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How to determine what type of Windows Installation CD you have
As you may know there are several types of CD's which you can use when installing MS Windows. Depending on the type of CD you need to have a different kind of installation key or you need to activate your product after installation. In this article i'll try to demistify the different type's.Microsoft Windows can be obtained through five channels. Currently the following channels exist:
- Retail
- Evalution
- Volume Licensing
- OEM
- Checked Build
Retail
Software that is obtained as a retail product typically includes a CD that comes in a shrink-wrapped box. This form of media is purchased from a retail store or other software retailer. It includes a copy of the software that includes all the features the product is supposed to have.
Evaluation
Evaluation software typically is only available as a download. Evaluation software contains a mechanism that counts down to an expiration date after you install the software. After the evaluation copy expires, the operating system restarts every hour with a warning. Or, the operating system does not let you log on. The symptom depends on the expiration timer that was triggered. There are two expiration triggers, and both timers can be triggered at the same time. Evaluation copies of server software have a time limit of 180 days.
Volume licensing programs
Volume licensing programs at Microsoft include the Select Licensing program, the Enterprise Agreement Licensing program, the Open License program, and the Service Provider Licensing Agreement (SPLA) program. Volume licenses are not available for operating systems. Volume licenses are only available for software upgrades.
OEM
An OEM is a vendor that supplies computer hardware. An OEM can provide versions of Windows Server 2003 that are customized to its customers. Software that is obtained through an OEM is typically preinstalled on the computer, but it may also be provided on a CD that accompanies the hardware.
Checked build
Software that is obtained as a checked build contains debug binaries. Debug binaries are different from production binaries because they contain additional information that helps you troubleshoot a server installation. Checked-build software is delivered through development channels like the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN).
Method 1:
Look at the Volume Label:
Enterprise Edition 32-bit retail NRMEFPP_EN
Enterprise Edition 32-bit volume licensing NRMEVOL_EN
Enterprise Edition 32-bit OEM NRMEOEM_EN
Enterprise Edition 32-bit evaluation NRMEEVL_EN
Enterprise Edition 32-bit checked build NRMECHK_EN
Datacenter Edition 32-bit retail NRMDFPP_EN
Datacenter Edition 32-bit OEM NRMDOEM_EN
Standard Edition 32-bit retail NRMSFPP_EN
Standard Edition 32-bit volume licensing NRMSVOL_EN
Standard Edition 32-bit OEM NRMSOEM_EN
Standard Edition 32-bit evaluation NRMSEVL_EN
Web Edition 32-bit retail NRMWFPP_EN
Web Edition 32-bit volume licensing NRMWVOL_EN
Web Edition 32-bit OEM NRMWOEM_EN
Web Edition 32-bit evaluation NRMWEVL_EN
Enterprise Edition 64-bit retail NRMEIFPP_EN
Enterprise Edition 64-bit volume licensing NRMEIVOL_EN
Enterprise Edition 64-bit OEM NRMEIOEM_EN
Enterprise Edition 64-bit evaluation NRMEIEVL_EN
Enterprise Edition 64-bit checked Build NRMEICHK_EN
Datacenter Edition 64-bit retail NRMDIFPP_EN
Datacenter Edition 64-bit OEM NRMDIOEM_EN
Method 2:
On the installation CD in the I386/IA64 folder there is a file called setupp.ini. This file controls how the CD acts:
In the setupp.ini file you can find entry's similar to this:
[Pid]
ExtraData=786F687170637175716954806365EF
Pid=69763000
The last 3 digits of the Pid entry determine the type of installation key you'll eventually need.
270 = Volume licensing
OEM = OEM
000 = Other Channels
More info: MS KB Article 889713
This article also gives an overview of which installations needs product activations and which don't.