Questions tagged [licensing]
127 questions
56
votes
4 answers
Clean install Windows 8.1 or Windows 8 from OEM key
I have recently acquired a laptop with an OEM Windows 8 product key. I am interested in a clean install of Windows 8.1. I do not have any original install media, only recovery disks, and the recovery disks perform a pre-programmed install which…
amoe
- 681
35
votes
7 answers
Does a full, retail license of Windows 8 exist? (Not OEM, not upgrade)
Ever since the days of Windows 95, Microsoft has distinguished between an OEM license, an upgrade, and a full version. Here's the difference as I understand it:
Upgrade license: Requires you to own a previous eligible version of Windows. Carried…
Philip
- 1,645
19
votes
7 answers
Will a clean install of Windows 8 recognize an OEM license/product key?
As I understand it, OEM computers that come with Windows 8 preinstalled has the license/product key stored in the BIOS/on the motherboard somewhere.
If you do a clean install (*) of Windows 8 (for example with an ISO from MSDN) on an computer which…
Peter Jaric
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15
votes
2 answers
Accept Remote Desktop Connections in Windows 7 Home Premium
Windows 7 Home Premium does not support incoming Remote Desktop connections by default (i.e. as a Terminal Services server).
But, do ways exist to enable Remote Desktop (server) via a registry setting or a Microsoft hotfix?
A similar question exists…
palswim
- 3,601
14
votes
2 answers
Computer refresh - Efficiently cloning 60 identical computers
To preface my inquiry, I posed a question to the community 3 weeks ago regarding choosing replacement computers for my office of 60 users and had an amazing response. I ended up purchasing 60 HP Business class workstations that I'm really happy with…
jayree
- 965
10
votes
3 answers
Which Windows license do I need to install it on all computers in my office?
I want to buy Windows 7 licenses for the computers in my office. It has over 50 PCs.
So, what kind of license do I need to buy from Microsoft?
Sea Sokmeng
- 101
- 3
9
votes
2 answers
Windows 7 Licensing - Old Computer to New
I'm now a Mac user, but used to have a Windows laptop that I upgraded from Vista to 7 quite a while back (2 years now). I've not used the machine since I got my Mac, and wondered if there is any way of deactivating the license so it can be used on…
George Pearce
- 223
9
votes
2 answers
Windows 10 Professional OEM vs Retail
I am having difficulty understanding why anyone would purchase the retail version of windows when the OEM version does not seem to be very different. For example, at the time of writing this, I see the difference on amazon to be $130 for the OEM…
Iofacture
- 197
7
votes
0 answers
How does licensing work with Vagrant Windows boxes?
Can a single Windows license be shared between a team (akin to installing on a physical or virtual server) for hosting Vagrant boxes? The Vagrant docs don't seem to address this issue and all the examples use open source *nix distributions.
To be…
Terry
- 233
7
votes
3 answers
Is there any software to identify whether PC installed any pirated software?
There are some employee in company that installed pirated software in their PC and I scared they use for commercial use, so, I decided to use kind of a software to detect whether their PC installed any pirated software or any web site that may help…
NewBirth
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6
votes
2 answers
Sharing Windows Store apps between accounts
In Windows 8 it seems natural to me that each person in a family has their own Microsoft Account with which they log in.
If you pay for an app on the Windows Store, you can install that same app on several computers using the same Microsoft Account.…
Klas Mellbourn
- 2,325
6
votes
5 answers
Can I use the same OEM windows 7 key on two computers in my house
Will I be able to, and what is the worst that can happen to my laptop with the original OEM key. Will Microsoft invalid my key on both computers or not. And my brother did this for the other computer
And is it illegal to do so in the same house of…
Tom
- 93
6
votes
2 answers
Is there a way to buy a Windows 7 License key without media?
I've already got two Win7 Pro disks in my case, and all I need is another license. The computer shop is about an hour away, and I'm feeling lazy.
Is there any way to purchase a license key without media?
Chase Florell
- 548
5
votes
1 answer
How to let Cloud server to access a Licensing dongle?
In our company, we use licensing USB dongle to control the license management. This dongle typically is plugged in to a server computer on the network.
Now some user asked if we have a solution to use on a cloud based server(Citrix Server), where it…
Joseph Wu
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5
votes
1 answer
How does Microsoft Security Essentials licensing work for small businesses using Windows 8?
On the Microsoft Security Essentials homepage, it states the following:
Need security for your business? Microsoft Security Essentials is available for small businesses with up to 10 PCs. If your business has more than 10 PCs, you can help protect…
JMK
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