Deploy 17 new computers by copying a disk image?

I just purchased 17 Dell OptiPlex units with windows 7 pre-installed (Downgraded windows 8 license) I noticed that there is no product key sticker, so it most likely is embedded in the BIOS. My plan was to use audit mode to completely configure one computer, then run sysprep with generalize, shut down, and image that drive. Then I could deploy that image on the remaining 16 without having to configure all 17 units individually. When I start each machine after imaging the HDD, it should continue the OOBE and then boot to my preconfigured setup.Then I can attach the machine to the domain and move on to the next one. What concerns me is the embedded product key. What will happen if I do this? Will windows simply fill in the product key from the bios when the OOBE is resumed on each machine after the image deploys? Or will the product key from the original machine be used and cause windows to freak out when it doesn't match the one embedded in the bios? Will this Win8 embedded product key even work in windows 7 or was a different key used when the computer is setup at dell? I'm trying to save about 2 weeks of manpower... There has got to be some way to do this...