Intune And Purchasing Hardware Query

[cheekycharly]

Hi folks, I'm just wondering: with our A3 licensing giving us Enterprise Windows 11 access, does that mean we can save money on hardware and buy cheaper but higher-spec "Home OS" laptops and wipe them with Windows 11 Pro using the default key, and they will login via M$ Entra under school access and get Enterprise licenses?

 

Just a thought, as a lot of decent "Pro OS" laptops are £700+, where you can pickup some decent i5 16GB 512GB SSD Home OS laptops for £400.

 

I hope it makes sense at 11:50 and was a thought that was rattling through my mind while drifting off.

 

Thanks. 😁

[Aprice]

Here's the Microsoft guidance on subscription activation - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/windows-10-subscription-activation

My guess is that the digital licence will be the sticking point, presumably the device will still have the Home licence burned in, unless it's been upgraded to a pro digital licence. I don't think putting a GVLK would do this.

 

Windows Education requirements

• A supported version of Windows Pro Education installed on the devices to be upgraded.
  
• A device with a Windows Pro Education digital license. You can confirm this information in Settings > Update & Security > Activation.
  
• The Education tenant must have an active subscription to Microsoft 365 with a Windows Enterprise license, or a Windows Enterprise or Education subscription.
  
• Devices must be Microsoft Entra joined or Microsoft Entra hybrid joined. Workgroup-joined or Microsoft Entra registered devices aren't supported.
  

Edited January 16, 2024 by Aprice

[cheekycharly]

What are my options for licensing or re-licensing the Home edition laptops then?

 

We have a home edition laptop here that was a hunk of junk with 32GB EMMC so I used the default key to upgrade that to PRO which worked but obviously says not activated and then joined that laptop to Intune and logged in and it became Enterprise and Activated.

 

So because it works does it still mean its a grey area and isnt going by the rules?

 

 

Thanks for any advise and support.

[Aprice]

What are my options for licensing or re-licensing the Home edition laptops then?

 

We have a home edition laptop here that was a hunk of junk with 32GB EMMC so I used the default key to upgrade that to PRO which worked but obviously says not activated and then joined that laptop to Intune and logged in and it became Enterprise and Activated.

 

So because it works does it still mean its a grey area and isnt going by the rules?

 

 

Thanks for any advise and support.

 

Going back to this thread:

https://www.edugeek.net/forums/hardware/233102-spec-primary-pupil-laptops-2.html

 

I gather that the EDU Volume licence includes the 'upgrade' from home to Pro. So Licensing wise I think you're OK.

 

Just thought the digital licence would be a blocker but sounds like it works fine.

[cheekycharly]

No EDU Volume license on the test kit.

 

My test laptop was an old Acer that was in this office when I started here and had Windows 10 Home installed. Like I say i just went into settings on it pasted in the default Windows 10 Pro key and rebooted. It then told me it could activate which is what i expected so I went to "Access work or School" and joined the laptop to the Entra Domain and again rebooted. This time I was able to login as one of the 365 users and once logged in a quick check showed the laptop as Windows 10 Enterprise - Activated.

 

I get that it works just not sure how legit it is having Home as the base OS and using the Windows Pro default key as a stepping stone.

[cheekycharly]

I'm wondering if a Mod can move this to the licensing thread as I think the question is more suited there.

[Steve21]

I get that it works just not sure how legit it is having Home as the base OS and using the Windows Pro default key as a stepping stone.

 

That's totally fine as long as you're licensed in terms of the overall A3s etc - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/education/windows/change-home-to-edu#overview

 

Customers with qualifying subscriptions can upgrade student-owned and institution-owned devices from Windows Home to Windows Education, which is designed for both the classroom and remote learning.

 

IT admins can upgrade student devices using a multiple activation key (MAK) manually or through Mobile Device Management (MDM).

 

Alternatively, IT admins can set up a portal through Kivuto OnTheHub where students can request a Windows Pro Education product key. The table below provides the recommended method depending on the scenario.

 

 

Both the manual pro-key option via VLSC or auto via InTune policies (not the auto upgrade referred to above) would work with home devices

 

Steve

[cheekycharly]

Cheers Steve, I've ordered 10 of the Home Edition laptops and I will manually try it when they land.

 

W11 Home - W11 Pro (Via Generic Key VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T) - Join Entra Domain (School or Work) - W11 Enterprise (Via A3 Licensing)

[cheekycharly]

Think this is the bit i was missing...

 

Upgrade Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Education - Partner Center | Microsoft Learn

 

Looks like i need to get my CSP to request some Microsoft Education Keys for us. That then gives me an upgrade path without using a generic online key.