Hide License Key

[thecheesehasyou]

alright i was wondering if there is anyway that you can hide or block users from running a keyfinder utility on your work machines so that they can't grab your volume license keys or anyways to make it so that they key becomes masked. would be in xp pro.

thanks,

 

[RyanGrob]

Do volume license's work on any XP Pro CD or just the one Microsoft sends you?

 

[jlbenedict]

Originally posted by: RyanGrob
Do volume license's work on any XP Pro CD or just the one Microsoft sends you?

Volume License install cd.. there are files that are different between the XP Pro disc and the enterprise/volume version..

 

[RyanGrob]

Any volume license CD or the specific one Microsoft sends out to you? If it's bound to your volume license CD, I don't see a reason to hide it (as long as your IT department locks up software). If it's universal and can be used on any volume license CD then ignore me 🙂

 

[ForumMaster]

i doubt it. maybe if you ask microsoft they can help you?

 

[thecheesehasyou]

ok thanks for the help, i'm also not sure if the volume key will work with any volume install media. if not then its no problem because i'll make sure that disc never gets out of my hands! 🙂 thanks for the help, and happy holidays

 

[fyleow]

..

 

[jlbenedict]

Originally posted by: thecheesehasyou
ok thanks for the help, i'm also not sure if the volume key will work with any volume install media. if not then its no problem because i'll make sure that disc never gets out of my hands! 🙂 thanks for the help, and happy holidays

Its fairly easy to get a copy of the actual install media, including the volume license version of XP (I will leave the details out 🙂 ). Keeping your install disc secure isn't a sure means of prevention of use of your volume license key.

 

[InlineFive]

Some anti-malware utilities will pickup Key "Locators" and prevent them from running. I know firsthand that McAfee VirusScan Enterprise does this.

Otherwise if your users run with Limited User Accounts you could set Software Restriction Policies to prevent them from being able to execute their own programs.

 

[WobbleWobble]

The VLK key can be used with any VLK media. So your concerns are valid.

 

[fyleow]

..

 

[jlbenedict]

Are the users on a domain or standalone machines?

Either way, you can probably do what you need to do by Group Policy (gpedit.msc)

Look down in "User Configuration" --> "Administrative Templates" -->"System"

Now look in the right pane. Look for "Don't run specified Windows applications"

Don't Run Specified Windows Applications

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
The VLK key can be used with any VLK media. So your concerns are valid.

And Belarc DOES read the VLK key. I just double-checked with a VLK installation of XP Pro.

 

[WobbleWobble]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
The VLK key can be used with any VLK media. So your concerns are valid.

And Belarc DOES read the VLK key. I just double-checked with a VLK installation of XP Pro.

As does Magic Jelly Bean and Everest.