Difference between standard and academic versions of Office 2010

So we use Office 2010 and purchase it through volume licensing. I had ordered academic licensing of Professional for my library. Due to some hiccup when I went to retrieve the keys at the computer so I could install it I realized they weren't available. I had already hauled away the other computer so I couldn't return it and she needed office.

I had an extra non academic 2010 Professional license so installed it and put in the key. A Week later I got the academic licensing and product and it appeared I could use the same media install. So I went into office and just changed the key to the academic key and it took it and remained activated.

This is nice and saved me lots of time. Also my portable drive doesn't have to store an additional install folder for office 2010. So the only differences in the two is the license keys you are issued. Nice.

Legally Re-Imaging/Cloning computers with Windows

So I was at a Technet UserGroup meeting and heard something that was important for people. After chatting with a Microsoft License Specialist it became clearer.

So legally you cannot re-image computers with an OEM license. To do this the lowest requirement you must meet is this:

• One Volume License for the Desktop Windows Product that matches what you have. So if you purchased computers with Windows 7 Professional, than you will need a Volume License for Windows 7 Professional.
• Volume License Media for that product

You will then base your image off of this software and after imaging using the OEM key that is on the computer. The cool part is you may have 4000 computers with OEM licenses of Windows 7 pro, but you only need to add the 1 VL and the VL Media and your legal. Why Microsoft does this I am not going to go into but you have the basic info and below a little more nifty VL information

When you purchase a Volume license of a Windows Desktop Os you are actually purchasing a upgrade license. This is different than all of their other products, where usually you are buying a full license. So since they are an upgrade licenses you must have an existing Windows OS on the computer or for the computer (Full Retail Product) to apply this VL to. So you can't buy a computer without an OS and think you can buy a Volume License.

I mention this blog posting because this was news to me. Apparently in the EUA it states you can't re-image using just the OEM Media and I know we all read the EUA :) and know this, errr not. Anyways I hope this helps you feel legal.

You can grab the file Microsoft refers to re-imaging here: Microsoft Reimaging download . As you look at this I recommend giving their license people a call.