CAP Talk

Operations => Tools of the trade => Topic started by: Eclipse on January 07, 2019, 02:42:24 AM

Title: Windows Licensing for donated PCs from NHQ?
Post by: Eclipse on January 07, 2019, 02:42:24 AM
Anyone know if there is a program or path to get Win10 keys for machines
donated to CAP that don't have an OS? 

These were enterprise machines that require a VLA server, so they come up as "not activated"
when they are removed from the domain.

I'm waiting for a quote from CCB, and will get them there is necessary, but if there's a way NHQ will
cover them, K-SARA.

(Since these will be used primarily for web access I may well put Ubuntu on them with Open Office, or turn them into Chromebooks,
with Cloudready, but I also have several Surface's that would need Windows).
Title: Re: Windows Licensing for donated PCs from NHQ?
Post by: arajca on January 07, 2019, 02:57:34 AM
Have you checked on TechSoup.org?
Title: Re: Windows Licensing for donated PCs from NHQ?
Post by: Eclipse on January 07, 2019, 03:22:34 AM
Quote from: arajca on January 07, 2019, 02:57:34 AM
Have you checked on TechSoup.org?

Yes.

"Eligible organizations may place only one request ever for Microsoft Get Genuine Windows operating system products. Additionally, these products may not be returned. The request may be for up to 50 licenses of any combination of Get Genuine products."

Humorously, emphasis their's...
Title: Re: Windows Licensing for donated PCs from NHQ?
Post by: NovemberWhiskey on January 08, 2019, 03:10:00 AM
There are a number of clearinghouses for OEM licenses if that is an option that works for you; e.g. kinguin.net
Title: Re: Windows Licensing for donated PCs from NHQ?
Post by: Eclipse on January 08, 2019, 03:35:08 AM
Quote from: NovemberWhiskey on January 08, 2019, 03:10:00 AM
There are a number of clearinghouses for OEM licenses if that is an option that works for you; e.g. kinguin.net

They seem to have a really good online rep.
Title: Re: Windows Licensing for donated PCs from NHQ?
Post by: Ozzy on January 08, 2019, 02:02:30 PM
I ended up buying an eBay Win 10 Pro and 2016 Office keys. They worked perfectly and only cost me I believe $20 together
Title: Re: Windows Licensing for donated PCs from NHQ?
Post by: Spaceman3750 on January 08, 2019, 03:46:59 PM
Quote from: Ozzy on January 08, 2019, 02:02:30 PM
I ended up buying an eBay Win 10 Pro and 2016 Office keys. They worked perfectly and only cost me I believe $20 together

They are probably cracked (illegal) keys.

The issue with OEM keys is that they're intended (read: licensed for) for system builders, not aftermarket, at least as far as I know.
Title: Re: Windows Licensing for donated PCs from NHQ?
Post by: JeffDG on January 08, 2019, 06:39:44 PM
Quote from: Spaceman3750 on January 08, 2019, 03:46:59 PM
Quote from: Ozzy on January 08, 2019, 02:02:30 PM
I ended up buying an eBay Win 10 Pro and 2016 Office keys. They worked perfectly and only cost me I believe $20 together

They are probably cracked (illegal) keys.

The issue with OEM keys is that they're intended (read: licensed for) for system builders, not aftermarket, at least as far as I know.

Yeah, I don't think you can legally buy OEM keys and apply them to some other hardware.  They are sold licensed to a particular piece of hardware and are non-transferable.

(Former IT License Management Guy at Fortune 500)
Title: Re: Windows Licensing for donated PCs from NHQ?
Post by: Eclipse on January 08, 2019, 06:45:42 PM
I might be able to register as a refurbisher and get legit copies of Windows at prices similar to OEM.

Still haven't heard back from CCB.

Title: Re: Windows Licensing for donated PCs from NHQ?
Post by: JeffDG on January 08, 2019, 07:10:04 PM
Quote from: Eclipse on January 08, 2019, 06:45:42 PM
I might be able to register as a refurbisher and get legit copies of Windows at prices similar to OEM.

Still haven't heard back from CCB.
You could just register your unit for TechSoup and use your one annual purchase opportunity...
Title: Re: Windows Licensing for donated PCs from NHQ?
Post by: JeffDG on January 08, 2019, 07:15:10 PM
Out of curiosity...

Do these PCs have an OEM License sticker on them?

Even if they were previously licensed on a corporate account, their OEM License should still be valid for that hardware.  Many corporations buy PCs, and then license windows Pro/Enterprise on top of their OEM license that came from the vendor.  When you remove them from their KMS server, they can be reloaded with their original OEM licenses.
Title: Re: Windows Licensing for donated PCs from NHQ?
Post by: Eclipse on January 08, 2019, 07:37:11 PM
Quote from: JeffDG on January 08, 2019, 07:15:10 PM
Out of curiosity...

Do these PCs have an OEM License sticker on them?

Even if they were previously licensed on a corporate account, their OEM License should still be valid for that hardware.  Many corporations buy PCs, and then license windows Pro/Enterprise on top of their OEM license that came from the vendor.  When you remove them from their KMS server, they can be reloaded with their original OEM licenses.

Some do, some don't, and those that do are Windows 7 that was not upgraded to 10 during the free period.

A lot of them were ordered with either no OS or Linux.

So TechSoup is allowing individual units to purchase vs. CAP as a whole?
Title: Re: Windows Licensing for donated PCs from NHQ?
Post by: arajca on January 08, 2019, 09:25:45 PM
Yes.
Title: Re: Windows Licensing for donated PCs from NHQ?
Post by: JeffDG on January 08, 2019, 10:14:48 PM
Quote from: Eclipse on January 08, 2019, 07:37:11 PM
So TechSoup is allowing individual units to purchase vs. CAP as a whole?
I have set up and made purchases for our Wing separate from NHQ.

I have not tried this particular item, however.

Same way, our Wing has a Google Apps for Nonprofits account, using the same EIN as NHQ, but our account is completely separate from National's, or other wing/units who have signed up.
Title: Re: Windows Licensing for donated PCs from NHQ?
Post by: Fubar on January 09, 2019, 07:59:51 AM
Quote from: Eclipse on January 08, 2019, 07:37:11 PM
So TechSoup is allowing individual units to purchase vs. CAP as a whole?

Yes, can confirm multiple units in my wing use TechSoup for stuff, including MS products.
Title: Re: Windows Licensing for donated PCs from NHQ?
Post by: Holding Pattern on January 11, 2019, 05:24:27 PM
The Windows 10 Enterprise Charity SKU is: KV3-00257

Google that, and the resellers shall appear.

Price should be between $37-40.

If you are worried about sketchy sites, CDW is commonly used by many big companies and has it for $39.99.

I do not know what their validation mechanism is.
Title: Re: Windows Licensing for donated PCs from NHQ?
Post by: Eclipse on January 11, 2019, 05:29:23 PM
If it's CDW you can pretty much count on it being as convoluted, complicated, and prolonged as possible.

I've been working on a single copy of Acrobat for a client for about a week now.
Title: Re: Windows Licensing for donated PCs from NHQ?
Post by: Eclipse on April 06, 2019, 07:58:16 PM
Just to follow up on this, I was able to get 6 MAK's through Techsoup for $9 each.

Activation changed the devices from Enterprise to Pro.  Easy-peasy.
Title: Re: Windows Licensing for donated PCs from NHQ?
Post by: Fester on April 08, 2019, 01:45:53 AM
Another option is to turn them into Chromebooks.  I've done it on 3 old laptops. Easy peasy.

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/turn-an-old-laptop-into-a-chromebook/
Title: Re: Windows Licensing for donated PCs from NHQ?
Post by: Eclipse on April 08, 2019, 04:18:17 AM
I like Neverware, and there's a couple on this pile that won't fully support Win10
that will probably go that route.
Title: Re: Windows Licensing for donated PCs from NHQ?
Post by: Fester on April 08, 2019, 04:57:17 AM
Eclipse, I shot you a PM a few days ago.  I know notifications are taking forever, but would you mind checking for it?
Title: Re: Windows Licensing for donated PCs from NHQ?
Post by: blombardo on May 09, 2020, 11:25:55 PM
Microsofts original 'free' upgrade path still exists and works as of a few weeks ago it can still be used.   You must have a valid (legit) windows OS license from a past version and you can use the official servers to get your free upgrade.

This info has not been taken down or hidden from microsoft; they simply choose to stop advertising it and instead offer to sell people a license...

Source #1  https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-download-windows-10-for-free-now-that-windows-7-is-dead/

Source #2  I'm an IT contractor and do this often for individuals.

*Point of contention = does national / Wing allow you to do this?  Thats the only thing you need to worry about.  If it is their machine listed in ORMS you had best be sure you are crossing T's and Dotting i's.

I'm a group level IT and have pointed this out to various people at wing; no one has *(yet) said 'no' to this.... for all those units 2014 and older that are not getting updated; this may be an option.

Title: Re: Windows Licensing for donated PCs from NHQ?
Post by: Eclipse on May 09, 2020, 11:45:08 PM
Quote from: blombardo on May 09, 2020, 11:25:55 PMMicrosofts original 'free' upgrade path still exists and works as of a few weeks ago it can still be used.  You must have a valid (legit) windows OS license from a past version and you can use the official servers to get your free upgrade.

Yes, but it has to have been a license that was eligible for upgrade to Win10 (i.e. Win7 or Win8).
I've had good luck activating those, even with Sufaces (*blech*).  However in this case, at least 1/2 the machines were shipped w/o any OS as the respective former owners had activation through VLSC.

Quote from: blombardo on May 09, 2020, 11:25:55 PM*Point of contention = does national / Wing allow you to do this?  Thats the only thing you need to worry about.  If it is their machine listed in ORMS you had best be sure you are crossing T's and Dotting i's.

These machines are not CAP property and are not in ORMs, but a number were intended to be
permanently loaned to members for use only for CAP.

For..."reasons"..., CAP bought a significant number of notebooks that shipped with Windows 7 Enterprise,
however a lot of them have Win 7 Pro keys under the battery, and in those cases, while they can't be upgraded
in place, they can be scratched to Win10.  At the time there was all kinds of angst about upgrading to Win10
because "it may not support existing applications" (if anyone had an NHQ-sanctioned incompatible application
I'd sure be curious as to what it was), while the real reason was likely that there simply was no 
way the average CC in flyover Composite who isn't an IT guy could load the machine without potentially
bricking it. The result was these machines aged-over the Win7 sundown, even though they are perfectly
viable and servicable.

The other non-trivial issue was that once scratched, there was no easy way to reload MS Office, and many
poor souls were still pretending you needed it for "something" instead of just using GSuites or Office Online,
and, at least at the time, getting a key for Office from NHQ was simple "not done".

Anyway, this issue long since passed.  Thanks to 'Ronaworld...

1 - I / we have no need for the machines since there are no activities to use them at (for?).

2 - I drove through the pile, had about a 50% hit rate on activation, combined some others,
moved keys between broken and functional machines, and have been able to put machines in the hands of
a few people, both members and non-members, who found themselves stuck at home with only
"my kids' gaming machine" to work from home with.