Do I break down or do I refurbish?

**Craasher** · 06-10-2012, 06:41 AM

Well it means it has a Windows license on it and that it was a "valid" license but not necessarily legal by Microsoft's standards. Microsoft's licensing is one of the most convoluted things ever. Think it of like taxes...while the IRS might accept that you paid your taxes if they come out and actually audit you they can bust you for lots of nitpicky stuff.

Thank you CLR for telling me this. We build a lot of machines for our clients and since we discovered that their volume licenses for the non profits were upgrade licenses we have been including a full OEM license. But when I reload Windows on those machines I used the same disk because while they have them somewhere locating them is a chore. It never even crossed my mind that not using the actual CD that the COA shipped with would be an issue because the code to me was what mattered.

**CLR Solutions** · 06-10-2012, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by Craasher

Well it means it has a Windows license on it and that it was a "valid" license but not necessarily legal by Microsoft's standards. Microsoft's licensing is one of the most convoluted things ever. Think it of like taxes...while the IRS might accept that you paid your taxes if they come out and actually audit you they can bust you for lots of nitpicky stuff.

Thank you CLR for telling me this. We build a lot of machines for our clients and since we discovered that their volume licenses for the non profits were upgrade licenses we have been including a full OEM license. But when I reload Windows on those machines I used the same disk because while they have them somewhere locating them is a chore. It never even crossed my mind that not using the actual CD that the COA shipped with would be an issue because the code to me was what mattered.

Craasher if you have anymore licensing questions feel free to call me or send me a message.

Licenses for non-profits follow the same rules as commercial but new licenses keys and install media can be bought for just a few dollars per machine.