Microsoft KB Archive/823876

= You Are Prompted for a Product Key When You Install Windows 2000 by Using the Hewlett-Packard SmartStart Utility =

PSS ID Number: 823876

Article Last Modified on 7/29/2003

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server

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SYMPTOMS
When you install Windows 2000 from Volume License media (either Select media or Open media) by using the Hewlett-Packard SmartStart utility, you may be unexpectedly prompted to provide a Microsoft Product Key.



CAUSE
This behavior occurs if you select an incorrect option on the Operating System Family (from ROM Based Setup Utility) page in the SmartStart Wizard -- specifically, if you select any option except those that are described in the &quot;Resolution&quot; section of this article.

If you select an operating system option that corresponds to a retail version of Windows 2000 Server or Windows 2000 Advanced Server, the automated installation process in SmartStart prompts you to enter a Product Key.



RESOLUTION
When you use SmartStart to install Windows 2000 from Volume License media (either Select media or Open media), you must select either Microsoft Windows 2000 Server (for Microsoft Select Customers only) or Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server (for Microsoft Select Customers only) on the Operating System Family (from ROM Based Setup Utility) page of the SmartStart Wizard. If you do not select either of these options, you are prompted for a Product Key.



MORE INFORMATION
The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

Additional query words: smart start pid product key pre-pidded cd key cd-key

Keywords: kbwinservsetup kbprb KB823876

Technology: kbwin2000AdvServ kbwin2000AdvServSearch kbwin2000Search kbwin2000Serv kbwin2000ServSearch kbWinAdvServSearch

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