days to fully update a Windows 8 machine versus 30 minutes to install one from scratch that's fully updated, I can make a heck of a lot more money doing the 30 minutes thing.

I love Linux, I would never switch. But in all my years of fixing PCs, never once has someone brought me a broken Linux machine. I've received a couple MacOS machines in my whole life, but all the other ones were Microsoft OSes. There's been some tablets running Android, but almost always, just replacing power cords or broken screens.

I need to keep my business legal. If I'm breaking the law, I _could_ be sued. If I was using pirated software on a customer's PC and they turned me in, I could even possibly face jail time.

If Microsoft actually made a great OS, I probably wouldn't have so many computers brought to me. Most of the time, the majority of PCs I fix have viruses on them. I backup the data if the user asks, then format, reinstall. The second most common problem seems to actually be cracked laptop screens. Sometimes people accidently step on them or punch them. I'd say once in awhile I also get computers where the hard drive died. Some of the lease common problems are liquid spilled on a keyboard, lightning striking and frying stuff, dead power supplies, bad capacitors on the motherboards (always desktops, never laptops) and dead hard drives.

I had asked on Badcaps if anyone knew how to create master / reference images for 8.1 machines. I didn't really get any responses. So I went over to technet, where people are used to setting up images and deploying them over the network, etc. Badcaps was my first choice.

I used to hate Windows 8.1, but do you know how much business I got from people paying me to downgrade them to Windows 7? Now that 10 came out, it seems people would rather have the free upgrade to 10 than pay for the downgrade to 7. Linux just doesn't seem to interest them. I have suggested it to a couple customers. The main thing seems to be the lack of certain video games. One user did switch, we became friends. He still runs Linux but does a duel boot to play some video games that are only on the Microsoft console.

Although I'd love to say fuck you Microsoft, I'll install Windows anyway I want, I still need to follow the law. Especially now, seeing how there's this freaking ad going around, "Hey, get paid to turn someone in who's pirating software!"