Understanding your organization’s Windows software licenses can be challenging. Windows licensing missteps are common, but Microsoft and our partners are here to help you. If your organization happens to be the victim of any licensing mistakes, we can offer easy ways to fix them.
If you’re unsure whether or not you're using properly licensed Windows software today, see below for a list of some common licensing issues.
Genuine Windows is published by Microsoft and can help your organization stay competitive and maintain its stellar reputation. When all of your Microsoft software is genuine and properly licensed, your company has:
Protection from the risks that can be associated with counterfeit software, such as viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. Genuine Windows gives you peace of mind that your critical business information is safe and secure.
Reliability you can count on through reduced downtime caused by system failures and security breaches. Only genuine Windows is supported by Microsoft and provides access to all updates and optional downloads.
Performance that is faster and gives your company a leg up. With genuine Windows you save valuable time needed to complete business tasks and don’t need to worry about unwanted licensing interruptions.
Confidence that your company is fully in compliance with Windows licensing terms and is seen as a trustworthy, reputable business partner by your employees, partners, and customers.
Companies like yours want to do the right thing, but some are just unaware of the facts about Windows licensing. Here are some of the most common licensing mistakes:
Windows Volume Licenses are for upgrades only and require a qualifying full operating system to be installed on the PC as a prerequisite. Companies often purchase Windows Volume Licensing Agreements and mistakenly apply them to computers that don’t have a full operating system already installed. Windows Volume Licenses provide the opportunity to extend the life of a previously acquired full Windows desktop license, or other qualifying license, by upgrading to a newer version of Windows.
Next Steps: If your organization fits this scenario, Microsoft and our trusted business partners offer a portfolio of solutions that are easy to implement and can help ensure your company is properly licensed and smoothly running Windows 7 Professional edition.
Windows Volume Licenses require an existing, qualifying operating system installed as a prerequisite on each PC. In most cases, this means a Professional-level operating system. Companies often acquire PCs with Windows Starter or Home editions preinstalled and mistakenly then apply a new Windows Volume License for Windows 7 Professional. Volume Licensing Agreements can only be applied to Windows Professional operating systems or greater.
Next Steps: If your organization fits this scenario, Microsoft and our trusted partners offer a variety of easy ways to help ensure your company is properly licensed and smoothly running Windows 7 Professional edition.
Companies sometimes discover that they are unintentionally using PCs with counterfeit operating systems. This is a common occurrence when PCs are acquired without Windows or other operating systems pre-installed through a trusted PC manufacturer or in a full retail package. Windows Volume Licenses require genuine operating systems as a prerequisite.
Genuine Windows software is published by Microsoft and supported by either Microsoft or a trusted partner. Only genuine Windows helps you reduce downtime caused by system failures and security breaches, and offers you the reliability and performance you expect from Windows. It's helpful to know what to look for when purchasing a PC. If you feel you may be using counterfeit software, Microsoft can help ensure you’re properly licensed and running the right version of Windows to meet your needs.
For the above scenarios and other licensing issues, Microsoft offers several easy licensing solutions to ensure your company is using properly licensed, genuine Windows software. All of these solutions are meant for use on your existing PCs with a previously installed counterfeit or otherwise unlicensed copy of Windows. Refer to the information in the table to learn more and get genuine today. In the future, keep in mind that the best and most economical way to get a proper Windows license is typically to buy it preinstalled on your PC.
Note: Pricing information varies by geography and is available via your Microsoft partner.
Get Genuine Windows Agreement for Small- and Medium-sized Organizations *
Volume License Resellers
Small business, mid-market, and government (volume licensing)
5+
Get Genuine Windows Agreements for Large Organizations
Large Account Resellers (LARs)
Mid-market, enterprise, and government (volume licensing)
Get Genuine Windows Agreements for Academic Institutions
Academic (volume licensing)
Get Genuine Kit
OEM system builders
Home use or small business
Any
Get Genuine Online Kit
Available online upon failing validation
1
Full packaged product (FPP)
Retail
* The Get Genuine Windows Agreement for Small- and Medium-Sized Organizations is called the Get Genuine Solution in Brazil, Russia, China, and India.
Who is it for?
Small business, mid-market, or government organizations
Where do I get it?
From a Volume Licensing reseller
Minimum PC quantity
5 or more PCs
Program details
Customer support is available for purchase
Downgrade rights are available
Re-orders allowed
Terms & conditions
Commitment to acquire only genuine Windows licenses going forward for new PC purchases
Software Assurance can be purchased within 90 days through the Open, Open Value, Select, or Select Plus Volume License programs
Large or medium-sized organizations
From a Large Account Reseller (LAR) or directly from your Microsoft account representative
Placement of a one-time only order
Customer support is available for purchase from Microsoft or through a LAR
Downgrade rights available
Pre-signed agreement that includes an acknowledgement of compliance and an audit clause
Must legalize all out-of-compliance PCs running Windows
Master Business Services Agreement must be in place or set up
Qualifying academic institutions
From an Academic Volume Licensing reseller
Use only to fulfill the qualifying Windows operating system requirement for purchasing Volume License Windows upgrade
Media not available
Downgrade rights available after a Windows upgrade license is acquired through an existing academic Volume License agreement
Academic Open License agreement terms and GGWA Supplemental Agreement Academic Addendum
Software Assurance is not available with GGWA-A, but can be added by acquiring a Windows upgrade license
Note that the license acquired with the purchase of a new PC with Windows software preinstalled can't be used to correct an improperly licensed PC. The following table illustrates the differences between the Get Genuine Kit and a license obtained with a new PC purchase.
Target customers
Customers with existing PCs in need of legalization
Purchasers of new PCs with software preinstalled
Terms
Available for sale to customers to legalize existing PCs
Available for sale to OEMs for preinstallation on new PCs only
Features
Customer support provided by Microsoft
Downgrade rights are not available
DVD-style case with full packaged product (FPP) media
Customer support provided by the OEM who preinstalled the software
Media accompanies PC
Transferable
Generally, no transfers are allowed; however, any exceptions are noted in the program agreement
Can't be transferred from the PC on which it is originally preinstalled
Other
Purchased directly from OEM system builders
Can't be sold to legalize existing PCs
If Windows on your home PC fails online validation, the Get Genuine Online Kit is available worldwide as an online solution. If you access downloads on the Microsoft Download Center or on the Microsoft Windows Update website, you might be prompted to complete genuine validation for Windows, which performs a validation check to verify that Windows installed on your PC is genuine. If validation determines that Windows on your PC isn’t genuine, you’ll see information about why validation failed, helpful troubleshooting tips, and how you can get genuine Windows.
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