How to activate Windows XP using an Unattend.txt file (291997)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
This article was previously published under Q291997

SUMMARY

This article describes how to activate Microsoft Windows XP using an unattended installation.

Note Before the automatic activation of Windows XP can occur, you must first establish an Internet connection.

MORE INFORMATION

To activate Windows XP by using an unattended installation, add the following information to the Unattend.txt file:
  • In the Unattended section, type:

    AutoActivate = Yes

  • Under the UserData section, type:

    ProductID = yourProductID

    (Your Product ID is located on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker.)

    Note Every Windows XP retail installation must have a unique Product ID for activation.
If the Internet connection is through a proxy server, specify the proxy settings in the Unattend.txt file:
  • In the Unattended section, type:

    ActivateProxy=Proxy

  • Type your computer's proxy settings in the Proxy section.
For information about how to customize unattended installations, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prbc_cai_khud.asp

REFERENCES

For additional information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

291983 Ports used by Windows Product Activation

155197 Unattended Setup parameters for Unattend.txt File

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:3/15/2005
Keywords:kbMSCCSearch kbPubTypeKC kbenv kbhowto kbsetup KB291997 kbAudITPRO
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