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Proper Licensing Practices
Understanding key facts about software licensing will help you avoid costly mishaps. That way, you can get the benefits of the genuine licensed experience as cost effectively as possible.
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Know the facts. And get the genuine licensed software you deserve.
- Each PC needs its own full license. To be properly licensed and receive technical support and updates, you must have a full underlying license for all software installed on each PC.
- Volume License Agreements cover Windows software upgrades only. Microsoft® Windows® upgrades are designed to upgrade previously acquired qualifying licenses. This means you must first have the full license for a qualifying underlying operating system for each PC before you install the upgrade. Windows software licensing is different from other Microsoft software because Volume Licensing Agreements do offer a full version of all Microsoft software except Windows desktop operating systems.
- There are two ways to legally acquire the initial full version of Windows: preinstalled on a PC through a PC manufacturer—this is the most cost-effective way to get a genuine Windows license on a new PC—or as full packaged retail product.
- Commercial customers with a Volume License agreement cannot upgrade to Windows XP Professional from Windows XP Home because Windows XP Home Edition is not designed for businesses and is not a qualifying license for Windows XP Professional Edition in a commercial environment for VL customers.
- Upgrading to Windows Vista. Commercial customers cannot purchase PCs with Windows Vista Home Premium, Home Basic, or Starter edition, and then use their VL agreement to upgrade to Windows Vista Business or Ultimate.
- If you discover you have unlicensed or non-genuine software Microsoft has a portfolio of legalization solutions available to help you. Click here to see what options are available to you.
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Additional Resources Genuine Microsoft Software | Microsoft Licensing | How To Tell | Microsoft Partner Program | Software Asset Management | Worldwide Piracy Sites |
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