Software licenses

[philwon52]

I know what full versions, and upgrade versions are, but what is a license only software package, and what can you do with it?

[Nuclear Krusader]

You mean Open licences?

[Great_One]

license only is basically that. its just the license to run another copy of a software program. it assumes you already have the media and just want to license another copy. usually you can save a few bucks because the company doesnt have to include the software and manuals.

[philwon52]

So if I already had windows installed on one computer, and wanted to copy onto others, for example, one that I would sell, I could buy the license and copy windows one time for every copy I did?

[Nuclear Krusader]

Nope. You need to use OEM versions.

[Confused]

What you are talking about is usually used by businesses. They will get a copy of, say Office and then buy additional licenses for each PC that they wany to run Office.
Chas

[Nuclear Krusader]

That is the 3rd kind of licencing from M$. It's called OPEN.

The other two are: FPP (Full Package Product) or retail, the one you buy in the store and you don't have to meet any requisites to use it. However you can only use it in only one machine.

And OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), the one you get without manuals and box and can only be bought along with a PC.

[Mac Medic]

Nd the 4th is Licence Only. $15 cheaper than the full version and available at the M$ website. You're right, you use the current media to install and M$ give you a new product key.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...buy/addlic.asp

But you can not resell the computer.

[philwon52]

Ok. I understand now. Thanks!

[TtlRecall]

What is the cheapest/most convenient way for a non-commercial user like myself who wants to put M$ on more than one computer?

[Mac Medic]

The cheapest way would be OEM software, that has to be purchased with hardware. The hardware requirements change yearly, it used to be a case screw qualified but not any more. Usually a HDD, Processor/Mobo etc will fulfill the requirement. I'll try to find the official list of hardware but it's been a while since i looked for it.

If you are a student you get a substantial discount on OS's and that may be the way to go, but you are supposed to stop using the software as soon as you graduate.

[Mac Medic]

Microsoft haven't issued a list of qualifying hardware, all they say is "non-peripheral hardware component" as you can see here.

Summary of Changes (January 2003 update)

In general, there are no significant changes to the terms and conditions for distributing, licensing, and preinstalling Microsoft OEM software. However, there are some changes to the language that may help you better understand this document. Below are the points that have been updated.

Title. Document name changed from "Agreement" to "License".
Section 1 – Authorized Distribution and Acceptance. Microsoft OEM software and hardware is specifically for entities and individuals who agree to act as a System Builder under the terms of this License upon opening the System Builder Pack or acquiring individual units of OEM desktop operating system software or OEM hardware.

Section 2 – Parties. Microsoft Licensing Inc. (MSLI) is the contracting entity for all countries except those located in Europe, Africa, and Middle East, where Microsoft Ireland Operations (MIOL) is the contracting entity. A complete list of countries covered by MIOL is located at www.microsoft.com/oem/sblicense

Section 4.1 – Software Distribution. The term "non-peripheral hardware component" has been further defined as any hardware component "that will be an integral part of the computer system on which the software will be installed". While Microsoft will not be providing a definitive list, this definition includes components essential to running a computer system, such as memory, internal drives, mice, keyboards, power supplies, and internal devices. Examples of components NOT considered essential are scanners, printers, cameras, and external modems/networking devices.

Section 6 –Special Requirements for Distribution Other than with a Fully Assembled Computer System. We have inserted the definition of "non-peripheral hardware component" and clarified the process for distributing individual units of desktop operating system software or OEM hardware. Since the person/entity acquiring individual units distributed in accordance with this License must accept the terms of this License, a digital copy is posted at www.microsoft.com/oem/sblicense a public link that does not require registration or special access.

The links no longer exist.

[TtlRecall]

Oem is cheaper? I also heard Oem doesn't come with any support. Also heard the full (retail?) version comes with a more complete set of disks and manuals. Is this true?

In any case I plan to buy it on Ebay where the Oem software is always bundled with a piece of hardware (memory or a mouse). There is much more Oem available on Ebay than retail. So I just want to know if Oem is okay.

[Nuclear Krusader]

OEM is cheaper. But it does not come with support from M$. The retail version comes with a colorful box and a printed manual, but it's exactly the same as the OEM.

OEM is all I ever use.

[Mac Medic]

Not much of a manual with retail though, only about 10 pages of pretty much useless info. Go with OEM.

[TtlRecall]

Is there a limit to the number of installs you can do, I mean can a CD know how many different computers it has been installed on?

[Nuclear Krusader]

1 CD, 1 machine only.

[TtlRecall]

Some of the OEM OS's on offer at Ebay say "1 or 2 CPU's".

Also, how could a CD know how many different machines it's been installed on? A CD has no memory, right?

[Nuclear Krusader]

No, but the guys at the Microsoft Product Activation department do.

Since Office XP, all M$ products now need to be activated so you can use them. This way they make sure you only install them 1 CD in 1 PC.

"1 or 2" CPUs is a feature of XP Pro, as that OS supports multiprocessing up to 2 CPUs.

[TtlRecall]

The installation CD's do have some kind of key system which prevents you from installing the software on more than one computer.

It all seems too restrictive to me. I think you should be able to purchase a copy of Windows and install it on as many computers as you like, as long as it's for your own personal use.

Therefore in order to accomplish my goal of increasing system resources without giving in to M$, I've decided to network my existing computers together, using either new routing hardware or WinProxy software, which would also make my system more flexible by the way.