Re: Roll XP Retail licences to Volume license?

From: adb (me@myself.com)
Date: 02/17/03 

From: "adb" <me@myself.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2003 18:47:03 GMT

They are full copies (not upgrades) of the retail media.

I'd thought of doing something similar...where did you purchase your VL
media...?

"RJ" <ryanjjones@mail.com> wrote in message
news:fb580c69.0302170943.736ceae@posting.google.com...
> I think your problem is:-
>
> You have X FULL retail copies of software, not real "VL" licenses?
> Any hence you need to activate each seat?
>
> I agree this is a PITA.
>
> If they were OEM copies, then with NT4&W2k and I assume XP, you have
> to buy an "upgrade" license to convert them to "full" licenses. Crap
> yes - but thats the way it is. For full copies, I don't think its
> necessary.
>
> My recommendation would be as follows. However, check the legallity
> first - not sure how legal it is....
> 1 - Buy a VL media disk set for XP
> 2 - Buy the minimum number of licenses required for above (1-5?)
> 3 - Build single image, sysprep & ghost to all PCs. Activation not
> requried on VL copies.
> 4 - Write (recoreded delivery) to MS licensing office telling them
> what youve done.
>
> I am a believer in fully licensing all software - and at my co I am
> responsible for this AND comply fully. However, I would say if you
> are happy to argue in court, and to win, then go with it. I have to
> confess, ahem, I have done the above (except #4) with MS Frontpage XP.
> Bought boxed copy, found it requried activation. doh! Then bought
> VL media and 2 licenses, and then created an "SMS" image of the VL
> Frontpage XP image and deployed to 3 PCs, with the 3rd PC being
> licensed by the boxed copy.
>
> End result is the same, and I'll argue (and probably win) in court if
> needed - however I think this is possible with full boxed copies - NOT
> OEM
>
> (awaiting to be shot down here..............)
>
>
>
> "adb" <me@myself.com> wrote in message news:<P5_3a.143043
> $HN5.605783@rwcrnsc51.ops.asp.att.net>...
> > That's right. I was already planning on building a base image, getting
> > everything installed, running sysprep and snapping an image. This will
> > re-run a pared down plug-n-play detection, prompt for a product key
(unless
> > provided in a sysprep.inf). But ya still have to activate.
> >
> > It's the very act of re-activating on 30 nodes that I'm trying to avoid.
> > Yes, I _CAN_ do it manually. But I don't _WANT_ to do it that way.
=^)))
> >
> > I can tape the product keys to the sides of the systems. I can keep
them in
> > a spread***. I can even use a very small pointed metal object and
engrave
> > them above the corresponding ports on the switch.
> >
> > What I'm asking is is has anyone done what I'm trying to do? I know
how to
> > do it manually. I'm sure many of you think "gosh, what a lazy git!"
> > Frankly, that's a-ok. I'm originally from a large IT department where
> > _EVERY_thing was automated because you couldn't visit everyone's
desktop.
> > (all 80,000+ of them...) So I'm biased. I want to do it the right way
even
> > thought I don't have to. (and if I can't find a solution in a short
while,
> > I'll just do it the old fashioned way...grinding my teeth all the while)
> > =^))
> >
> > Ciao! Thanks again all-
> > Aaron
> >
> > "Kent W. England [MVP]" <kwe@mvps.org> wrote in message
> > news:#q78F8X1CHA.360@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> > > 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
> > > An easier way to read newsgroup messages is described in
> > > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
> > > Please respond to newsgroup only so everyone can learn
> > >
> > >
> > > "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
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >