windows licensing questions

[patrichek]

Hi guys (and gals),
I have a new client I just did a licensing audit for, they were concerned about a software piracy letter they recieved in the mail from an antipiracy org. anyway, I've found they are way out of compliance. They have approx. 35 workstations and about 7 licenses in total (all W2k pro). What would be the best way to purchase and insert/install the new license without reinstalling the software? Is there a program i can run to change the license? Maybe I should advise an upgrade to XP since they have to buy licenses anyway?
Gentlemen, any ideas?
thanks in advance!

 

[Davetoo]

If they have 35 workstations and 7 licenses, just purchase 28 more licenses. They don't care if you use one CD to install all of the OS's, as long as you have enough licenses to cover the OS's you've installed.

I use the same license key to install all of my OS's and Office apps, I just make sure I have a license for everyone I install.

I'm Certifiable, not certified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.

 

[patrichek]

hmmm......sounds like the easiest solution! Are you 100% on this, because they may be in for an audit.
I was thinking I could use sysprep.exe if i have to.

 

[Davetoo]

Those letters are sent out en mass just to scare companies into compliance...and they're fairly effective. But to be honest, nobody is going to audit a 35 seat office unless someone on the inside has turned them in as a grudge.

Even then, they're only going to verify that you have a license for every install that you have...that's all they're concerned with.



I'm Certifiable, not certified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.

 

[patrichek]

yeah that's what happened, a former employee turned them in.
they also only have 1 copy of Office, does the same hold true on that you think?
There are 2 servers on 1 license as well, I was told you are allowed 5 processors on 1 server license. Any truth to that?

 

[Davetoo]

First off, you'd better read through

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/default.mspx

If you install Windows 2000 on ten computers, then you need to have ten licenses. If you install Office 2000 on ten computers, then you need to have ten licenses. If you intall ten of any software package on ten computers, then you need ten licenses for that software.

If you have two servers, then they need to have two licenses. The processor license only applies to multiprocessor servers, not multiple servers.

I'm Certifiable, not certified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.

 

[patrichek]

I understand about having a license for each machine for each appl. and OS, what i meant about office software was: do i need to reinstall it with a unique license for each pc or can i have them buy enough to cover all the machines.
Thanks for clarifying the server scheme, that's what i thought!

I am Certified and if I don't have the answer from experience I go to google or tek-tips

I find it cheesy when guys sign with their certifications....

 

[Davetoo]

I install all of our Office 2000's with the same set of CD's and the same license key, but I buy a new license (actually, an Office 2003 Pro License) for every one I install.

As long as they can show the auditors 35 distinct Office and Windows licenses for each of their 35 machines, then they should be fine. That's all that MS cares about, that every install has a legitimate and valid license.

I'm Certifiable, not certified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.

 

[patrichek]

thanks lander

 

[Zelandakh]

it is an open issue. Technically all Office installs should have unique IDs. But MS sort of admit that RIS'd images couldn't have that so they can't fine you if you have the right number of licences.

<signature sold subject to contract>

 

[ChampagneLSC]

I just use a standard ghost image for evey machine, so they all come from the same media. If I have to do a manual install it comes from a .msi package on a network share. Needless to say, every machine has the same CD key, product ID, whatever.

However, I do track my licenses & do own a license for every installation, so therefore I am in compliance.

 

[BigShyBear]

ChampagneLSC, if you are ghosting Windows - you are putting out every computer with the same SID. In a Novell network this is not a problem, but with a Microsoft network it is. I use Newsid from Sysinternals.com to change the SID on each computer after I ghost them.
I also use XPPID to change the on each computer to the correct Windows key for that computer. I have never found this to be necessary, but I do it anyway.

 

[SLMHC]

Just to chime in to say that Lander is correct on MS licensing. We buy volume licenses and one Media Kit from our vendor. When we need to add licenses we buy more and use the same media kit. We do this for Office, Win2k/XP, and for Server 2k/2k3.

thanks,

Dave