install Win2008 Server STD Government Volume License on Server with no O/S

[retroborg]

Purchase/Install Win2008 Server STD Government Volume License on a Server/PC with no operating system.

Hello. I work at a public civil service in the EU and we have a Server/PC with no windows operating system.
We have a network of 15 client PCs with Windows O/S.
I want to know if we can legally purchase and install Windows 2008 Server Standard Open Volume Government License and 15 Device CALs on this specific blank server/pc?

All I could find at the Microsoft site was this info but it does not clearly state about Server & Open Volume Government licenses on a blank Server/PC

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/faq.mspx"]http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/faq.mspx

Q. Can I order a PC with no operating system from a manufacturer and then use my Volume License to install Windows on the desktop?

A. No. Volume License agreements—including Academic, Government, and Public Sector—never cover the initial full Windows Client operating system license. Volume License agreements cover only Windows Client upgrade licenses. Windows upgrades are designed to upgrade previously acquired qualifying desktop operating system licenses. See the PUR for more information on qualifying underlying licenses.

http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/E/C/EECF5D44-9A88-43D8-AFDB-D2AB82BE035C/Win%20Server%20Lic%20Book%20customer%20hi-res.pdf"]http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/E...er%20hi-res.pdf

Or do we have to buy the Retail version of Windows 2008 Server Standard?
Please any help will be highly appreciated.

[Dv8ted2]

I think a better way to go would be to call Microsoft and talk to the sales department.

[jman98]

It seems that Microsoft is saying that you CANNOT do what you propose. Microsoft says that volume licenses ONLY cover upgrades and nothing else, so you have to buy the initial OS from Microsoft first and then you can upgrade it.

However, you may be able to buy a copy of an old version of Windows (ie. Windows 2000, Windows 98) from some re-seller or even Ebay and I think that this would make you legal to use the volume licensed 2008. Microsoft would argue that this does not entitle you to upgrade, but your legal department (I hope you have one) would probably think otherwise. In the USA that courts have determined that it is legal to resell software and while companies like Microsoft don't like it, they can't legally stop it. Maybe it's the same in the EU.

You could also install Linux, which is free, and rid yourself of Windows. There's a lot to be said for this option. A lot of companies have done this because they are tired of paying money to Microsoft for everything.

[AlanHK]

I want to know if we can legally purchase and install Windows 2008 Server Standard Open Volume Government License and 15 Device CALs on this specific blank server/pc?

Why are you asking an important legal question on a video forum?

No matter what answers you get, what will you tell your boss?
"Some guy called jman98 on a video forum says we can...."

Governments have platoons of lawyers on staff. Ask them.

[jman98]

AlanHK's advice, which I only hinted at and did not say directly, is excellent - talk to YOUR lawyers.

If you talk to Microsoft, they will surely tell you that you have to buy the most expensive thing possible to satisfy their requirements. Your lawyers can tell you if you really have to buy something or if old software like Win98 will work to satisfy the requirement.

By the way, the stupid forum treats the combination of 8 and ) with no spaces between them as some kind of smiley, hence my odd smiley in my earlier post. That was not what I intended.

[AlanHK]

By the way, the stupid forum treats the combination of 8 and ) with no spaces between them as some kind of smiley, hence my odd smiley in my earlier post. That was not what I intended.

In your profile, you can uncheck "Always enable Smilies" and that won't happen.
Or you can click the "Disable Smilies" checkbox when making an individual post.
I hardly ever want to use smilies, so I leave it off.
So these would be smilies if it was activated:
:D :) :shock: :x :evil: :wink: :| :idea: :!: 8)