XP Pro licensing questions...

**gospeed.racer** · 09-02-2004, 08:53 PM

Ok....I have installed XP on several computers and it seems to be aweful redundant to buy the same cd and booklets and such every time. Here is my question. Anyone know how the Corperate versions work (i know all about the pirated stuff, i need legit stuff) as far as how many you have to purchase at a time? If I could buy it once and just pay for licensing each time, I would avoid all the packaging and hopefully same some money. When you buy the license, are you just buying the serial number and type it in and there you go, or do you need to contact M$ and talk to them each time? Also, I have quite a few machines that used to have 98, 98se, 2000, me, and xp home before they were stripped, but the sticker is still on the case, can I use the serial numbers to purchase a upgrade copy of XP pro and make it work? I know that the upgrade works without having an os installed, just dont know if the serial will unlock it.

**swingpoha** · 09-02-2004, 08:58 PM

I don't know about corporate versions but upgrade copies you have to have a the cd from a previous version and during the install process you must insert the old version.

**EBFoxbat** · 09-02-2004, 09:03 PM

Can't you just buy keys and not physically new software?

**jcdillin** · 09-02-2004, 09:03 PM

You can buy the VLK version which is pretty much the same as the Corp version it does not need to be activated, but they give you a key not a COA sticker like normal versions for each machine. i'll have to double check on the amount you have to purchase and i'm pretty sure you have to be a business in order to purchase them. As far as the upgrade version goes you can get a VLK version too.

**frodobaggins** · 09-02-2004, 09:13 PM

The only thing you have to have for any microsoft software is the certificate of authenticity.

**Tidder** · 09-02-2004, 09:19 PM

But the prob with that is they charge about the same for just the licensing as they do for the whole package...

I don't know about retail, I just know about OEM, since I am an OEM. OEM copies of Win XP Home cost me about $89 a piece. If I wanted just the licensure, it would cost about the same. ****ty eh?

On a separate note, if you can show you're a non-profit organization, you can get microsoft charity (corporate) licenses for about $25 a piece I think, maybe even cheaper. check out http://www.techsoup.com

edit: XP Pro upgrade is $8.00 a license.

**judoGTI** · 09-02-2004, 11:11 PM

I think the corp goes by # of PC's starting in the hundreds to get discounts.

It depends on how many, really. Probably easier to just get the certificates and serial numbers they go for ~100 each and are legit.

**Rob Withey** · 09-03-2004, 03:45 AM

Originally Posted by Tidder

I don't know about retail, I just know about OEM, since I am an OEM. OEM copies of Win XP Home cost me about $89 a piece. If I wanted just the licensure, it would cost about the same. ****ty eh?

That makes perfect sense. The cost of the media is insignificant. What you are paying for is the license. And the cost of the license is not the cost of the bit of paper it's printed on.

A lot of people don't understand licenses. They think that because they bought the CD, they own it and can legally install it as many times as they wish (I'm not saying that anyone here falls into that category, btw).

**Nufis** · 09-03-2004, 04:03 AM

I really don't know how it's at your coast, haowever here in Europe we have something like this.
For corporate, you have to buy a cd kit (~30$) and licences (named OLP or something like that). I guess the minimum amount is 5, but I could be wrong (it might be possible to buy less).
For OEM (which is much cheaper) - you have to buy any part of PC, being it RAM or even fan, to qualify for having OEM legally. It comes with booklet, CD, etc, but without box, and is 1/3 - 1/2 cheaper than full version, even (corporate) licence alone.

**Bravellir** · 09-03-2004, 04:10 AM

Originally Posted by gospeed.racer

.... Also, I have quite a few machines that used to have 98, 98se, 2000, me, and xp home before they were stripped, but the sticker is still on the case, can I use the serial numbers to purchase a upgrade copy of XP pro and make it work? ...

you cant transfer a OEM license from one PC to another so if your old machines where using OEM versions, you can not intall them on new PC's and upgrade to XP.

I think that this page anwser most of your questions: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...uy/addlic.mspx