Reusing licenses

[mrstrong]

Hi,

 

I recently started work in a primary school to help with ict.

We have xp pro machines on a domain and one 2003 file server.

All this was set up by a small local supplier some time ago.

 

A lot of our pcs and server are very old and in need of replacment.

Assuming we are allready fully licensed can I just reuse our licenses.

 

E.g. we have an old PC with XP pro, office 2000 and lots of other software

and the PC logs on to the domain.

 

Can I just buy a new PC with e.g. windows 7 home premium on,

take an image (e.g. ghost) of the old PC and copy it to the new one

and then send the old PC off for recycling?

 

Could I save more money by buying a PC with no OS installed and then

putting the old PC image straight on ?

 

How about the server. Assuming I can find the server install discs

can I buy a new server, install windows server 2003 using our current

license details (again assuming I can find them!) then recycycle the old

server ?

 

Thanks in advance.

[mbird]

Mrstrong,

 

You will need to check what licence you have (if any). Microsoft's schools licences are usually upgrade only, so you have to have an OS on the computer before you can put another OS on it.

But you should be able to use windows 7 and downgrade to XP.

mbird

[mbird]

But i would suggest you find your licence agreement first or even consider upgrading the hardware and OS.

[sted]

ghosting one pc tpe to another with xp is in my experience a bad idea youre lucky if it will boot at all with hal issues and if the pc is old you are taking 3 years worth of abuse and forwarding it for say another 3 years

[dhicks]

Assuming we are allready fully licensed can I just reuse our licenses.

 

If your old PCs have cases that fit generic parts, you could just get new motherboard/processor/RAM/harddrive kits and fit those in the old case, keeping any Windows OEM license key on the outside. Check your new motherboards will actually work with Windows XP, though. Do check that you actually need to buy new PCs - it's surpising how much a wipe-and-reinstall of Windows XP, maybe coupled with a RAM upgrade, can speed up a machine.

 

Can I just buy a new PC with e.g. windows 7 home premium on, take an image (e.g. ghost) of the old PC and copy it to the new one and then send the old PC off for recycling?

 

No, the old image is unlikly to work on new hardware.

 

Assuming I can find the server install discs can I buy a new server, install windows server 2003 using our current

license details (again assuming I can find them!) then recycycle the old server ?

 

Yep, should be fine. I'd buy a new server capable of running Windows VMs, use your Server 2003 license to create a new domain controller / print server VM and stick Linux on your old server to use as a backup/file server.

 

--

David Hicks

[HarryMonkey]

If your old PCs have cases that fit generic parts, you could just get new motherboard/processor/RAM/harddrive kits and fit those in the old case, keeping any Windows OEM license key on the outside. Check your new motherboards will actually work with Windows XP, though. Do check that you actually need to buy new PCs - it's surpising how much a wipe-and-reinstall of Windows XP, maybe coupled with a RAM upgrade, can speed up a machine.

 

Except the OEM licence is for the PC (ie CPU/board/HDD) not the case. Simply putting a new pc inside the original case doesn't entitle you to transfer an OEM to it. When the PC dies, the licence dies with it.

 

EDIT: That's mother board not HDD etc.

 

"An upgrade of the motherboard is considered to result in a new personal computer to which Microsoft® OEM operating system software cannot be transferred from another computer. If the motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect, then a new computer has been created and the license of new operating system software is required." ... Microsoft

Edited November 10, 2010 by HarryMonkey

[Brpilot99]

 

" If the motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect, then a new computer has been created and the license of new operating system software is required." ... Microsoft

 

Amazing how many motherboards can fail at the same time !!! :-))

[localzuk]

Amazing how many motherboards can fail at the same time !!! :-))

 

Good luck explaining that one to an auditor or to FAST etc...

[witch]

I wouldnt advise trying to use an old image on a new machine - all the drivers etc will be different and, in all probability, it will fail catastrophically.

The machines you have are probably OEM which means that the OS licence lives and dies with the machine. Office etc is a different matter - you can reuse these but you may have to buy a media disc (about £30)

If the machines are anything like those in my primary, I think that replacing them will be a lot quicker and not much more costly (in time, if not money) than trying to upgrade.

The server you can just redo as you say.

What you will need to do is get a new machine, and install all the software you need on it - programs, whiteboard software, anything you can think of, and then create an image to be uploaded to your server. Then you can use it for other machines.

How old is the server? If you are getting a new one it might be an idea to look at an upgrade to Server 2008?

[dhicks]

The machines you have are probably OEM which means that the OS licence lives and dies with the machine.

 

Good point, I'd forgotten that - I'm used to just fixing broken machines.

 

If the machines are anything like those in my primary, I think that replacing them will be a lot quicker and not much more costly (in time, if not money) than trying to upgrade.

 

It's probably worth trying first, though - stick 1GB of RAM in one of the older machines, reinstall Windows XP, make sure it's all up-to-date, see how fast it runs then.

 

What you will need to do is get a new machine, and install all the software you need on it - programs, whiteboard software, anything you can think of, and then create an image to be uploaded to your server. Then you can use it for other machines.

 

I'd create a basic image for each machine and install software via FOG, it tends to give more flexibility it what can be installed where and for later upgrades.

 

it might be an idea to look at an upgrade to Server 2008?

 

Don't forget the CALs, though - you'll need to buy new Server 2008 CALs to replace the current Server 2003 ones (if they exist). At £3 or whatever they are at educational pricing, for a small primary you're probably only going to need to spend a couple of hundred pounds.

 

--

David Hicks

[witch]

I'd forgotten about CALS - oops...

 

As for FOG - Im not sure the OP has the technical skills for this - I know you lot think it is easy but I dont think it is for someone who isnt that experienced. I tend to create an image and install extra stuff via group policy further down the line.

It might be an idea to put more RAM in and XP but frankly, I bet some of the machines are pretty old (766 -anyone?) and so I doubt that there is much mileage in trying to speed them up.

It also depends on the tech ability of the OP

[mrstrong]

Hi,

 

thanks for the replies. Lots to think about. I think I'll need to do some

googling to understand all of the answers!

 

I know the head wants new kit as most of the PCs are over 3 years old.

probably looking at getting a mixture of new PCs and laptops.

 

Not sure if the old PCs have windows stickers on. Will check

I do remember seeing a file on the server with a Volume license key in it.

 

Out of interest how do you all go about putting in new kit?

 

E.g. if you do it all yourself where do you buy your hardware and licenses from,

 

Or do you get an external third party to do some/all of it for you ?

 

Could you recommend anyone I could use, e.g. just to get a few quotes. I'm beginning

to think that trying to do this all by myself may be a step too far.

 

 

Thanks

[laserblazer]

Why not talk to the ICT Techs at your local High School. I got some help installing 70 odd machines.

[glennda]

Yeah most secondary school techs are normal quite happy to talk to you - especially the ones around here - what part of england are you from?

[speckytecky]

I could easily be wrong - usually am! but I'm thinking Home Premium of Windows 7 isn't going to be of any use as it won't allow your kit to join a domain? Key Features of Windows 7

 

Hi,

 

... e.g. windows 7 home premium on,

... .

[witch]

As far as I know, no home premium allows a domain

[oxide54]

Yep, should be fine. I'd buy a new server capable of running Windows VMs, use your Server 2003 license to create a new domain controller / print server VM and stick Linux on your old server to use as a backup/file server.--

David Hicks

 

Would it really be wise to use the old server as a file server?? Disk failures etc?

[dhicks]

Would it really be wise to use the old server as a file server?? Disk failures etc?

 

I'd assumed an existing server would already have harddrives in some kind of RAID configuration anyway, but if not then you'd better budget for some new harddrives to go in the old server. Linux manages software RAID just fine, and the performance should be sufficient for a backup server.

 

--

David Hicks

[witch]

I'd assumed an existing server would already have harddrives in some kind of RAID configuration anyway, but if not then you'd better budget for some new harddrives to go in the old server. Linux manages software RAID just fine, and the performance should be sufficient for a backup server.

 

--

David Hicks

 

Not necessarily. My server in my junior school has no RAIDED drives of any kind. Down here at the junior end, it is surprising what we havent got!

[Poco]

Hi,

 

Just to sum up the licensing part for you.

I work selling this stuff so thought this input might be useful.

 

1. The machines you have are more than likely OEM so as said above the license dies with the main core components of the PC

2. Home premium does not allow enrolling onto a domain. you will need pro, ultimate or enterprise. although i dont think enterprise would be applicable to your circumstances.

3. the server license is similar but depends how it was sold to you. for instance when i quote for anyone on servers i try not to use OEM's and stick with licensing. that way you can move it about. but if someone put on an OEM or a RoK (reseller option kit) then it dies with the machine.

 

As for downgrading i have a eShot from our dell account manager with ways to downgrade if it is of any use? inbox me and i will send along unless i can attach it here. i haven't had a chance to check that if i can attach it here yet.

 

Hope that helps

 

Paul