Microsoft has made the OPK (OEM Preinstallation Kit) more available and legally accessible to people building their own PCs, or those just getting into building PCs.
They have now included the OPK as a download on the OEM System Builder's website. Registration is required in the Microsoft Partner Program to gain access to it, but registration at the free level will suffice. (That is all I have, and I was able to download the OPK .ISO file just fine.) You can register with the Microsoft OEM System building website as a system builder. You do not need to give a tax ID or anything like that. To clear up any legal issues, read this:

Quoted from OEM System Builder Packaging, Licensing, and COA Changes Frequently Asked Questions:Thus, if you are building your own PC from the ground up, you are a system builder/assembler. Which means you can legally purchase a Windows XP OEM license (now without the requirement that the vendor needs to ship you some old internal PC part). This also satisfies the legal requirements to be able to use the OPK.

Also, MS now offers Windows XP OEM licenses in 1-Packs. Before you had to purchase a 3-pack of OEM licenses which, if purchased through official channels, included the OPK. That and the 10-pack were the only methods I was aware of to obtain the OPK. Now MS will lets you download the OPK. Here's the link:
Download the Windows OEM Preinstallation Kit - NEW

You will be prompted for a Passport user ID and password. If you register at the link below, that should take care of you.
Registering for the OEM System Builder Web Site

NOTE: One cannot legally redistribute the OPK, without being an authorized distributor. So let me be upfront in saying, "no I will not send you a copy". If you register at the link above, you can obtain your own copy.

EDIT 2005-10-06
EDIT 2005-10-06

This post has been edited by DarkShadows: Oct 6 2005, 09:42 PM

Thanks but I already have gotten mine.

Thanks for this info. I can now choose english build instead of my localized french OPK i already have.

thanks for the info

it asks for my MCP-id, i dont have 1

It's been awhile since I registered there. But make sure you create a .net passport (or use your existing one if you have one).

If you follow the link the I have in the post above you'll see:

Click the "Register in the Partner Program today!" link

Which takes you to:

Welcome to the Microsoft Partner Program
Not a member yet Already a member
Explore partner member benefits
Become a member now <---Look for this link

If you are not signed in with your ..net passport, you will be prompted to do so, or create one at this step.

Afterward you go here:

https://partners.microsoft.com/partnerprogram/Welcome.aspx

Click on "Click Here to begin the enrollment process. "

Give them your information. I simply put "My Name DBA"" which means Doing Business As in the company blank. Make sure you select the Registered level..

The next screen prompts you to digitally sign the agreement.

I'm not going to go farther into the registration process, because I am already registered.

Eventually you are a registered partner. I remember selecting system builder along the way--that is important. But I never had to give a MCP-Id (that I'm aware of anyway). Once you are registered, you simply sign into the site with .Net passport.

There is also a great page at the site with all of the hot fixes in there as well as the silent install switches for each one!

Sorry, but it still asks for it

Unless you are a partner, i dont think you can register on the oem site

I had to use my partner credentials to download. Thanks for the link and info tho.

knew i forgot to do download something a couple weeks ago...

GRRRRR, they suck.
Had to trip around for half an hour, registering & completing compulsory surveys & whatnot.
Plus the added bother that non-IE browsers dont work fine at first go, & so on....



Let not the next person have to suffer the same again!
Here's the direct link to the WindowsXP SP2 (and lower), OPK - http://oem.microsoft.com/downloads/worldwi..._x86fre_opk.zip (205 MB).

Its the OPK that has WinPE 1.2 as well, so enjoy!

prathapml, thank you very much had the same bother got fed up with all the hastle, so i gave up

@prathapml- Thanks for posting the direct link. I didn't post it originally because every time I went to the download page, I was prompted for my Passport. I'm surprised the download link isn't password protected. My first post would've had the complete registration process instructions, except that I registered several months ago (before I the OPK download was available), and I never wrote down the registration steps. I agree their registration process is kludgey!

Well, at least we got the word out and folks can get there from here a lot easier now!

why don't they have a link to pe2005 opk. I'm dying to use a flash drive and as I understand it that version (I think PE1.6) has the ability to boot from a flash drive. I'm also a registered partner and can hardly wait for the subscription release that is supposed to have that OPK, due out this month.

It isn't like them to have a download like OPK that is not password protected.

Only thks!°!

Yeah I'll admit it's a hassle. Hell I don't even use the .NET/W2K3 PE and I know my current one is better. 4051 PE is a bit out of the now, but it's reliable for what I do with it, and I like it. There aren't a lot of people that can actually say that and mean it. Personally I'm thinking of going back to this crappy PE because of compatibility...Which shouldn't even be an issue.

Many thanks indeed Darkshadows and prathapml!

I have the older PE so am very much looking forward to the new ver and studying the OPK.

Ahhh, thanx...!

Same here, went there but gave up..