Getting license keys out of RM, anyone done this?

[Duranis]

Not sure if this is the right section but probably as good as any.

 

Has anyone here purchased Microsoft licenses through RM and actually manged to get the activation keys from them?

 

I started here about a year ago now and I've finally got around to sorting out the mess that has been left with the licensing. Technically we are licensed for what we have here but most of it is through RM and so far they will not actually give me the activation keys for any of the products we purchased (various versions of office, Server 2012, windows licenses, etc). They say it is part of their agreement with MS that they don't give out the activation keys. The people I have spoken to at MS say this is rubbish (but they wont give me the keys either, even with proof that we have paid for them).

 

I'm now stuck in a difficult situation where I have no license keys and no physical media to reinstall laptops here as stand alone systems. Worse is if I want to dump RM's CC4 software I will have to rebuy all the windows and office licensing again.

 

Trying to get some response from RM now but was wondering if anyone else had been through the same. I have no idea why my predecessor thought buying over 200 single licenses from RM for office and windows was a good idea instead of going for a volume licensing option and saving a fortune.

[Edu-IT]

Microsoft send the keys directly to the school, and they will be on your schools MVLS portal even if they're single purchases?

[Steve21]

Not always, we had this before (mainly primaries) when purchasing via the SWGfL before, as it's a big agreement they have all the logins and just email the keys out.

 

But you should be able to request a copy of them all that you own (I'd request a VLK key rather than MAK though as they seem to like sending MAK keys out)

 

Steve

[Edu-IT]

Not always, we had this before (mainly primaries) when purchasing via the SWGfL before, as it's a big agreement they have all the logins and just email the keys out.

 

But you should be able to request a copy of them all that you own (I'd request a VLK key rather than MAK though as they seem to like sending MAK keys out)

 

Steve

Oh I see. Whenever we've purchased Microsoft from RM - rare occasion - they've been sent from MS.

[Steve21]

Aye this was a while ago all new ones should be direct to school but there's a few of the large groups that had their own Select agreements, we had NAACE at our old school (back in 05~), SWGfl at some primaries etc, as it was what 250~ minimum to get your own?

 

Much easier now though haha

 

Steve

[Duranis]

Thanks a lot for the info. Still chasing RM and getting bumped around departments but hopefully will get a result.

[Edu-IT]

Can you see them within your RM Account if you login under Licenses?

[Duranis]

I can see what licenses we have purchased with invoice numbers but not the keys themselves. If I click on one of the invoices and then click on the details for the license I get a screen with the below message.

 

This is an RM Select Licence. Due to RM`s agreement with Microsoft we are unable to give the Product Activation Code to the end user under any circumstances. This licence can therefore be used for software that is going to be installed:

- using the Community Connect 3 /4 station build process

- with a Curriculum Choice /RM Integration pack

- performed by an RM Engineer(Please request the Sales Person to cordinate the Installation).

[halbaradkenafin]

If it's Office and Windows licenses then MagicalJellyBean (or whatever the software is called) can find the licenses on a machine. I'm not sure this interacts with KMS though.

[Duranis]

Yeah tried that on a few of the laptops here for office and windows 7. The keys it pulls off though are not accepted via the MS website for office and windows so not sure where they come from or what they are. Office at least seems to be pre-actived so I'm assuming the office software package I have on the CC4 server was supplied via RM at some point.

[PotNoodleTech]

The Microsoft Keys are the schools, even if you purchased through a reseller, RM are just a reseller, like any other.

 

You in an LEA? If so then you're LEA technically owns the licences and are usually happy to point their (often large and very experienced) legal team RM's way. Usually, this results in RM suddenly giving you all Microsoft Keys.

[pete]

Microsoft usually take a dim view of reseller shenanigans, so I'd make a formal complaint and CC in your contact at Microsoft.

[cpjitservices]

Dump RM, go Vanilla. Save a fortune in RM Licensing and manage everything yourself.

 

No CC licenses required... No RM to deal with.

[halbaradkenafin]

Dump RM, go Vanilla. Save a fortune in RM Licensing and manage everything yourself.

 

No CC licenses required... No RM to deal with.

 

And things just work, no messing around with the RM way of dealing with problems.

[AXE]

Yeah tried that on a few of the laptops here for office and windows 7. The keys it pulls off though are not accepted via the MS website for office and windows so not sure where they come from or what they are. Office at least seems to be pre-actived so I'm assuming the office software package I have on the CC4 server was supplied via RM at some point.

If it's an RM CC4 Office Package, then it's probably using RM's MAK key. In which case you can use that key to activate clients using Microsoft's Volume Activation Management Tool.

[GeekyPete]

If you bought RM SELECT licences then they won't release the keys. They sell Select licences supposedly cheaper, but it's they only way they seem to be able to compete. When the product activates it's uses RM's MAK key and Microsoft bill them for the activations. This is why they only apply to CC4 computers that activate automatically and to RM Built Servers where they are built by RM engineers who activate it for you.

 

If you build a vanilla computer you cannot apply the RM Select licence. Yes, you need to buy the licences again.

 

 

If they release the keys then anyone could activate software at RM's Expense. The moral of the story is when you are comparing prices make sure it's like for like. RM do sell regular licences if you really really push them. Thankfully OVS-ES/EES is making all this a moot point anyway. Most schools are choosing a subscription service for their licences which don't have the same limitations.

[Trapper]

There was (could have changed) an odd thing in Birmingham. If a school bought their EES via Link2ICT when you went on the VLSC you'd find your keys had been activated x100 times.

 

It looks like you all join one massive EES subscription and share the keys. Must be a total nightmare to manage. They'd have to request more activations fairly often, and imagine what happens if one of those keys gets into the wild. There'd be no accountability!

 

I've always bought mine via Capita and all the emails come direct from MS and get added to our VLSC account. If RM are just reselling then they shouldn't be with holding anything. If RM are doing what Link2ICT in Birmingham are doing, then you might have a problem.

[Duranis]

Just seen this pop back up so thanks for the further replies.

 

I have pretty much given up trying to get anything out of RM at this point. When I have some free time I might try again going via our LEA. It is a hard thing to fight as I wasn't here when this was all set up and the paper work is scarce so I don't know what was promised before it was purchased.

 

If I remember correctly the guy I spoke to at MS said if they are reselling a MAK key then that is against MS terms and conditions. He also said there is no MS agreement that would stop them from being able to pass on keys (which is what RM tell me) unless they were doing something they shouldn't be.

[GeekyPete]

Found this in the RM KL.

 

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[TD=class: bold]Microsoft Office licensing types

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[TD]There are several types of licensing schemes for Microsoft® software:

 

1. Schools/Campus Agreement (typically a whole school/always up to date, annual licence)
   
2. RM Select MVL Station Licences (special RM Microsoft Volume Licence, eg for use on Connect stations). The Product Key is embedded in the software and is not available to the user.
   
3. Schools own Select Plus (agreement with RM and MS - perpetual licence)
   
4. Microsoft Open Licences (MOL) (minimum of five licences of any type - perpetual)
   
5. Full Boxed Product (academic/student, full licence, includes install CD/DVD)
   

For the terms associated with each of these, please download the Decision Tree flowchart at the end of this article.

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[TD=class: bold]Microsoft Office as pre-installed by RM

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[TD]When configuring systems using the RM Online Configurator, you can ask for Microsoft Office® to be pre-installed. It is important to realise that these options do not include a licence. You will need to ensure you are covered by one of the licences mentioned in the section above.

 

• An RM Select Station Licence can be used for pre-installed Office systems (except Office 2010) or Community Connect® Office packages only.
  Please note: RM cannot disclose the RM Select Product Activation Keys. This means that if you lose the original hard disk contents (e.g. replace the Windows® operating system or reformat the hard disk or uninstall Office), and then later re-install Office (from media you have obtained yourself), you will not be able to activate it as you will have no Product Key. For this reason, this licence is only suitable for establishments where RM provides a pre-installation package which includes the Product Key embedded in the tailor-made package. If you buy RM computers with Office pre-installed and also RM Select Station Licences, you will not be able to activate the software as RM cannot disclose the RM Select Product Key. This licence does not include media and media should not be required as you will not have a Product Key anyway.
  
• A Microsoft Open Licence (MOL) is the recommended licence for systems pre-installed by RM with Microsoft Office. It is for establishments that purchase five or more systems (or already hold some MOL licences) and require the Product Key so that they can re-install Office in the event that the hard disk is re-formatted or has been re-installed. This licence does not include media, which must be purchased separately, if required. For Office 2010 you must have a product key in order to activate the RM pre-installed software.
  
• If you only require a few systems and have not previously purchased any Microsoft Open Licences in the last two years, you will need to buy a Full Boxed Product.
  

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[TD=class: bold]Special note about Microsoft Office 2010 pre-installed on RM systems

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[TD]Like most Microsoft Office products, Microsoft Office 2010 requires a Product Key, however it also needs to be activated via the Internet.

RM pre-installations of Microsoft Office 2010 do not include an embedded Product Key and are not activated when you receive them. When you receive an RM computer pre-installed with Microsoft Office 2010, you will need to enter in your own MOL Product Key and then activate Microsoft Office 2010 using an Internet connection (or a KMS server, if you have one already set up on your network).

If you request Microsoft Office 2010 to be pre-installed by RM you will need to purchase a MOL or other suitable licence as listed above which has a Product Key included.

Office 2010 pre-installed RM systems should not be licensed using an RM Select MVL licence as the RM Select MVL licence does not include a Product Key and Office 2010 requires the end user to manually type in a Product Key in order to activate it.

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