Re: Roll XP Retail licences to Volume license?

From: Kent W. England [MVP] (kwe@mvps.org)
Date: 02/16/03 

From: "Kent W. England [MVP]" <kwe@mvps.org>
Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2003 21:12:55 -0800

The good news is that you will be able to update or manually repair any
of your XP installations with any of the XP CDs. Only when you do a
repair or complete reinstall will you need to use the Product Key. If
all of your setups are the same, you could clone the install and then
change the Product Key before activation. You can also do a fresh
install from whatever CD you are carrying (with its Product Key) and
then change the Product Key before activating.

You can re-activate the installation, if required, without entering the
Product Key.

It would be a very good idea to tape the Product Key on the computer,
like the new COAs require.

(But I think it would make great good sense to do away with the Product
Key for retail licenses. Why not drop the CDs out of airplanes like AOL
does?) 

-- 
Kent W. England, MS MVP for Windows XP
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"adb" <me@myself.com> wrote in message 
news:Aqx3a.115518$iG3.14232@sccrnsc02...
> All-
>
> Thanks for the suggestions (some helpful, some...err, not)
>
> Like it or not, MS software is what the organization is trained on and 
> has
> standardized on, so that's the framework I'm working within.  <insert
> obligitory "think-out-of-the-box-linux-is-better" sarcasm here>  =^)
>
> If we _have_ to manage all the keys that's certianly what we'll do.
> However, given that even with a minimum of 5 orders you can obtain VL 
> media,
> MS obviously understands the need to avoid the activation hassle in 
> anything
> but a very-limited user environment.
>
> I can't sell the software - it's specifically prohibited in the 
> donation
> paperwork.
>
> In response to some other queries, in my experience applying service 
> packs
> requires re-activating the systems.  Certianly not beyond the realm of
> possibility, but if I can avoid that, I will.  In response to another
> statement, generating a corp key with the greyware floating around out 
> there
> won't work - there are some different install files on the corporate
> "volume" media vs. the retail.
>
> MS also has a licencing option for 501c organizations (charity
> organizations) that's similar to the higher ed in pricing and 
> structure.
>
> The long and the short of it is, in this sort of environment the 
> "right"
> solution is to install with VL media.  I'm almost certian I read an 
> account
> of someone who'd been in the same situation and done what I'm trying 
> to do.
> If you have, or know of someone who has, I'd appreciate hearing from 
> you.
>
> (and yes, I _am_ unashamedly looking a gift horse in the mouth!  but 
> I'd
> hate to do all this and then discover "oh, if you'd just have asked 
> _this_
> person...")
>
> Thanks again!
> -Aaron
>
> "David Levine" <d_levine@conknet.com> wrote in message
> news:#xVEa3Q1CHA.2204@TK2MSFTNGP09...
> > "Smallness" is your problem here. Microsoft has a licensing option 
> > for
> > higher ed. called Campus Agreement, which is great for Windows and 
> > Office
> > deployment. I agree with the other posts that you're lucky to have
> received
> > the software and maybe ought to consider the inconvenience as part 
> > of your
> > cost. Could you possibly configure one and clone your systems?
> > "adb" <aaron@dontspam.solv.org> wrote in message
> > news:sae3a.102892$iG3.13520@sccrnsc02...
> > > To all those who've fought this beast (and I know you're out 
> > > there!)
> > Help!!
> > >
> > > I'm preparing to migrate a small (30 node) non profit to Windows 
> > > XP and
> > > Office XP.  We have receieved a donation of 30 WindowsXP Pro and 
> > > Office
> XP
> > > Pro licences to do this.  My sticking point is...they're all 
> > > retail!
> > >
> > > I don't really want to try to keep 60 different activation keys 
> > > (for
> > windows
> > > AND office!) straight.  As we patch and apply service packs, it's 
> > > going
> to
> > > be a nightmare to keep everything running smoothly.  I would 
> > > really,
> > really
> > > like to SOMEhow roll those retail licences into a pair of VL 
> > > media/keys
> to
> > > make this go as smooth as possible.  After getting a "not 
> > > possible" from
> > MS
> > > Customer support, "nope" from CDW (a VL vendor), I finally got MS
> > Licensing
> > > (1-888-352-7140) who said "sure!, call Worldwide fulfillment!
> > > (1-800-248-0655) and they can help!"
> > >
> > > I called worldwide fulfillment and (no surprise - probably talked 
> > > to the
> > > wrong person) they couldn't help.  They directed me to ANOTHER 
> > > volume
> > > licensing # "try presales # for volume licensing 
> > > (1-800-426-9400) - it's
> > the
> > > main volume licensing dept within MS".
> > >
> > > Needless to say this last # gave me a flat "No, it's simply not
> possible."
> > >
> > > Now come on - we have 60 boxes, 60 individual pieces of media, and 
> > > (on
> > > official "microsoft donation letterhead", nonetheless!) 60 nice, 
> > > neat
> > > license keys.  Don't get me wrong - we're very grateful...but 
> > > there has
> > > simply GOT to be "the right person" to talk to to get this done! 
> > > Had we
> > > actually purchased these through a VL vendor, we could have 
> > > purchased as
> > few
> > > as FIVE of each, and gotten VL media and keys!
> > >
> > > I'm almost positive someone else was in this scenerio and somehow 
> > > got
> out
> > of
> > > it.  I'd appreciate a direct e-mail (remove the obvious from my 
> > > return
> > > address) or a reply to these groups (I hope google will pick up 
> > > the
> > thread)
> > >
> > > Many thanks!
> > > -Aaron
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

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