Volume Licensing?

[Jimmy Mac]

Hello -

We have a small network which had been originally deployed on new systems
using Microsoft Volume Licensing and an over the network deployment of an NT
image.

Over the years, while we had the licensing and SA, we moved to 2K and
eventually to XP - However, since those days, we began to deploy new OEM
Dell systems with XP. Now, we have about 50 OEM XP systems and only a couple
of the systems are using our old XP volume licenses.

I have been looking into the purchase of new systems from Dell but without
an OS. My Dell rep is trying to tell me that unless we purchase a system
with at lease XP home on it, we cannot use out VOLP licenses we OWN to
deploy XP Pro???

huh??

Anyone here have any knowlege of volume licensing?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

We have a small network which had been originally deployed on new
systems using Microsoft Volume Licensing and an over the network
deployment of an NT image.

Over the years, while we had the licensing and SA, we moved to 2K
and eventually to XP - However, since those days, we began to
deploy new OEM Dell systems with XP. Now, we have about 50 OEM XP
systems and only a couple of the systems are using our old XP
volume licenses.
I have been looking into the purchase of new systems from Dell but
without an OS. My Dell rep is trying to tell me that unless we
purchase a system with at lease XP home on it, we cannot use out
VOLP licenses we OWN to deploy XP Pro???

huh??

Anyone here have any knowlege of volume licensing?

You must purchase a qualifying OS for each system you plan on deploying the
volume license to... What you are purchasing when you get the Volume
License Agreement (for Windows XP in particular) is the right to upgrade any
qualifying computer from their previous Windows OS to the Windows XP
Professional OS using your volume license agreement/VLK.

An important thing to understand about all Volume License agreements –
including Academic, Government and Public Sector -- is that they never cover
the initial full Windows Client operating system license. Volume License
agreements only cover Windows Client upgrade licenses. Windows upgrades are
designed to upgrade previously acquired qualifying desktop operating system
licenses.

Volume licensing programs require that a licensed operating system already
exists on a computer, the only operating system license offered is the
upgrade. Full licenses are available through retail or computer
manufacturers (preinstalled on a new computer) only.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/pricingvolume.mspx
and/or
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/default.mspx

This is not the same as saying that you have to perform an upgrade on each
desktop computer - you do not - a clean install works fine. You just have
to have a license for a qualifying OS in order to utilize the Windows Volume
License on said machine.

So in your case - if you do not purchase an OS for each of those Dells (a
qualifying OS - one that qualifies for an upgrade to Windows XP
Professional) you are looking to purchase - you are not legitimately able to
install Windows XP Professional on them using your VLK. Technically - you
probably would have no trouble installing the OS - however - you would not
be following the letter of your agreement.

 

[Bob I]

Yes, volume licensing uses the OEM license originally on the PC. The OEM
license is not transferable to the "new" PC.

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/options.mspx

 

[Jimmy Mac]

Thanks for this Shenan,

Well, since we have the original FULL versions of both NT and 2000, I would
expect that since 99% of our systems are Dell OEM, I suppose we're OK.

Basically, we have about 50 OEM systems but in the past, before we started
buying Dell's we had 35 systems built for us by a local vender but bought
boxed product NT OS. Later we purchased the volume licensing to upgrade
those systems to 2000 with SA. Before that SA expired, we confirmed and
received the licensing to upgrade to XP.

The way I look at this is since we bought full versions of NT, upgraded via
VOLP to 2K and then to XP, we essentially still have the 35 XP licenses that
are actually no longer in use. Is this a correct assumption?

All of the older systems have been stripped of OS and recycled.

Thanks again for the reply and the links. I'll be taking a look.

J..