Transferring WinXP Licenses

[themanfromict]

Just about to order some replacement computers for the classrooms.

 

The existing systems are going to the tip as part of the county council's recycling program. Would I be able to use the WinXP licences from these on the new computers?

 

Neil

[kmount]

Depends, are they retail or OEM, or Volume Licensed or whatnot?

[RichCowell]

I asked my supplier at Ramesys about this a while ago, and was told that so long as the license sticker is moved to the new PC, then the license is valid and can be transferred.

[tmcd35]

The only licenses that are transferable are Full Boxed Product (either full or upgrade) retail licenses. Both OEM and Volume Licenses live and die with the machine they are first assigned to, thus cannot be transfered.

[danrhodes]

The only licenses that are transferable are Full Boxed Product (either full or upgrade) retail licenses.

 

Thats what I though, I always had it in my head that the licence died with the machine?

Edited June 10, 2010 by danrhodes

[ajs]

I've never heard that it applies to Volume Licenses though?

[soveryapt]

I though that so long as you don't exceed the number of licenses you haev purchased, that you can use a volume license on any machine belonging to the origanisation that has purchased it.

 

Certainly with the KMS Licensing you can "unauthorize" a computers license to use it again on a new machine.

 

One thing that must be remembered is that volume licenses tend to be for upgrades only, so you need a valid underlying OS in place in the first instance to be able to make use of it.

 

It is certainly true though that OEM licenses are non-transferable.

[danrhodes]

I've never heard that it applies to Volume Licenses though?

 

No I dont think it applies to VLK's just OEM, I forgot to remove the VLK part from tmcd35's post!

[jamesreedersmith]

A volume license is like a cal - so long as you have enough for the number of machines you have it currently installed on you are covered - if you format one and reinstall on a new machine you are fine.

[K.C.Leblanc]

I asked my supplier at Ramesys about this a while ago, and was told that so long as the license sticker is moved to the new PC, then the license is valid and can be transferred.

 

Then they are mistaken.

[DMcCoy]

http://download.microsoft.com/download/B/7/1/B717C67F-981E-48F8-8A9B-274354DC8FFB/OS_License_Requirements-VL_Brief-Mar_08.docx

 

Volume Licensing Upgrade Licenses

The Windows Upgrade License is “tied” to the device to which it is first assigned and may not be reassigned. However, Volume Licensing customers are eligible to reassign Software Assurance coverage to an appropriately licensed replacement device. The replacement device must be licensed to run the latest version of the desktop PC operating system available as of the date of the reassignment, and the customer must remove from the original device any desktop PC operating system upgrades that were installed under the transferred Software Assurance coverage. Customers may not otherwise separate Software Assurance coverage from the underlying license for which it is ordered.

[danrhodes]

Thanks to DMcCoy for clearing this up.

 

D

[DMcCoy]

Lots of good things here:

 

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/about-licensing/volume-licensing-briefs.aspx

[GrumbleDook]

Just about to order some replacement computers for the classrooms.

 

The existing systems are going to the tip as part of the county council's recycling program. Would I be able to use the WinXP licences from these on the new computers?

 

Neil

 

How old are the machines as there may be some local schools who would be happy to take them from you, possibly without the licence too.