SysPrep Win 10 Enterprise 2016 LTSB & Retain Activation

This is likely a stupid question, but asking anyway as to get a solid answer I can bring to my manager if need be.

We are working on upgrading machines on a network, that is not routable to the outside world. They are on a 192.xxx network, but cannot see outside of the network they are on (there is no DNS on these machines). They are currently running either POSReady 2007 or Windows 7 depending on the location. We are wanting to upgrade them to Windows 10 Enterprise 2016 LTSB (1607). I'm looking for a way to sysprep them with a profile on them, along with some customization, but as an out of the box where they would generate a new SSID. (In the future we could move to SSCM for managing these devices, but are not currently.)

I've been able to sysprep them using the audit mode to get them setup the way they should be, but each time, they loose their activation. The machines will be imaged on site or their hard drives will be replaced on site and local customization will still take place (naming the machines, changing their IP, and editing or replacing some local files). On site, they won't have access to Microsoft's Activation Servers.The machines we are using come with Windows 10 Enterprise 2016 LTSB license.

Is there any way to retain the activation when running the SysPrep on these machines?

Hi there

surely a machine on the local network could work as a licensing server -- Ms must have some system in place for mass enterprise / volume licensing that doesn't require each individual machine to connect singly to the internet.

I'm sure there must be some type of local Intranet in place as people will have to access corporate wide applications from some type of office servers.

The licensing server would act as an internet gateway in any case so the other machines on the network wouldn't be able to access the net..

I don't even begin to know how Ms licensing works but it would seem absurd if Ms hasn't got some sort of system in place for this type of scenario --they really want to get enterprise users away from W7. Personally I'm sure a word with a "Sales Reptile" from Ms could sort this out.

Cheers
jimbo

jimbo45 said:

Hi there

surely a machine on the local network could work as a licensing server -- Ms must have some system in place for mass enterprise / volume licensing that doesn't require each individual machine to connect singly to the internet.

I'm sure there must be some type of local Intranet in place as people will have to access corporate wide applications from some type of office servers.

The licensing server would act as an internet gateway in any case so the other machines on the network wouldn't be able to access the net..

These are actually POS / Kitchen machines on the internal network in a restaurant environment (1,500+ units/locations with this setup). Let's just call them "internal machine" to make it simple. There is one machine in the office that has external network access. The internal machines are connected to it, but with no DNS, obviously they can't get to the outside world. Sounds like there could be a way to setup a licensing service on that machine potentially to activate the internal machines maybe. Going to look into that idea a bit more. I do know that they are wanting to keep the current network setup for the internal machines. I've just been the lucky one to investigate this upgrade and start working towards what we need to do, to accomplish it.

I'm open to any ideas or suggestions anyone has.

Superfly said:

Have you looked into this? Activation in Disconnected Environments Using Volume Activation Management Tool 2.0

BTW: Which licensing service are you referring to?

I was looking at using VMAT - MAK Proxy activation, but that won't work as it requires AD access which we don't use.

Do you even need to activate them? I know with ATM machines you don't - you just tell your MS rep how many you have.

I don't know how POS works but perhaps the same.