[windows software] Windows Licenses and Leasing

[Narwhal]

We have 21 leased computers that have to be returned to the leasing company this year. They were originally purchased with windows 8.1 installed and have to be returned with same. We have OVS-EES licensing here at the school and so could install windows 8.1 and use our keys to make the installation genuine but I am not sure whether this is legitimate or not?

 

Are there any licensing experts who can advise?

[DJ-1701]

Not a licensing expert, but if they aren't going to be used in your organisation then they shouldn't be using your license key.

 

Do you know if they came with an OEM or Volume License? As most OEMs put a tag in the BIOS for when you reinstall the OS via an OEM disc rather than you having to enter a key.

[Narwhal]

They came with an OEM License. I have just googled this and it it may be the answer to our problem. Thanks

[computer_expert]

I'm fairly sure that the machine specific OEM key is stored in the BIOS in anything after Windows 7. What happens if you install windows 8.1 using this? Does it automatically activate using the key in the BIOS?

[jmak]

Sunny know if it would impact your liability, but if you've used VAMT you should be able to remove activation and i think that if you remove them from the domain and they can't contact your VAMT server, the status would change to not activated automatically.

[Bedders]

Is this a Windows licensing issue? Surely the leasing company will have told you what condition the machines should be returned in e.g. "These PC's are supplied with Windows 8.1. You may change this operating system with one legally licensed to your organisation. When returning to us at the end of the lease the machines need to have the original operating system and product key entered".

 

I'd query it with the leasing company to ask what they recommend. You can't be their only customer who changes the OS on the machines leased from them.

[NB9457]

I'd have thought they'd wipe them themselves anyway, or I'd hope so to ensure all previous data is deleted as it protects you and them.

[CAWJames]

OVS-ES licenses are all upgrade licences, so your leased computers should have an OEM sticker on them anyway(to be "legal"). I would be checking if they want them returned wiped or OEM 8.1. For security, I would be securely wiping the hard disks, running something that overwrites all sectors, rather than just a format, and then hopefully finding the OEM 8.1 discs that may or may not have come with the systems(some of that age came with recovery partitions or the option to make a set of restore discs, rather than the physical media.) I can't remember if 8.1 had an OEM specific build or not, or if you can use the volume licencing version.

 

Personally depending how many, I would be buying new hard drives for them, for peace of mind and to keep to the letter of the lease.

Edited April 23, 2017 by CAWJames

[KK20]

return them with 8.1 and a KMS client key. Whilst in your possession they are licensed just fine using your EES. When you give them away it is up to that person to license them and no longer your concern. A KMS client key will not be using your personal MAK key and is freely available from MS as a key. The base machine will have an OEM or license sticker (otherwise your own EES is invalid) so the OS will be licensed from your point of view - once it leaves your possession it is no longer your concern if it is licensed or not.

 

Personally I would burn an 8.1 install disc form VLSC and install from scratch formatting along the way (again this is fine in your possession as it will be your own VLSC version of 8.1), it isn't up to you to concern yourself with the leasing company being licensed or not) - leave in first boot OOBE for the next person (stuff installing drivers, audit mode or imaging it etc). Does the contract state 8.1 OEM or just 8.1? If it says (specifically) OEM then you might have an issue locating OEM installation media (i.e. media activated using the BIOS string).

Edited June 12, 2017 by KK20