[Windows Software] Microsoft EES Annual Agreement : how is software activated?

[kennysarmy]

Hi,

We have never used a Microsoft Annual Agreement before and have always purchased software outright whenever required ie. Windows XP Pro and Office 2003.

We are now trialling Windows 7 and Office 2010 and are looking at putting in a Microsoft EES Annual Agreement to ensure we are all legal etc and to make the licencing part of a running cost budget rather than a capitcal expend.

Will I still need to activate my win7 and office 2010 software using an on-site KMS server?

And do I need to do anything "special" to the PC's before I re-image them that won't bugger up the licence/activation?

Many thanks.

[localzuk]

The activation is the same whether you go for a yearly agreement or, say, select.

Its exactly the same software, just with different license terms on the paperwork.

[teejay]

You activate the same as your Select Agreement licences, so using an internal KMS server. You will need to change the licence keys to the ones issued through the EES agreement to stay 100% within licence terms.

[marksams]

Under EES you have the option of MAK or KMS activation for some products e.g. Windows 7 and Office 2010. Microsoft recommend viewing your licenses via ‘Relationship Summary’ rather than ‘Downloads & Keys’ in the Volume Licensing Service Centre if you have trouble seeing your license keys.

You might wish to use KMS instead of MAK (which requires a service installed on one of your servers) if your PCs do not have internet access or you wish to activate a large number of licenses automatically across your network, but otherwise use of the MAK is recommended. The MAK key is entered on a per-device basis and will activate using a Microsoft service via the internet.