MarkMan
12-15-2007, 08:31 AM
PAINLESS HP OEM CD AND BIOS MOD KIT
===========================================
1. Materials
2. CD Preperation
3. PC Bios Modification
4. VmWare HP modified BIOS * BONUS
5. Notes
6. Thanks!
1 - Materials
--------------
* MM_HPOEMR1.ZIP - This package contains the HP OEMBIOS files and vmware premodded bios image.
http://rapidshare.com/files/102814740/MM_HPOEMR1.ZIP
* Windows XP Pro CD. You can use a Home version but you'll need to modify the SETUPP.INI file and change the pid info yourself. The kit includes a setupp.ini for xp pro.
It dosen't matter if its an OEM CD from a different manufacturer (I started with a Dell XP SP2 OEM CD myself).
* proper tools to modify the DMI of the BIOS of your PC. I have not provided the tools for this in the archive as there is a ton of information on these forums on how to do this, I will however tell you exactly what to change to make this work correctly.
2 - CD Preperation
-------------------
Real easy step here, simply dump all the files in the archive into the i386 folder and burn a CD. The oobeinfo and setupp.ini have already been modified. The matching OEMBIOS files for HP are already compressed and ready to go.
You do not need to edit any files for this to work but feel free to integrate any service packs or updates you want before or after dumping the files into i386. I used nlite and did it both ways with no problems. Overwrite the existing files of course and you should be good.
** The only way I could see you hosing this step up is if you really messed with the 'unattended' install options in nlite or manually modified the winnt.sif file yourself and nuked the cdkey or some other stuff that throws off OEM activation. I customized the hell out of my install so likely you'll be just fine.
Create an ISO or burn the disc. You now should have an HP OEM XP Pro CD.
3. PC Bios Modification
------------------------
!! I have not included tools to modify your DMI, you can get the specific ones for your bios elsewhere on these forums. I will tell you this, if you have phoenix bios then forget about DMICFG or tools of that nature as they do not work (or maybe they do and I'm just an idiot - the jury is out). You'll prob need the Phoenix Bios Editor to get the job done. AMI or Award you can use any number of the numerous DMI config utils floating around and it will probably work fine.
* The OEMBIOS files provided in this archive only need to have 1 DMI string changed and nothing else. Edit your DMI table and change "System Manufacturer Name" to 'Hewlett-Packard' including the single quotes. If you need to copy and paste it then here it is again:
'Hewlett-Packard'
THATS IT. You don't have to change the serial number, the board manufacturer name or anything else. Thats the only string that needs to be modified if you install using the OEMBIOS files I've provided in the archive.
4. VmWare HP modified BIOS * BONUS
-----------------------------------
I've seen a few posts asking about modifying vmware bios image so as a bonus I've included a vmware bios already modified with the proper DMI string change performed. I use VMWare Workstation 6.x but I believe this will work in lower versions.
Unpack the file VMBIOS_HP.ROM into the folder with your vmware config file (*.vmx).
Open [whatever].vmx in notepad and add the following line:
bios440.filename = "VMBIOS_HP.ROM"
Now boot your virtual machine, mount the HP .iso you created with the files in this kit and install Windows XP. After install you can verify its activated by doing the following:
Start > Run > type "oobe/msoobe /a" and hit {enter}
you should get a dialog stating "Windows is already activated"
Now you can install as many XP Virtual machines as you need and not have to worry about activating shiat.
5. Notes and observations
-------------------------
XP OEM activation is a freakin' cake walk as it turns out. Once you sort through all the information on the web it really comes down to some minor modifications and you are as good as gold. At least in my experience which has only been about 6 days at the time of this writing.
One interesting thing I've noticed (you can test this yourself with the vmware modded bios) is that XP checks for the manufacturer DMI at every boot. Maybe everyone knows this and I'm just some n00b moron but I thought it was an interesting discovery myself.
Do this with the vmware modded bios, install the HP OEM copy of XP you made with this kit and then shutdown, edit your .vmx file and remove the bios440.filename string from the top and then restart your VM. You'll get notified to activate in 30 days at some point, or if you do the oobe/msoobe /a command you'll get the exciting "Lets Activate Windows" dialog.
Shutdown again and re-add the bios440 string to the .vmx file and start your Virtual machine. You'll see its activated again. The interesting part about this is that basically it means you can install XP and then edit your BIOS after the fact and Windows will activate without hassle. Nice thing to know if you need to get the OS up quick and mess with the DMI in the bios later on a real PC.
6. Thanks!
-----------
Naturally I wouldn't be sh*t without all the people on these forums. I knew almost NOTHING about how this stuff works a week ago. Because of all the invaluable information on this forum I've modified my laptop bios for Vista and converted 2 XP machines into OEM activated XP installs, plus I've got a nice vmware config for running as many copies of xp as I need.
I like not screwing around with anti-wpa cracks or any of that nonsense anymore.
I thank everyone who has posted information and worked their tails off to figure this stuff out.
A BIG THANKS FROM ME! YOU GUYS KICK MUCH @SS!
Lastly if anyone has any questions about this info I've posted or has any probs with the files in the kit please let me know!
MarkMan
===========================================
1. Materials
2. CD Preperation
3. PC Bios Modification
4. VmWare HP modified BIOS * BONUS
5. Notes
6. Thanks!
1 - Materials
--------------
* MM_HPOEMR1.ZIP - This package contains the HP OEMBIOS files and vmware premodded bios image.
http://rapidshare.com/files/102814740/MM_HPOEMR1.ZIP
* Windows XP Pro CD. You can use a Home version but you'll need to modify the SETUPP.INI file and change the pid info yourself. The kit includes a setupp.ini for xp pro.
It dosen't matter if its an OEM CD from a different manufacturer (I started with a Dell XP SP2 OEM CD myself).
* proper tools to modify the DMI of the BIOS of your PC. I have not provided the tools for this in the archive as there is a ton of information on these forums on how to do this, I will however tell you exactly what to change to make this work correctly.
2 - CD Preperation
-------------------
Real easy step here, simply dump all the files in the archive into the i386 folder and burn a CD. The oobeinfo and setupp.ini have already been modified. The matching OEMBIOS files for HP are already compressed and ready to go.
You do not need to edit any files for this to work but feel free to integrate any service packs or updates you want before or after dumping the files into i386. I used nlite and did it both ways with no problems. Overwrite the existing files of course and you should be good.
** The only way I could see you hosing this step up is if you really messed with the 'unattended' install options in nlite or manually modified the winnt.sif file yourself and nuked the cdkey or some other stuff that throws off OEM activation. I customized the hell out of my install so likely you'll be just fine.
Create an ISO or burn the disc. You now should have an HP OEM XP Pro CD.
3. PC Bios Modification
------------------------
!! I have not included tools to modify your DMI, you can get the specific ones for your bios elsewhere on these forums. I will tell you this, if you have phoenix bios then forget about DMICFG or tools of that nature as they do not work (or maybe they do and I'm just an idiot - the jury is out). You'll prob need the Phoenix Bios Editor to get the job done. AMI or Award you can use any number of the numerous DMI config utils floating around and it will probably work fine.
* The OEMBIOS files provided in this archive only need to have 1 DMI string changed and nothing else. Edit your DMI table and change "System Manufacturer Name" to 'Hewlett-Packard' including the single quotes. If you need to copy and paste it then here it is again:
'Hewlett-Packard'
THATS IT. You don't have to change the serial number, the board manufacturer name or anything else. Thats the only string that needs to be modified if you install using the OEMBIOS files I've provided in the archive.
4. VmWare HP modified BIOS * BONUS
-----------------------------------
I've seen a few posts asking about modifying vmware bios image so as a bonus I've included a vmware bios already modified with the proper DMI string change performed. I use VMWare Workstation 6.x but I believe this will work in lower versions.
Unpack the file VMBIOS_HP.ROM into the folder with your vmware config file (*.vmx).
Open [whatever].vmx in notepad and add the following line:
bios440.filename = "VMBIOS_HP.ROM"
Now boot your virtual machine, mount the HP .iso you created with the files in this kit and install Windows XP. After install you can verify its activated by doing the following:
Start > Run > type "oobe/msoobe /a" and hit {enter}
you should get a dialog stating "Windows is already activated"
Now you can install as many XP Virtual machines as you need and not have to worry about activating shiat.
5. Notes and observations
-------------------------
XP OEM activation is a freakin' cake walk as it turns out. Once you sort through all the information on the web it really comes down to some minor modifications and you are as good as gold. At least in my experience which has only been about 6 days at the time of this writing.
One interesting thing I've noticed (you can test this yourself with the vmware modded bios) is that XP checks for the manufacturer DMI at every boot. Maybe everyone knows this and I'm just some n00b moron but I thought it was an interesting discovery myself.
Do this with the vmware modded bios, install the HP OEM copy of XP you made with this kit and then shutdown, edit your .vmx file and remove the bios440.filename string from the top and then restart your VM. You'll get notified to activate in 30 days at some point, or if you do the oobe/msoobe /a command you'll get the exciting "Lets Activate Windows" dialog.
Shutdown again and re-add the bios440 string to the .vmx file and start your Virtual machine. You'll see its activated again. The interesting part about this is that basically it means you can install XP and then edit your BIOS after the fact and Windows will activate without hassle. Nice thing to know if you need to get the OS up quick and mess with the DMI in the bios later on a real PC.
6. Thanks!
-----------
Naturally I wouldn't be sh*t without all the people on these forums. I knew almost NOTHING about how this stuff works a week ago. Because of all the invaluable information on this forum I've modified my laptop bios for Vista and converted 2 XP machines into OEM activated XP installs, plus I've got a nice vmware config for running as many copies of xp as I need.
I like not screwing around with anti-wpa cracks or any of that nonsense anymore.
I thank everyone who has posted information and worked their tails off to figure this stuff out.
A BIG THANKS FROM ME! YOU GUYS KICK MUCH @SS!
Lastly if anyone has any questions about this info I've posted or has any probs with the files in the kit please let me know!
MarkMan