Microsoft oem licensing faq

It is not possible for Microsoft to provide a list of product deployment details in the License Summary. The License Summary shows you the software your organization is entitled to install and use, but not what is currently deployed.

A License Pool groups licenses by product type. Microsoft Volume Licensing organizes products into three pools:. Occasionally, Microsoft Volume Licensing offers a promotion where purchase of a specific product entitles the customer to the use of another product.

Promotions are typically conditional on active Software Assurance or Upgrade Advantage coverage on the purchased product. For example:. The License Grant is what entitles, or "grants", the customer to use the promotional product. In this case, the customer would be granted the use of Skype for Business Server. A License Reservation allows a customer to place a License Reservation order to migrate on-premises assets to the Cloud without a Purchase Order.

Go to Licenses and select Make Reservations from the drop-down menu. If you leave the VLSC site or close your browser before confirming your reservation, your selections will not be saved.

From your list of Enterprise Agreements for License Reservation , select the active agreement to proceed with the online reservation and then click Continue. Select the Usage Date for the online reservation and then click Continue. The Usage Date is the date that the online reservation can start to be used.

After 72 hours, no changes are allowed to your reservation, and this will be reflected as part of your True-up or Annual Order based upon the usage date and quantity reserved. After the Usage Date is selected, you will see a list of eligible Online Services available for reserving online. Select the online service you want to submit a reservation for and then choose the action you want to perform for this service: Add License or Step-up License.

Click Continue. You will be taken to the Reservation Confirmation page. Preview the reservation on the Reservation Confirmation page. After confirming that the reservation is correct, click Submit Reservation. The Reservation Confirmation pop-up displays. After reading and agreeing to the terms of services, click Submit Reservation. Once you place a reservation, you cannot change it. You can cancel a submitted reservation within 72 hours of submission.

Select the way you want your reservation history to be viewed by: Service, Licensing ID, or Reservation. From the Service view: Open the detailed view of the reservation you want to cancel.

If the reservation can be canceled a Cancel button is displayed. From Reservation view: The results are displayed by descending order by Reservation Date.

Reservation orders that can be canceled are displayed at the top of the page. If it has been more than 72 hours since your License Reservation was submitted please work with your Microsoft Licensing Reseller to make the necessary adjustments.

You can view your reservation history from the Reservation Confirmation page or the Manage my Reservation page. Availability of services is based on customer eligibility and whether Microsoft products are available through reservation orders. Services that are eligible for Reservation are listed in the Online Services screen.

For reservations to be available, you must have already signed the Updated Enterprise Agreement uEA Amendment or have an agreement from or later. In the case of your purchase of an OEM license with a new computer, this license is tied to the motherboard of that system. What if it was replaced because it was defective? 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.

If the motherboard is replaced because it is defective, you do NOT need to acquire a new operating system license for the PC. The EULA is a set of usage rights granted to the end-user by the PC manufacturer and relates only to rights for that software as installed on for that particular PC. The System Builder is required to support that license the software on that individual PC. Understanding that end users, over time, upgrade their PC with different components, Microsoft needed to have one base component "left standing" that would still define that original PC.

Since the motherboard contains the CPU and is the "heart and soul" of the PC, when the motherboard is replaced for reasons other than defect a new PC is essentially created. The original System Builder, therefore, can not be expected to support this new PC that they in effect, did not manufacture. OEM software that has already been used, installed, activated, etc is not transferable unless you transfer the entire computer along with the software to another party.

Can my customers transfer or sell their OEM software licenses? However, the entire PC may be transferred to another end user along with the software license rights. When transferring the PC to the new end user the software media, manuals if applicable and certificate of authenticity label must be included. It is also advisable to include the original purchase invoice or receipt.

The original end user cannot keep any copies of the software. The end user license agreement EULA is granted to the end user by the System Builder and relates to the license on the PC with which it was originally distributed. Because the System Builder is required to support the license on that original PC, a System Builder can not support a license that has been moved from a PC they manufactured to one that they did not.

Can't they do whatever they want with the software? The software is licensed with the computer system on which it was originally installed and is tied to that original machine. OEM licenses are single-use licenses that cannot be installed on more than one computer system even if the original machine is no longer in use. The end user license agreement EULA accepted by the customer before they use the software, states that the license may not be shared, transferred to or used concurrently on different computers.

The System Builder is required to provide end-user support for the Windows license. This is probably the major reason why Microsoft has changed their policies. You will not be asked to call Microsoft if you use your recovery disks properly and with the machine it is intended for.

This policy will not affect smaller OEMs who provide the original OEM disks to the customer and the customer will be able to activate as over the internet as normal.

Basically OEM copies receive no support directly from Microsoft. I direct you to the following excerpt directly copied from the EULA.

Backup Copies "Back-up Copy. If the backup is damaged, then you can simply destroy the damaged copy and make another backup from the original media. Basically the above statement means if you buy license for Windows XP Professional for a new computer and have software that cannot run on Windows XP Professional due to age or incompatibility reasons, then you may install and use an older version such as Windows 98SE, NT4,or Professional.

This downgrade right does not grant you permission to concurrently use the Windows XP Professional and the older Windows software at the same time. If you purchase an upgrade version of Windows XP and use an older version of Windows to "qualify" the upgrade, then you are no longer allowed to use the older version of software on any other computer.

Self explanatory. So in reality they are taking advantage of people's lack of understanding of licensing to make a quick buck. Questions and constructive comments are welcome. Joined Jun 26, Messages 6, Looks good. The right to use the software is governed by the Microsoft Software License Terms—which, in the case of OEM system builder product, is an agreement between the system builder and the end user.

The Microsoft Software License Terms can typically be found within the software product, and an end user must accept the Microsoft Software License Terms before running the software. The Microsoft Software License Terms define what end-user rights and restrictions apply to the use of the software, and covers topics such as how the software can be used, whether the license can be transferred, and so on. What are the different ways that my customers can get legal licenses for Windows desktop operating systems?

What about software applications such as Microsoft Office ? There are only two ways a customer can get a Windows desktop operating system on a new PC:. Please note that full versions of Windows operating systems are not available through any Microsoft Volume Licensing program.

I get many email solicitations offering "Microsoft software at cheap prices. Most likely no, this is not legal. Several software counterfeiting operations around the globe are marketing their goods through spam email advertisements. In an attempt to mask their location, these organizations change their names and email addresses daily. The basic contents of the spam message remain the same: "Microsoft software offered at cheap prices.

The advertisers use terms like "OEM software" as an attempt to explain why the offered software is so inexpensive. Microsoft is working to educate customers and partners about the risks of getting software from suspicious sources. We're investigating these spam and counterfeiting operations and trying to stop this activity.

Purchasing from known and trusted sources and avoiding "too-good-to-be-true" deals are the best ways to avoid wasting valuable money on counterfeit or infringing software. For more information, see Piracy Basics. If you are aware of or have suspicions of piracy concerning Microsoft software, we urge you to contact us by email at piracy microsoft. Additionally, we recommend acquiring Microsoft OEM system builder software from an authorized Microsoft OEM distributor—an assured source of genuine Microsoft software.

I see products like Windows 8. Is this legal? Offers to distribute parts of the OEM system builder software packages are not legal. Under no circumstances are system builders or any other vendors authorized to distribute single OEM system builder software components such as stand-alone Certificates of Authenticity COAs.

Please note that the Certificate of Authenticity included with each OEM system builder software package authenticates only the software components with which it is legally distributed.

As mentioned, any offer to distribute parts of the Microsoft software package such as the COA only is not authorized, and any individual who were to obtain parts of the Microsoft software components would not be authorized to use the associated software or redistribute the components.

What are the different ways in which Microsoft OEM system builder Windows desktop operating system licenses can be distributed? The current OEM System Builder License allows system builders to distribute Windows desktop operating system licenses in the following ways:. There is nothing illegal about selling a computer system without an operating system. However, getting the operating system preinstalled is your customer's most cost-effective way to acquire a genuine Windows operating system license.

A customer who subsequently wants to install a Microsoft Windows desktop operating system on that naked PC will need to acquire it through the retail channel, which is a more costly option. Full Windows operating systems are not available through any Microsoft Volume Licensing program, and an OEM operating system license cannot be transferred from an "old" PC to a new one.

System builders may not offer a recovery solution with removable media such as a recovery CD because it is prohibited by the terms of the Microsoft OEM System Builder License. A full version of the Windows operating system is provided on a hologram CD in the Microsoft System Builder Pack for each end user, and the CD must be transferred to the end user at the time of distribution.

The hologram CD acts as the recovery media. However, system builders can offer a hard disk recovery solution in addition to, but not as a replacement for, the hologram CD.

Third-party software companies can also help system builders do this. Although system builders are allowed to offer a hard disk recovery solution, Microsoft is not developing new technologies or software tools at this time to offer as part of this recovery solution. The licensing terms for system builders and large OEMs are different because they are designed to address the specific needs of each community.

The right to create recovery media is limited to OEMs with direct agreements; however, these OEMs are also bound by other contractual obligations. The OEM System Builder License is designed to make it easy for system builders to acquire and distribute genuine Microsoft software, and accordingly, its terms are different. System builders may not offer a recovery solution with removable media a recovery CD, for example —it is prohibited by the terms of the Microsoft OEM System Builder License.

A full version of the Windows operating system is provided on a CD in the Microsoft System Builder Pack for each end user, and the CD must be transferred to the end user at the time of sale. The hologram CD acts as the system builder recovery media. They enable you to add your own shortcuts and branding to the operating system, to test preinstalled PCs without interrupting the preinstallation process, and much more. We would like to create a computer system using an OEM Windows operating system that has a dual-boot feature.

A customer who wants Microsoft Windows installed onto two partitions of a computer system will need to obtain two OEM system builder Windows software licenses.

OEM software generally does not permit simultaneous usage of a PC by two end users. What if it was replaced because it was defective? Generally, an end user can upgrade or replace all of the hardware components on a computer—except the motherboard—and still retain the license for the original Microsoft OEM operating system software.

If the motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect, then a new computer has been created. Microsoft OEM operating system software cannot be transferred to the new computer, and the license of new operating system software is required.

The reason for this licensing rule primarily relates to the Microsoft Software License Terms and the support of the software covered by those terms. The Microsoft Software License Terms are a set of usage rights granted to the end user by the PC manufacturer, and relate only to rights for that software as installed on that particular PC.

The system builder is required to support the software on the original PC. Understanding that end users, over time, upgrade their PCs with different components, Microsoft needed to have one base component "left standing" that would still define the original PC.

Since the motherboard contains the CPU and is the "heart and soul" of the PC, when the motherboard is replaced for reasons other than defect a new PC is essentially created.

The original system builder did not manufacture this new PC, and therefore cannot be expected to support it. How do I apply it for the best coverage? The new COA is designed to adhere smoothly and securely. For optimal results, see the following recommended COA application technique:. How does a company qualify to become a direct Microsoft OEM?

It seems that the larger companies currently have an unfair advantage compared with smaller OEMs. Other elements of the direct licensing agreement require significant initial investment from the OEM. Furthermore, legal and technical requirements are placed on direct OEMs to protect Microsoft intellectual property, and these requirements can add other costs to the production of a PC. The primary difference between the two programs cannot be gauged merely by looking at prices and software licenses.

Each program is designed to meet the specific needs of the partner. Am I allowed to load Microsoft Office onto these computer systems? Please note that the preinstallation and software distribution process for Microsoft Office makes it easier to buy and sell than prior versions, with a single image to manage for all Office suites and an intuitive SKU lineup.

Can two or more users access and fully use OEM Windows operating systems concurrently on the same computer system? The Microsoft Software License Terms do not permit two or more users to concurrently use the full feature sets of Windows operating systems. However, the Windows Microsoft Software License Terms do allow for a limited number of computers or other electronic devices to connect to the computer upon which the software is installed to use one or more of the following services: File Services, Print Services, Internet Information Services, and telephony services.

Please refer to the applicable Microsoft Software License Terms for detailed information regarding such limited concurrent uses. What can system builders offer their customers as a "legalization solution" for Windows desktop operating systems? Microsoft recognizes that end users sometimes acquire non-genuine Windows operating systems for their PCs and may wish to "get legal" by obtaining genuine software.

The Get Genuine Kit is available only for use on fully assembled PCs with a previously installed counterfeit, pirated, or otherwise illegal or unlicensed copy of Windows software. Return to top. For Windows 8. However, if you choose to purchase a Windows 8. To learn more, visit the Windows system builder licensing for personal use page. When selling a PC to my customers, should it be preinstalled with a Microsoft operating system, and if so, must they use the Microsoft operating system purchased with the PC?

Most consumers want PCs that are easy to use and work right out of the box, without the need for specific IT expertise or cumbersome and time-consuming installation processes. Microsoft believes that PCs with a preinstalled operating system, optimized for the needs of these consumers, provide the best possible computing experience and are an effective means to reduce software piracy.

Most computing devices, PCs, netbooks, tablets, or smart phones are perceived by consumers as a single product that includes various hardware and software components. Consumers are accustomed to using these devices without any technical knowledge on how to install an operating system or any additional software to ensure that the device is functioning properly.

Accordingly, there is no significant consumer demand for PCs without a preinstalled operating system. Those consumers who ask for PCs without an operating system usually are technical experts or hobbyists. PC manufacturers, system builders, and retailers are free to choose what kind of PC they want to sell to their customers.