dkeefe75 Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 I was just wondering if there was an easier way to setup an XP VM without having to enter serial key, activation, etc. I just want to install them fast to play with and destroy. Can you create an ISO after an install and still boot it with Virtual Box? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparda Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 You can create a auto install disk. I forget what Microsoft calls it, it basically gets all the information for the install from a text file. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infiltrator Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 You can create a auto install disk. I forget what Microsoft calls it, it basically gets all the information for the install from a text file. Its called an Answer file, you place in all the information about the host system like settings and including the serial number and during the installation, the whole process is automated for you. The one thing I don't like about is, Product Activation. I tried playing around with the registry settings to prevent it from having to activate Windows but didn't work, it locked me out after the 30 days grace period. I had to go into safe mode and undo the changes I made and was forced to activate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr-Protocol Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 (edited) If you are using VMWare, you can input user accounts and the key and it will do an automated install for you. Regardless of what VM software you use. Get a system up and running and make a snapshot of it and just revert the snapshot after you destroy it. There is also a site to download a copy of an XP VM. Part of the metasploit unleashed class I think. FDCC Version. http://nvd.nist.gov/fdcc/index.cfm from http://www.offensive-security.com/metasploit-unleashed/Windows_XP_Machine_Setup In my opinion the best option is still to make a snapshot of a "Clean" install. Info on VirtualBox Snapshots: http://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch01.html#snapshots Edited January 26, 2011 by Mr-Protocol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infiltrator Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 As Mr-Protocol was saying, just create a snap shot of your VM and you shouldn't have any frustration in the future. I do the same, once I have set up a new VM I immediately make a copy of the Virtual Hard drive or an image of it and place it onto an external hard drive. I've experienced instances where one of my VMs crashed on me and I had to revert to an image, it saved me a lot of hours of pain and frustration. That also brings me to another important factor, always keep a backup of what you do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr-Protocol Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 As Mr-Protocol was saying, just create a snap shot of your VM and you shouldn't have any frustration in the future. I do the same, once I have set up a new VM I immediately make a copy of the Virtual Hard drive or an image of it and place it onto an external hard drive. I've experienced instances where one of my VMs crashed on me and I had to revert to an image, it saved me a lot of hours of pain and frustration. That also brings me to another important factor, always keep a backup of what you do. No need to store it on another drive. It saves to another folder in the VirtualBox virtual hard drive folder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infiltrator Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 No need to store it on another drive. It saves to another folder in the VirtualBox virtual hard drive folder. Yeah I know that, but I like backing up the virtual drive to another drive, just for keeping a safe copy somewhere else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digip Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 I usually make one VM and then just clone it several times to network them together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRGRIM Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Depending on the VM software can't you do this setup (Key + Activation) once, then when happy with it take a snapshot that can be restored when you've finished messing with your VM? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamo Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 Microsoft offers free windows virtual machines for http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyId=21EABB90-958F-4B64-B5F1-73D0A413C8EF&displaylang=en Those will work only for some time ie. 6 - 8 months. You just have to use MS VirtualPC. If you try to convert those to work with other products it needs to be reactivated, hardware has changed. If I remember correctly someone has found a way how to restart that 30 days to activate timer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infiltrator Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 Microsoft offers free windows virtual machines for http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyId=21EABB90-958F-4B64-B5F1-73D0A413C8EF&displaylang=en Those will work only for some time ie. 6 - 8 months. You just have to use MS VirtualPC. If you try to convert those to work with other products it needs to be reactivated, hardware has changed. If I remember correctly someone has found a way how to restart that 30 days to activate timer. I was hacking away in the registry, trying to figure out a way to disable and never have to activate windows again but it failed, after the 30 days period were over it completely locked me out. I then did a search on the internet and found a solution that involved booting your machine into Safe Mode with network support and it did the trick, I was able to activate and use the full potential of my machine again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr-Protocol Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 (edited) I was hacking away in the registry, trying to figure out a way to disable and never have to activate windows again but it failed, after the 30 days period were over it completely locked me out. I then did a search on the internet and found a solution that involved booting your machine into Safe Mode with network support and it did the trick, I was able to activate and use the full potential of my machine again. http://www.hak5.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=18969&view=findpost&p=175217 FDDC version is not a trial of 30 days or a trial at all for that matter. Edited January 29, 2011 by Mr-Protocol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infiltrator Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 http://www.hak5.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=18969&view=findpost&p=175217 FDDC version is not a trial of 30 days or a trial at all for that matter. Where's this link suppose to take me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr-Protocol Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 Where's this link suppose to take me? This same thread but higher where I already posted the information... FDCC Version.http://nvd.nist.gov/fdcc/index.cfm A bit of looking around gets you here. http://nvd.nist.gov/fdcc/download_fdcc.cfm Bottom of page has a 6 part Windows XP VHD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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