[windows software] Windows Licenses for Desktops

[ReadTheNetwork]

Hey all,

 

I'm hoping someone with a bit more experience with the Microsoft license could help. I'm wondering if we need to purchase additional licenses for computers/laptops which comes with Windows Pro licenses? So for instance if I buy a laptop with Windows 7 Pro, could I wipe it and reimage and activate using KMS? Then would I be able to upgrade it to Windows 10 at later date?

 

I'm renewing the licenses for Microsoft licenses and there are about 100x Edu desktop bundle package. I'm not entirely sure if we need many of these if we have Windows 7 Pro stickers on the machines!?

 

Or would I need to purchase licenses for these?

 

Thanks all

[VeryPC_Andy]

Hi there

 

If you buy laptops with win 7 pro you can reimage with win 7 pro.

 

To upgrade these to 10 pro you will need the edu bundle .

 

If by a laptop that comes with 10 pro you can reimage to 7 as you have downgrade rights and reimage back to 10 pro without the need for the microsoft edu desktop bundle .

 

Unfortunately as the free upgrade path to 10 ended toward the end of july it means if you have a 7pro , 8.1, 8.1pro or win 10 home you will need a ms bundle package or alternate volume licensing agreement to goto 10 pro.

[ReadTheNetwork]

That's great! Thanks for clearing that up for me. Which would be the cheapest option to upgrade to Windows 10? To buy x number of Windows 10 Pro licenses or to get a edu bundle (which I got a cost of for £30ish a year)

[snagrat]

Technically you are not allowed to reimage OEM machines if you do not have a VL subscription in place.

 

That said you mentioned KMS so that suggests you do have one in place currently for the servers.

[CAWJames]

Do you have OVS-ES? ie the "Schools agreement" or "EES" Edited October 11, 2016 by CAWJames

[ReadTheNetwork]

We have an EES agreement.

[CAWJames]

In that case, this is how it works... You buy a desktop bundle for each full time staff member, in our case 115 x. This then entitles you to install any windows and office on any PC, as long as it has an OEM licence on it and the institution owns it. And you can do as many as you like, thousands of device if you so wish!

[ReadTheNetwork]

Would this cover the student desktops as well? And would we have to buy server licenses separately?

[CAWJames]

Server licences are seperate, but cheap. If the student desktops are institution owned, you are covered by the EES. We image hundreds of staff and student PC's with Windows 7 Enterprise, and we will upgrade to 10 Edu when ready.

[ReadTheNetwork]

That's great, really helped my understanding of the Microsoft Licenses. Many thanks

[CAWJames]

Its still a minefield, but a lot easier with EES. some are licenced by FTE(number of staff members) while others are per licence. So server, sql, exchange are per licence, while things like RDS licences, desktop bundles are FTE